Review: Ortovox LiTRIC 27 Zero Airbag

After a delay last season due to a “technical issue”, Ortovox is back with their line of LiTRIC airbag packs. To get this out of the way early, I’ll give props to Ortovox’s patience for recognizing an issue and (hopefully) solving it, rather than succumb to pressure to get a product to market that ends…

Response

Slim

May 6, 2024

Oh boy. so many thoughts here.
Conflict of interest: I don’t see much value if you reviewed your own packs, but for others? Bring it on! Especially as you are a tiny, niche option, that is rarely available for sale, doesn’t make airbag packs etc. It’s not like if you give a Luke warm review, suddenly tons of people will be buying your packs. I’m more worried about affiliate links and such.
Like you said, you know more about packs than most of us, so your insights are quite useful. Sort of the opposite of a Monday morning quarter back. If you say: “ can be lighter and still strong” or “this is sewn poorly” you are actually in a position to know.

How about the reviewing Millet Trilogy E2? Seems to play in a similar category (minimalist packs with electronic airbags). Also, I’ve never seen a review of one, so a great opportunity for T-H-R to have a “scoop”!

Moving on to the airbag system. No burst zipper seems great. I fairly regularly burst that open when lifting up my fully stuffed airbag pack by the grab loop.
The fixed li-ion battery? Not so much. It is no use to a traveler that Ortovox says it’s ok, it’s the airport security people that you need to convince. The new classification document seems pretty clear, hopefully it works. Granted, it’s not Ortovox fault that air travel security is so messed up, but it would have seemed safer to just go with AA batteries like Alpride, or a removable Li-Ion battery, just to be on the safe side.

Personally I like the plain webbing leg loop. I add a regular carabiner myself (got that from old Wildsnow, I think Lou). That way, I always have an extra carabiner, for whatever use I need it (crevasse rescue, rappel anchor, rescue sled).
I thought the leg loop wasn’t just against loss, but against choking on your cheststrap or waistbelt?