Ortovox issues safety notice for Avabag Cartridge Carbon

Heads up, owners of avalanche airbags from German manufacturer Ortovox. According to a safety notice sent out last week by the the company, certain models of their Avabag Cartridge Carbon may lose pressure due to a production flaw.

“We have unfortunately established that some Ortovox Avabag Cartridge Carbon models from a specific production period may lose pressure,” the company says. “The reason for this is a faulty cartridge adapter.”

“Under unfavorable conditions, this could impair the activation force of the Avabag airbag system.”

Cartridges with dark blue adapters and a quality inspection date between March 22, 2018 and September 30, 2019 may be affected.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to check if your cartridge is faulty. You can weigh it on a scale, and as long as it’s within five grams of its listed target weight, the cartridge should be unaffected. “If the weight check shows there is no pressure loss, the cartridge can continue to be used without concern,” Ortovox says, adding that cartridges showing a loss of pressure can be replaced in shops that carry their products.

Click here for Ortovox’s full guide on how to check your cartridge and replace it if necessary.