Paul Oberin

If heading off piste especially in Japan, and parts of USA and Europe, don't risk your life because you didn't spend a few dollars on safety equipment, and Avalung is cheap at around $115 and gives you around an extra 45 minutes of air if buried, and tracking beacon like the BCA tracker 2 is great value at around $300, it pays of course, to also have a shovel and probe to help in a rescue, and having this equipment is not a lot of good if you don't know how to use it when in an emergency situation, many resorts have the equipment for hire if going out with a guide.
Hopefully none of it will ever get used, but I for one feel a lot better when out of bounds in deep snow, having the right equipments with me.