ARVA

ARVA: a brief biography

The 1980s saw the dawn of a new age of winter sports. At the start of the decade, many of the world-famous Alpine resorts such as Val d'Isere and Megeve were little more than rural mountain towns, with skiing reserved for the locals and the knowledgeable few. A decade later, and the ski-touring market had boomed. With the new market came new risks as people began to venture off-piste and into the avalanche zones. ARVA was the first company to design and manufacture an avalanche transponder, the ARVA 4000. Since then, ARVA has continually developed its product range to create world-leading safety technology. Adopting an analytical approach by studying accident reports led to ARVA's development of the iconic Reactor Airbag System, now the market leading dual airbag system.

The Kit

ARVA offers many different types of avalanche protection. This includes beacons, shovels, probes, backpacks, back protection, and accessories. Although expensive, beacons save lives. Once buried, a beacon emits a signal so that other members of the group can rapidly locate the missing skier. Shovel and probes speed this process up further, and ARVA's designs make use of lightweight aluminium and fully-collapsible double push-pin locking systems so that the equipment can be assembled instantly. ARVA complement this with a range of backpacks designed with carrying this kit in mind.

Airbags

Increasingly, skiers are turning to backpacks with built-in airbags. ARVA's Reactor range is a leading brand. Airbags work by increasing the size and buoyancy of the skier, decreasing the likelihood of being buried in an avalanche. Recent figures suggest that airbags can improve survival chances by more than 50 per cent, making this a popular choice for off-piste adventurers. Should you be unfortunate enough to encounter more than one avalanche, Reactor Airbag Systems are multi-use. ARVA Reactors use gas-canister powered inflation, with replacement canisters easily available. Reactors are available in 1740g lightweight models as well as the standard 2010g. Bags are available in 18, 24, 32, and 50 litre sizes.

Accessories

ARVA offers a range of additional accessories. These include holsters for beacons, gloves, balaclavas, facemasks, headbands, and a selection of first aid kits. These comprise rescue blankets, professional first aid kits, and basic kits. As with all of its gear, ARVA focuses upon offering quality and reliability, remaining committed to its mission statement of improving mountain safety for people of all abilities.