It probably wouldn't seem so funny if a mountain's worth of snow were tumbling down the slope after you, but on its own, the Life Bag looks like a lock for ridiculous product of the year. In an avalanche situation, though, you pull a handle to inflate the bags, which keep you on your back, with your head up and out of the snow.

If you're buried, Snowpulse, the company that designed them, says the bags deflate and create a cavity around you, providing some breathing room. OK, so maybe they're not so funny after all.—Gregory Mone

Via Medgadget

Every year, snow-sports companies pour big money into R&D in hopes of making faster, lighter, tougher gear. Some of their new ideas take off; some don't (anyone remember AstralTunes?). Here, we present 10 promising pieces of cutting-edge equipment that we're pretty sure won't be ridiculed in years to come.

To see how to hit the slope in high-tech style, launch the gallery here.