Arva Reactor 40L Airbag
What we liked …
Weight, twin airbags and snug fit.
What we didn’t …
Limited access to main packing area.
The Verdict
Our Rating
4 out of 5
the Short Read…
I’ve ridden and tested the Arva Reactor 40L for two seasons now, and found it to be more robust than on first inspection, although I’ve never had to deploy it in anger.
The Long read …
There is no doubting the Reactor 40L’s super light weight, when looking for a new avalanche air bag that's big enough for overnight touring. For its capacity it’s one of the lightest options out there, but does its light weight mean a substandard quality?
Having used a beast of a first generation BCA avi bag, for many years, I felt it time for a change. I was looking for a bag that would fit snug on my back, when riding slack country, but would expand enough to allow for long day tours or hut to hut trips. The Arva Reactor 40L ticks both those boxes, as with the air-bags being stored on the sides of the pack, it frees up the main central storage area without the need for it to protrude to far off your back.
Although having the air-bags on the side of the pack does mean that you can store poles or ice axe on the side of the bag when descending.
The other great selling point, is the twin air-bags, while inflated from the same canister they work independently, so if one gets punctured the other will still work. I also really like the small canister, which weighs 490g when full (€70). There is a carbon canister which is only 320g but is twice the price.
The Reactors carrying system is great, its fully adjustable, holds firm to your torso and is clever in design, with a whistle buckel and good sized belt pocket (which can be a pain in the arse to zip shut).
The Reactors deployment trigger opens into a T-bar shape and can be folded up and locked when not in Avalanche terrain, but doesn't zip away into the shoulder strap like many bags. You can disconnect the canister and practise pulling the trigger, as the tension is the same regardless.
The main pack and buckle construction looks a little frail, but it’s stood upto everything I’ve thrown at it, such as taking falls, scraping up and over rocks…
There are two main compartments plus a good sized hood pocket and a slim zipped pocket on the bags front.
The first main pocket is for your avi kit, and is suitably sized. My two main gripes is that it’s very difficult to see the zip for this compartment, as its the same colour as everything else. It should be bright red, so when you’re crapping your pants, when your mates just been buried, you can find it straight away. The other is that when full of avi gear it negates the ability to access the packs main compartment, meaning that realistly the only way to get into the pack is via the drawstring top, I’ve spent bloody ages with both hand rooting around to try to find kit that's slipped to the bottom.
There’s numerous loops to add addition straps to, including long ones on the bottom of the pack for a roll mat or small tent. I added some short straps so I could store my poles on the back, rather than putting them inside. There’s a helmet holder thats sold separately €14, and I’ve also added a cover to end of my ice-axe, as I feel that over time it could make a hole in the light fabric.
So I guess the main question is am I happy with the Arva Reactor 40L? Well yes very, apart from when its dumping snow the winds up and I can’t find something buried deep within.
