Gear reviews | Mammut Ride R.A.S. 30

Comfort and general

The 30-liter Ride backpack makes a solid and stable impression overall. The Ride models are characterized by the usual good workmanship, comfortable carrying and useful details, such as a soft padded glasses compartment. The carrying comfort is surprisingly good for an airbag backpack, similar to the top models from Deuter, Evoc or Ortovox and only imperceptibly different from the "normal" Ride backpacks from Mammut without the R.A.S. system. Once the waist buckle is fastened and stays where you want it, the Ride 30 Liter is in no way inferior to comparable backpacks.

The back section adapts well to the shape of the spine and stays where it should, even on jumps and rough rides. Unfortunately, the waist belt unintentionally opens from time to time, even while riding. This is a great pity, as the direct competitor ABS now seems to have this problem under control and their current waist buckles no longer loosen automatically. With a loose waist buckle, the Ride 30 Liter unfortunately no longer sits quite so perfectly and wobbles around on the back when the going gets rough. The additional and removable leg straps, on the other hand, fit well and make a stable impression. The ski and snowboard holders ensure that the backpack can be lashed down when the contents are small.

Another advantage of the R.A.S. or Snowpulse system is the stowable and non-detachable release handle. When not in use, the handle can be quickly stowed away in the shoulder strap with a zipper. As it cannot be removed individually, it cannot be lost or forgotten. A plus point on hectic powder days in the early morning compared to the ABS competition. There is also no risk of the release mechanism icing up.

The stowage options for alpine equipment such as ice axe, crampons etc. are manageable with a single adjustable loop. However, the snowboard and ski carrying straps can easily be repurposed for this purpose. In practice on the mountain, the zipper of the airbag opened about 50% four times on two wet days of continuous snowfall after falls or hard packing. Closing the zipper again is done quickly, but still a bit fiddly. This has not happened on the 15 other days of use so far (including similar conditions).

The test deployment of the R.A.S. system went perfectly: the airbag deploys with sufficient speed and lies behind the head in the neck and therefore does not interfere with the field of vision or freedom of movement. Whether this can provide additional protection in the event of an avalanche sounds plausible, but of course I can't prove it with my own practical experience. I suspect it could protect the sensitive neck area, which is always exposed for skiers. The supplied cartridge is already filled and can be exchanged after a (test) activation for approx. 50 euros at a specialist retailer (RRP is 100 euros, Mammut mentions on the product page that this is possible at a cheaper rate after activation). We would like to see a cheaper option for the annual test release. The backpack set comes with detailed instructions and a Quick Start Manual, which quickly and clearly explains the important steps before use (in four languages: d/e/f/i).

Review from freeride practice

+ Good wearing comfort and good support when riding
+ Airbag unit can be easily replaced
+ Backpack without R.A.S. unit is also great as an all-round touring backpack
+ Good storage option for the release handle (handle cannot be lost/forgotten)
+ Easy to refill even in remote destinations, e.g. in dive shops
- Belly buckle opens during movement
- Difficult to pack due to top-mounted R.A.S.unit
- Expensive interchangeable cartridge for test release

Conclusion

The Mammut Ride R.A.S. 30 liter is a good touring or freeride touring backpack. The interchangeable R.A.S. system has the charm that it can be used in different backpacks of different sizes and you can also use the backpack individually without the system without carrying around unnecessary weight, e.g. on tours in non-hazardous terrain. The R.A.S. system is practical and does its job well. The only real point of criticism is the opening waist buckle. With a bit of armor tape to reinforce the belt, you can help yourself here in a do-it-yourself procedure without much effort.

Manufacturer information

Price complete backpack: 599.95 euros plus cartridge 99.95 euros From the 2012/2013 season, the backpacks and the R.A.S. system will also be available separately.system will also be available individually and there will also be a larger selection of backpack models.
Weight backpack with/without airbag system: 2400/1550 grams liters: approx. 26 liters (with R.A.S. system used)

To the manufacturer's website