Review: G3 Cabrio AR ski pack

With the Cabrio, G3 did a bang up job of laying out two compartments that do what you want a ski pack to do, without letting the airbag system compromise the basics. There are also a ton of lash points for skis, helmets, and what-have-you that are hidden in dedicated stash pockets so they aren’t dangling when they’re not being used.  The fact that you don’t see ’em until you look closer gives a first impression that this pack has limited backcountry utility.  Allow me to give you an expanded view of the Cabrio.

The Obvious stuff

The top panel uses dual-slider zips to open up to a thin pocket to stash things you want fast access to; shovel, probe, skins, spare gloves, snacks, enough for all that plus squeeze space for a few other small items.

The main is the next compartment underneath. The dual-slider zipper opens all the way around. This allows access any to corner, or the whole space at once. The gas canisters are stashed on the left side behind a zipped sleeve while the balloon bends around the top of the pack, in the corner against your upper back. This leaves a clean and easy to organize rectangular compartment. There’s plenty of room for food, water, spare layers, a small down sleeping bag, or a long day with some emergency stuff just in case the tour turns longer than expected.

The Unexpected

The details are where this pack really shines. Little things like elastic bands to tuck loose webbing tails in, or roll ’em up.  The sternum strap is whistled, as expected.  In true avalanche safety fashion, the belt buckle is metal, where you twist it to slide through a slot and then it opens up to lock in place. There’s a tail on the locking plate to help feed it through the slot, but I found it actually complicated an otherwise simple operation.  The leg loop tucks away when you don’t need it and has a loop on the end that the waist belt slides through. All cleanly executed.

There’s actually a very thin sleeve on top of the upper zipped compartment for lots of webbing to get tucked away, including:

• 2 ice tool loops
• Elastic tie cord
• Helmet net
• Hooked ski compression straps
• Diagonal Ski Carry
  Top and bottom loops are connected to allow cinching down with a single pull.
• Extra Front compression strap with Daisy Chain loops

 

On top is a roomy, fleece-lined goggle pocket.

Against your back there’s a padded frame sheet with a nice lumbar curve so it carries well.  The weight of the airbag system bumps the weight of a 30 liter pack to an ounce shy of six pounds. If you’re gambling in avalanche country it’s a reasonable weight penalty.

Airbag Plumbing

The beauty of the airbag part is the practical acceptance by the security state of the gas canisters used. Developed by AlpRide, it uses the same blend of compressed Argon and Carbon Dioxide as that used for inflatable vests on airplanes. Since they’re approved by airlines, they can fly on them, and they can be shipped to you with minimal security overhead. Perhaps, more importantly, they’re included with the pack, not an additional fee.

The trigger is a nice T-shaped handle that can be routed to either side, and tucks away inside a zipped sleeve on the front of the shoulder straps, where you can adjust what position it hangs from, for different sized folks.

The airbag itself is horseshoe shaped, so some of the extra volume it creates is along your torso, rather than only behind your head. Longer would be better, but on the otherhand, one hopes you never need to test that. Theoretically. The actual weight of the airbag system is only a little over a pound and a half (690g), or 1-5/8 pounds to be more exact for those who still understand imperial fractions. Best of all, the price is well south of a grand; like the weight, it’s reasonable, maybe even a deal compared to much of the competition.

G3
Cabrio 30, $850
Weight (pack w/air): 5.9 lbs (5 lbs., 15 oz.) • 2690g

Replacement Cartridges: $54 USD

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