Deuter Alproof Pack With Alpride E2 Review: Lightweight, Rechargeable Avi Bag, No CO2 Required

As I cut a fresh trail in the glittering white snow, the threat of avalanches rattled around in my brain. There’s the recent snowfall across Colorado, the considerable avalanche warnings, and the massive peaks of snow surrounding me as we delved deeper into the Rocky Mountains.

However, on my back, the Deuter Alproof with Alpride’s E2 system avalanche backpack provided some welcome peace of mind.

Note: Avalanches are a stark reality of backcountry skiing and snowboarding. There is no way to eliminate the risk. But there are things you can do to mitigate it. In addition to proper avalanche training and always carrying a shovel, beacon, and probe, a solid airbag is a great tool to have on hand. An avalanche airbag is deployed in the event of an avalanche and can help you stay above the surface of the snow.

It’s not foolproof, but the Deuter Alproof series of packs are different. They come with the Alpride’s E2 electronic avalanche airbag system. It’s one of the lightest airbag systems of its kind (weighing slightly less than the BCA Float Pack that also uses Alpride E2). It also eliminates the need to mess with heavy and costly CO2 canisters.

Fortunately, on my AT ski tour through the Never Summer range on a blue-sky sunny day, I only deployed the bag as a test. Not only did that test work great, but the rest of the pack excelled for a day of skiing powder in the backcountry.

In short: The Deuter Alproof avalanche backpack sets itself apart with the lightweight and easy-to-charge Alpride E2 system. It’s a spacious pack that includes an avalanche gear pocket, space for a water bladder, ice axe attachment, and a helmet and glove mesh bag. It has volume for gear, is easily rechargeable, and it’s airplane safe. This pack provides everything you could ask for in an avalanche airbag backpack, while staying light.

Deuter Alproof Avalanche System Review

Alpride E2 Technology: The Heart of the Avalanche Bag

This year was initially going to be the year of the LiTRIC Airbag. The collaboration between ORTOVOX and Arc’teryx on this avalanche bag looked promising. The 2022 ISPO award-winning avalanche system was the next step for an electronic avalanche airbag technology — lightweight and easy to use.

However, before any LiTRIC units were shipped to the U.S. there was a voluntary recall in Europe due to a technical issue with the inflation. So, I turned to the Deuter Alproof pack with Alpride E2 instead.

The Alpride E2 system is a leader in electronic airbags. It’s the heart of the Deuter’s Alproof legendary Freerider series of packs. This is a supercapacitor-powered fan airbag that is charged using a USB port cord and two AA lithium batteries. Without a CO2 canister to refill, I had no hesitation to test this airbag prior to the tour.

Following the first Alpride E1 generation system, this version is lighter at 2.5 pounds, 40% smaller than its predecessor, and includes an easy-to-read LED display. And a vent on the side of the pack shows a green blinking light to indicate the pack is charged and ready for inflation.

The E2 also has a new deflation button that makes the airbag simple to deflate after use. That makes repacking the bag a lot simpler than it would have been, if I’d had to deflate the bag by hand. That’s a nice feature.

Out of the box, I had the pack charged and ready to deploy within an hour. Deuter recommends using two new lithium AA batteries (that haven’t previously been used to charge the system) while touring.

The brand claims that the bag can be used for 3 months in between charges. If the system is used after charging, without batteries installed, the max runtime is 12-24 hours. On a single charge, I found that the Alpride E2 can deploy twice.

The pack is lightweight, easy to use, and comes in 30L and 32L sizes. I tested the 32L pack and found it ideal for a long full day in the backcountry.

Lightweight and Versatile

As we stripped our skins off and prepared for a descent through a fresh mountain face of powder, I sifted through the Alproof. I pulled out a pair of goggles and an energy bar. Then, I stuffed a jacket and the skins into the pack and strapped it back on, eyeing my line of descent.

There are several avalanche bags on the market that have the Alpride E2 system in them. Notably, the Alproof is allowed on airplanes, since AA lithium batteries are safe to fly with. That’s important for anyone who travels to get in their backcountry skiing fix.

Often avalanche bags are so small that a CO2 cartridge leaves little room for much else aside from a jacket or pair of gloves. The Alproof works great as a ski pack with or without the airbag. You can even remove that component from the pack entirely and still use it as a backcountry ski pack.

Pack Compartments and Storage

The pack has two main compartments and a storable/detachable helmet strap that can also carry a pair of gloves or a hat. The external pocket is designed with compartments to hold a shovel and probe. It also has basic instructions on how to use the airbag imprinted on the inside of the pocket.

The main body of the bag opens like a clamshell exposing where the Alpride E2 electronics are housed. There’s a spot that holds a water bladder and housing for a tube to the shoulder strap opposite the airbag ripcord. You can choose which shoulder to use for the hose or ripcord depending on your preference.

Even with the electronic components, there is still room in the body of the Alproof for a jacket and some food. On top of the pack, there is a soft pocket for goggles or sunglasses, which is great to have within arm’s reach. The waist strap also has a pocket for food or sunscreen and loops for climbing tools, if needed.

You can strap your skis to the exterior of the pack as well, in either an A-frame or sling method.

Takeaway

Having tested a number of ski bags, the Alproof has everything I look for in a ski-specific backpack. Often when you add an airbag to the mix you have to sacrifice something such as space, weight, or both. Here, I get everything I want with minimal weight thanks to the Alpride E2 electronics.

Two features of this bag really stuck out to me: First, the fact that you don’t have to stress over CO2 cartridges is awesome. Simply plug the USB into the pack and charge it up. Deploying the bag is easy, and with the new deflation button repacking the airbag is relatively simple. Second, is the fact that you can take this pack on a plane. Ease of travel is a big bonus for avalanche bags.

The only downside with this pack is the price tag. Coming in at $1,300, it’s a solid investment for any backcountry enthusiast. However, the price is comparable to other packs and you really do get a lot for that investment. And if you ever do need to deploy the airbag, not only will you be immensely glad to have it, but you can easily recharge it as soon as you’re safe again.

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