There is, after all, no point in going out and buying all of this equipment while not having a clue how to keep yourself and the group youre with away from avalanche prone terrain. This book is even small enough to bring with you on your next hut-to-hut ski tour. Chosen for our Ski 100 Take a closer look at theBlack Diamond JetForce Prohere, Shovel Weight:947g Probe Weight: 330g This review is designed to help lay out the differences between the avalanche beacons on the market today. The new Black Diamond Recon BT is more-or-less identical to the Pieps Powder BT, which is branded under the Pieps name (BD has owned Pieps since around 2012). When planning on heading out into the backcountry, your first thought should be on making the correct decisions to ensure yourself and your group are never putting each other in any unnecessary danger. Wouldn't you and your partners like to be on the faster side of that average? However remember in the world it is most important to find, probe and dig up a single victim rather than just flagging/marking multiple victims without digging them up. These two beacons differentiated between close proximity burials exceptionally well and could scroll through victims, and were extremely difficult to fool the marking/masking function. While less of an issue in real-world settings, we also didn't love that the Tracker3 can only suppress one signal at a time; if you try to suppress a second, it undoes the first. We also tested models with a wide range of user abilities, from relative novices to seasoned ski guides and avalanche professionals, to get a broad insight into each model's performance. Thus when most beacons cite 40-60 meters of maximum range, it means they have 20-30 meters of worst-case range. With all the ways you could save money, an avalanche beacon is likely not the best start. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We started with optimal coupling, as we could get with the target beacon 100 meters away (adjusted for meters despite the yard marks on the football field). Once you get to your formerly buried partner's airway, you could choose to flag them to save the effort and time of turning their beacon off. This is most useful if youre clearing the snow away from the lead digger in a companion rescue scenario. BCA RS EXT Avalanche Shovel And Stealth 300 Probe, Skydiving, Wingsuit Flying & BASE Jumping. We liked the Pieps Micro, but they just weren't quite as user-friendly as far as getting to them and using them. The Barryvox S is one of only a few models that tells its user to turn around if they have gone too far. Good decision making is crucial to not getting caught and you should ALWAYS wear a beacon "just in case" anytime you are traveling in or around avalanche terrain. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In all models (except the original BCA Tracker DTS), the arrows go away at 2 or 3 meters (you are just supposed to ignore the arrows below 2m with the original Tracker). People often like to put a lot of weight in a given model's maximum range because it's an easier quantifiable number, but that doesn't make it more important. Side-by-side range comparisons, with a Pieps DSP Pro in the foreground of the photo. It performed very well in the fine search for a single victim and was consistently among the best for accuracy and placing the buried beacon at the center of the bracket. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Rainier National Park. Some come laden with useful and well-thought-out features, while others have limited options. The products in this review are meant to enhance safety in the unfortunate event you or someone around you is caught and buried in an avalanche. Our testing takes place in the backcountry, by a team of To get you shredding down the mountains on the perfect Buying a new ski helmet can be an overwhelming decision Our expert team purchased and extensively tested 7 models Best Climbing Skins of 2022 for Backcountry Skiing. The revert to transmit mode is sometimes a controversial feature. As the founder of OutdoorGearLab, guidebook publisher SuperTopo, and the American Safe Climbing Association, Chris has a special interest in information, awareness, and gear used in the mountains. This assessment came from the consistency of dozens of tests, with the models consistently scoring the best. Get yourself, and your mates, out there on an avalanche safety course to brush up on your skills. Revert to Transmit exist so that if you are hit with an avalanche while in Search mode, your beacon will start transmitting again. For this update, we bought 14 of the best models for a side-by-side analysis. Tests were performed on a lined football field. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This update brings Bluetooth technology for updates on the fly, and the ability to zip off different volume sizes. It took some practice to work as well in the fine search as other models. This is because it takes into account parts of other categories and several of its own, with the most important being processor speed. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Credit: AIARE (American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education). Comparing beacons back-to-back during the bracketing stage of the fine search. Chosen for our Ski 100 Take a closer look at the Ortovox Diract Voicehere, Weight: 215g After dozens of tests and comparisons and facilitating AIARE Pro level multiple beacon search assessments, the undisputed best products for multiple burials are the Mammut Barryvox S and Arva Axio. The pants pocket needs to be an internal (i.e., inside hanging) zippered sewn-in pocket. This is why AIARE and other avalanche educational organizations teach the rescuer to search with a 40-meter wide search strip width, or 20 meters of range on either side of you. While this is fine for more practiced and experienced users unlike a lot of other outdoor gear more isn't necessarily better. Tester Ian Nicholson with an Arva Neo. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After this, ensure youre always getting out there practicing rescue scenarios with your transceiver shovel and probe. The Halo is able to provide you with five key bits of information thatll help you make informed decisions whilst out in the backcountry: slope angle, current height, temperature, time and transceiver send checker. You can check out more of what he's up to here. While all the cool extra features are rad and easy to focus on, speed and ease of finding a single buried beacon should be your strongest considerations. While the average rescue time is heavily debated, it is thought that from the moment the person is caught in the slide to the time the victim's airway is exposed on the surface is around 20 minutes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. While more range is excellent, it still provides the 40 meter search trip that the majority of rescuers are going to use. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This Black Diamond Guide BT is one of our favorite overall beacons. Because if you are searching for someone, your beacon is likely in your hand, and if a second avalanche hits you, there is almost zero percent chance that you will be able to hang onto it. This success is largely thanks to BCAs tried and tested simple yet tough mantra in creating their avalanche transceivers. We looked for consistency and repeatability of each model's performance along each stage as well as across user types to best assess the pros and cons of each model. Keep in mind that with any beacon, multiple burials are always harder and take even more practice than single burials. For example, two rescuers looking for two buried beacons will essentially complete two independent single victim searches, one immediately after the other. In addition to these ranges, the Mammut Pulse Barryvox and Arva Pro W's range while in analog mode is approximately 12-19 meters greater. Maximum Range: 55 m Were also big fans of the large D-shaped handle found on the Evac 7 Shovel, whichll really come into play if you find yourself needing to rapidly clear as much snow as possible in the event of an emergency. Ortovox have done well to make a powerful and easy to use transceiver, all at a price point thats not going to seem like a barrier for those who are looking to get into backcountry skiing. Beacons that had this feature were the Arva Axio, Barryvox S, and Barryvox. As a result, it just does it for you and will be easier, something most people can appreciate in a stressful situation. Search Width: 50 m The numbers displayed are an approximate distance in meters along the flux line. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. One of our favorite things was how precise it consistently was during the bracketing stage of the search, for both experienced and more novice users alike. Overall speed should be among the most important factor backcountry travelers should be considering when purchasing a beacon. But if you are hit with your beacon in your hand, what are the chances that you can hang onto it, or that this lanyard will hold? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Readings are instant, and it comes with a battery that, its claimed, will last for up to two years of moderate use. On average, 36 people die from avalanches in North America every year, and around 185 people worldwide. Both of these aspects are particularly nice, as this is where the majority of rescuers struggle the most. With that said, the Tracker3 remains a competent, lightning-fast model that has some of the functionality desired by more advanced users. However, for this portion of the review, a strong signal lock can make it difficult to perform a function check if there are more than just a few other people in your group. The bare minimum of a transceiver, shovel, and probe should always be carried by each member of the group. Funny name for sure, but it just means that the shovel is able to be pointed directly down towards the snow to efficiently clear snow at a pretty staggering rate. Opening this folding antenna is also what turned it into Search mode. Whilst this product doesnt replace the need for avalanche safety training and the mandatory avalanche safety equipment that is transceiver, shovel, and probe, it is a useful tool to help you and your party make informed decisions in the backcountry. This feature has the unit automatically switch from search mode to send mode if there has not been any user interaction, like pressing a button or significant movement during a designated period. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. OutdoorGearLab's real-world beacon test range results. For your beacon to be able to tell other buried beacons apart, it uses a blend of signal strength and cadence (each model has its own magic blend of these two). Price: 70 (shovel) and 70 (probe) Got feedback? While most manufacturers' range was reasonably accurate, some of the time, it was a bit further than we could pick up in our tests. While no model was that far off, both of Mammut's models were the closest to the actual distance. Chosen for the 2019/20 Mpora Backcountry Ski Guide Take a closer look at theOrtovox 3+ here. In an effort to reduce companion search times, it now comes in a more user-friendly and streamlined package. The fine search is the final stage of searching and it's where most less practiced or novice users waste time or blow it altogether. The first is in your beacon's harness not exposed to the outside (i.e., covered up); this puts it in the most significant "target area" on your body, and it's slightly more protected from impact. In most models we tested (that have a revert to transmit mode), it comes ready to use. This review is made possible by two of our resident experts in mountain safety and technology. Topping off this package is Black Diamonds Tour 320 Probe, which features rapid deployment at a length of 320cm. Weve not selected this kit because of trends, or marketing pushes from the equipment brands. All trademarks property of their respective owners There are advantages and disadvantages to strong signal lock, such as the advantage to differentiate close proximity burials to its user. This is especially obvious under five meters during the fine search. Across North America, from Alaska to the Cascades to the Sierra Nevada, we put these beacons in the hands of novice users, certified ski guides, avalanche forecasters, and safety course instructors and tested them in real-time in both single and multiple burial simulations. For those curious, that breaks down to 10% of the time, two people are buried, and the other 5%, there are three or more victims. Most of these models have a "group-check" mode which should be utilized when performing a trailhead/function check. Differentiating close proximity burials is the peak of difficulty with any beacon. Not only is the Pro Light Shovel a lightweight number, its also pretty fast to put together with a locking feature that doesnt require the press of a button (something that differentiates it from most shovels currently on the market). Almost all of the products we tested have a manufacturer's maximum range of between 40 and 60 meters. For example, the most capable beacons are often more complex and have less straightforward use; this might suit a pro perfectly but wouldn't be the best for a more novice user or someone who doesn't practice as frequently. Several beacons offer a scanning feature that helps advanced rescuers assess how many victims there are to locate and how far away they are, rather than just showing the closest signal. While it is excellent for professionals and experienced users, it's not necessary for other backcountry travelers. For ski guides, ski patrollers, or other avalanches professionals, a dependable rescue flagging/marking functionality and a beacon's ability to handle multiple close proximity burials is essential for training and examinations. Also of note, the distance isn't exactly a meter (with the exception of Mammut) but it is close enough. Multiple burial situations are where models had some of the most variances. Multiple burial situations are where the competition differed the greatest. Again, our professionals find, probe, and dig up a single victim rather than just flagging/marking multiple victims without digging them up. Heading up the review is Ian Nicholson, an IFMGA/UIAGM Guide who teaches for AIARE on a national level instructing professionals level courses and has taught over 90 recreational level 1 and level 2 courses. The Tracker series of avalanche transceivers have remained a mainstay in many backcountry skiers avalanche safety kit list, ever since the development of the original Tracker 1. We gave beacons higher scores with displays, like this one on the Black Diamond Recon BT; that help us keep track of how many beacons we have marked/flagged where it shows one "person" in a box to indicate it has been marked. While speed considers several other categories, such as precision in the fine search and ease of locating a single victim, we gave it an accumulative score for our criteria in our evaluation. It is worth noting that if a perfect scenario range is 50 meters, then its worst-case range is 25 meters. It is never okay to have your beacon exposed and not covered by at least one layer of clothing even on the ascent because the chances of it being ripped off, even if it's in its harness, are too great. To insurance accuracy, we did multiple sessions of testing; one on a dry football field and one in the mountains in a remote parking lot. The above graph emphasizes the importance of proficiency with a rescue beacon. While we think better accuracy is slightly better, this doesn't have an effect on actual performance; it is just something to be aware of. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It also has nearly all of the features of the Tracker3, and continually impressed us with its speed and prowess. While we like other models slightly better, this is a very solid beacon for the price because it is so fast and easy to use. Models like the BCA Tracker3, Tracker S, Pieps Micro BT, or the Arva Evo5 don't have strong signal lock and jump easily from one to another, always locking onto the strongest signal. Updates feature a new rugged design, with a tough rubber case and recessed screen to help protect the large (and easy to read) LCD display. The elastic leash attaching the beacon to the wearer's chest harness is also almost sure to snap. Weve been using the original JetForce 1.0 for some time and have been left extremely impressed with the electronic avalanche airbag technology featured in that pack. Maximum range is important, but it isn't nearly as critical as the categories we've mentioned above. Experienced backcountry enthusiasts and avalanche professionals can find multiple beacons in under six minutes, while the unpracticed novice can easily take 25 minutes or more. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Read review: Backcountry Access Tracker S. The slick-looking and low-profile Backcountry Access Tracker3 is the latest and greatest of BCA's Tracker family. While its true to say that practice is key to saving those vital seconds, certain pressures and events can slow your thought process down, and even cloud your otherwise rock solid judgement, when peoples lives are on the line for real. Ian Nicholson testing an 3+ in the fine search. It does not store any personal data. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. We extensively tested all the beacons in our review, pitting them head-to-head in both single and multiple burials, timing and analyzing each model's performance at each stage of the search in the hands of both professionals and more novice users. More range means a quicker single acquisition, but we feel range should be a much lower priority than things like processing speed. While not a huge deal, models whose arrows disapeared at 2m instead of 3m were generally easier to use by novice or less practiced individuals. Despite worry from some readers, there has never been a reported case of someone having their pants ripped off in an avalanche with their beacon inside. This graph shows the percentage of signal suppression failures depending on the number of buried beacons. Speed and efficiency is the name of the game in the event of an avalanche that involves a fully buried individual. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Pieps Micro sports an interesting new design feature that could be the first in a new wave of beacons. This, in turn, means you can undertake the rescue calmly and with clarity in what mightve otherwise have been a frantic and desperate search. Besides real-world practice with individual beacons, we also performed a series of side-by-side tests to assess processor speed, bracketing/fine search performance, flagging/marking features, battery life, range, search strip widths, and more. We have the best team, in the best mountains, doing the Our authoritative, thorough review of 15 backcountry ski key pieces of information regarding avalanche beacons, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Super fast processor, differentiates between beacons fantastically during multiple burials, best range in this review, best model for multiple and pro-level examinations, Easy to use, many features, Bluetooth and smartphone based app, good range, fast processor, best battery life in our review, excellent multiple burial and flagging features, Very fast processor, crushes in the fine search, easy to use, light and compact (great for beacon-in-pocket users), low stress sounds, Tons of features, excellent multiple burial features and performance, differentiates close proximity burials very well, long-ish range, analog mode to help with micro-strip searching, Easy-to-use, configured with Bluetooth and an app, good range, fast processor, great multiple burial and flagging functionality, Expensive, more complicated than other models, okay but not the best for newer or less practiced users, Battery life is only displayed in thirds and not a percentage, some force required to toggle switches, can be chunky feeling if carrying in a pant's pocket, Display screen is just okay, multiple burial function un-suppresses the last marked beacon in only 1 min, leading to confusion and wasting time, can only mark one signal, A little chunky and slightly slightly bulkier for pocket carriers, one of the more complex interfaces, slightly slower than top beacons in the fine search, A little on the chunky side for pant pocket beacon wearers, slider toggle is stiff, One of the most capable and highest performing beacons on the market, One of the best models for advanced and beginners alike, it's easy to use, and is one of the best priced "pro-level" beacons, Takes previous Tracker's top-notch ease-of-use, speed, and intuitiveness, and adds a marking function and a low profile design, An extremely capable beacon whose features and multiple burial prowess will appease the requirements of any advanced user or pro, Will suit most recreational backcountry travelers well, from beginner to advanced, Perfect for pros or advanced users, this model is one of the best performing products in every category, A high-end beacon that is packed full of features, with an interface that is easy to use for the less experienced, A fantastic all-around model that combines ease of use in a smaller than average package, Designed for advanced users or pros, it's one of the best for multiple burials with its long third antenna, analog function and ability to toggle through signals, Marketed as a more basic beacon, but capable and well featured, especially for the price, Has better range and superior multiple burial capabilities while still being fairly quick in the fine search, Using a proximity sensor, the Micro automatically switches between Sending while stowed to searching when its not - also the lightest and most compact beacon currently out there, This beacon is easy enough to use for novices but capable enough for a professional, A no-frills design that excels at a beacon's number one job - finding a single buried beacon, With an easy to use interface and a lightning-fast processor, it's a great option for a wide range of users, A highly capable, lightweight, triple antenna contender, An easy to use beacon with intuitive displays help keep it simple during what is likely a very stressful situation, however just so-so fine search performance and average speed kept this beacon from scoring higher, Beacon is easy to use but has a short range and no flagging feature, An easy-to-use interface and host of awesome features make it well suited for a wide range of users. This is all achieved in a handy device that easily clips onto a pole or bag strap.