Spot has a long way to go but its another great tool and I agree with you that it is good for the group but the rhino has way more features and most in my group hunt as-well as ride and we all have them for multi purpose reasons. Some day we will have it all in one, including sattelite text. How cool would that be..
$10,000 sleds and up
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Spot has a long way to go but its another great tool and I agree with you that it is good for the group but the rhino has way more features and most in my group hunt as-well as ride and we all have them for multi purpose reasons. Some day we will have it all in one, including sattelite text. How cool would that be..
Right on the head of the nail Bull. PERSONAL PREFERENCE. Lots of people talk walkie talkies or cell phones with them hunting now. I absolutly refuse to take a cell or walkie with me while hunting in my home area. Cell service used to be crap so it wouldn't work. Mainly though, if I get lost in my back yard I shouldn't be there. As for getting hurt, I carry a survial gear. I also have a whistle and extra ammo for signaling if I should get hurt. also always say where I am going and my old man knows the area even better then me, so I feel secure enough to go out and just expierence what the woods has.
Now I have not been out west yet, but you can be damned sure I will be taking Avy classes, getting beacon practice(even if I borrow or rent) packing my shovel and getting a probe when i go. also will have probably a walkie talkie with extra batteries, my cell and so much chit in my pack it will be a pain to grab a candy bar. But that's all preference and personal comfort. I do like the idea of Spot, but being the wary guy I am I can see Spot being used negativly as well.
this is a great thread with very smart people.
Sleds I try and pay off within the first year. I don't get a loan for them, I usually just use a visa or something with a really low rate. That way I feel obligated to pay it as quickly as possible. Mods are always a cash on hand basis.
As for spending a grand for a pac. No, I wouldn't do it. Yes it's beneficial but so many things are these days and where do we draw the line. A grand for this and a $100.00 fot that?
A lot of folks buy a $100 helmet that barely passes for a hat let alone for a helmet and I would think the brain or head is the most important thing to protect. The avy pac is out of my league and I think it's over priced for what it is. They are using the life saving thing and adding a premium to that because they know they will sell at that price. If no one was paying it, the price would for sure come down or they would not be around.
As long as riders go out with basic essentials, and we all know what those are that in my opinion is all one could ask for. Sure there will always be better things coming along but that doesn't mean we all have to jump on and buy them or say anything of the people that do. Buy what you can with an eye on the minimums.
As for spending a grand for a pac. No, I wouldn't do it. Yes it's beneficial but so many things are these days and where do we draw the line. A grand for this and a $100.00 fot that?
A lot of folks buy a $100 helmet that barely passes for a hat let alone for a helmet and I would think the brain or head is the most important thing to protect. The avy pac is out of my league and I think it's over priced for what it is. They are using the life saving thing and adding a premium to that because they know they will sell at that price. If no one was paying it, the price would for sure come down or they would not be around.
As long as riders go out with basic essentials, and we all know what those are that in my opinion is all one could ask for. Sure there will always be better things coming along but that doesn't mean we all have to jump on and buy them or say anything of the people that do. Buy what you can with an eye on the minimums.
I've got a couple questions for discussion
Why would you consider a beacon/probe as essential equipment, yet the ABS is considered a luxury or not necessary? There are quite a few guys that have said that they won't ride with guys w/o beacons.
If everyone is going to preach safe riding techniques and obey them, then neither item should be needed, right?
If the beacon/probe gives you a 50% survival rate for the $400 investment, why is it hard to justify $900 for a 98% survival rate?
For the guys that say the packs aren't big enough, how big of a pack do you need, that 30l of storage is not enough? There is a 50l available also.
Why would you consider a beacon/probe as essential equipment, yet the ABS is considered a luxury or not necessary? There are quite a few guys that have said that they won't ride with guys w/o beacons.
If everyone is going to preach safe riding techniques and obey them, then neither item should be needed, right?
If the beacon/probe gives you a 50% survival rate for the $400 investment, why is it hard to justify $900 for a 98% survival rate?
For the guys that say the packs aren't big enough, how big of a pack do you need, that 30l of storage is not enough? There is a 50l available also.
I think it depends on how much you are going to use it too. If I lived in the midwest and only rode the moutains a few times a year I might understand the cost perspective. The first two years I owned the pack I was riding 70 days minimum each winter, all of it in pretty extreme terrain. That is 5-10 times the exposure of some people saying the pack isn't worth it.
The price is high because they are imported from overseas. The canisters used are technically hazzardous materials and cost more to ship too. I don't think anybody is gouging here. The manufacturer probably has to carry stupid expensive liability insurance just to sell these things too.
As far as cost, good point, my beacon was $300, my metal shovels $75 each, and a probe is $40-50. The backpack was $800 with two canisters and triggers when I bought it. It seemed a little spendy but it was going to get used a bunch too. I would have had a $150 pack anyway.
Tomorrow we are riding some wicked stuff, two of the three of us have the bags. I will take some pics, our area is just pretty extreme no matter where you go, I just feel better being a little extra prepared.
On pack size, yep, doesn't hold as much as I would like but it will hold a shovel, probe, couple liter gatorades, snacks, tow strap, small med kit, small survival kit and a couple tools, and the camera. Mine is the 30L version, easily gets me through a long days ride.
The price is high because they are imported from overseas. The canisters used are technically hazzardous materials and cost more to ship too. I don't think anybody is gouging here. The manufacturer probably has to carry stupid expensive liability insurance just to sell these things too.
As far as cost, good point, my beacon was $300, my metal shovels $75 each, and a probe is $40-50. The backpack was $800 with two canisters and triggers when I bought it. It seemed a little spendy but it was going to get used a bunch too. I would have had a $150 pack anyway.
Tomorrow we are riding some wicked stuff, two of the three of us have the bags. I will take some pics, our area is just pretty extreme no matter where you go, I just feel better being a little extra prepared.
On pack size, yep, doesn't hold as much as I would like but it will hold a shovel, probe, couple liter gatorades, snacks, tow strap, small med kit, small survival kit and a couple tools, and the camera. Mine is the 30L version, easily gets me through a long days ride.
D
Dano702
Well-known member
I am working on getting everyone i ride with to buy Garmin Rhino GPS units. Still trying to make sure everyone has a Beacon,probe,shovel. There always seems to be a new pipe or a bigger track that is more important , A Dozen More Turns brought back bad memories for me.
That movie is great , i need to order about 10 copies of that DVD.
That movie is great , i need to order about 10 copies of that DVD.
One thing to think about when riding..a beacon is a good investment and highly recommended. Hand in hand with that if people would ride with good common sense like with only one person on the slope at a time....that goes for if they are climbing or letting them get unstuck on their own if the situation warrents the risk of avalanches would almost go down to zero. most all of them have happened with multiple people on the hill. Common sense is free if you decide to exercise it.
Have fun but ride safely please..
Have fun but ride safely please..
B
Bull
Well-known member
how would that be??
B
Bull
Well-known member
same way tracking units in cell phones or On-Star can be used in a less then stellar way. Do you want someone to ALWAYS know where you are, or have the ability to turn your car off while you are cruising down the freeway?
I guess I just don't want someone to have that control over me, which is why if I can avoid it I will never have anything like Onstar and why I dont' own any guns
Being a SPOT owner, and GASP, a frequent solo rider, I suppose I don't mind my wife knowing where I am when I'm out on the mountains.
Its not like I have to turn on the tracking feature when I enable the unit. Heck, it's better if you leave it off until you NEED it so that you can be sure that the batteries are going to work for you, although I've used mine frequently in track mode for the last 2 months on the same set of lithiums.
I guess if you're that worried about people knowing where you are, you probably have some reason to be...
If you can afford it we should have everything spot, rhino, beacon, and ABS. But back to the ABS, it's just too small of a back pack. I pack for days not just a day and it will not hold enough gear yet. I'm sure they will make a bigger pack soon and I will buy one then.
Remember, ABS can't replace a beacon until everyone has one. How are you going to search for your buddys if they get swallowed up and they are using beacons with just an ABS back pack?
It's nice to have a thread with no snowhawkaddict non sense.
Remember, ABS can't replace a beacon until everyone has one. How are you going to search for your buddys if they get swallowed up and they are using beacons with just an ABS back pack?
It's nice to have a thread with no snowhawkaddict non sense.
Thats because Snowhawkaddict has been banned
Hopefully for life!!
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x-guy
ACCOUNT CLOSED
I think in the end basically what it comes down to is risk managment, buy the appropriate equipment for your risk level, personally, I know if avy conditions are high, I will not play on any big slopes. Most of this year I have spent carving up meadows, tree riding, hitting some jumps, and generally exploring my area, in which I have found countless new little areas to go back to in other years, I still had a blast this year without the big climbs I usually love so much, it just wasnt worth it to me this year especially being a new dad. Having said this, I know not everyone is like me, some guys will go out there anyways despite the risk, hopefully these type of people realize that they puts themselves in a higher risk of being in an avalanche, and spends the money on anything that gives him a better chance of survival. For me and my risk, I believe to be sufficient with a beacon, probe, and shovel, but someone in the case of ouraysledder, has obviously made the right choice for himself and his risk level.
as a side note, you would be suprised how many people don't carry simple waterproof matches/lighter or flint to get a fire started in case of emergency.
as a side note, you would be suprised how many people don't carry simple waterproof matches/lighter or flint to get a fire started in case of emergency.
I just snowchecked an 09 D8. Instead of already buying mods before the sled gets here, I decided to buy a 30L ABS pack instead. I ride some scary areas in Colorado and feel my life is worth $1000. I would rather save myself than have some of my avy inexperienced friends try to find me with a beacon... I like that piece of mind.
I'm lovin my SPOT
used it in a group setting once thus far, we were crazy late getting back to the truck. Before the trip I programmed everyones wifes' cell numbers into SPOT service. They all were updated via text messages that we were OK, not only that they were able to check their Email and see the same message but also a clickable link to googlemaps with our location pinpointed. They could see that we'd be late for dinner!
Once I made it to the truck I hit the OK button again, TIME TO START DINNER!
I also use a Rino 530hcx, that thing is way cool. I use it in conjunction with google earth and mapsource to find those area 51's
I do wish more people had the Rinos, If I were stupid rich I'd buy 10 of them and hand em out prior to each ride.
I got a question, how many people have died, or nearly died after having gotten seperated from their groups? "he was right behind us 10 minutes ago, now he's gone and we can't find him"
I don't have an ABS yet though. I'm more likly to get lost or hurt than float down the hill in an avy.
used it in a group setting once thus far, we were crazy late getting back to the truck. Before the trip I programmed everyones wifes' cell numbers into SPOT service. They all were updated via text messages that we were OK, not only that they were able to check their Email and see the same message but also a clickable link to googlemaps with our location pinpointed. They could see that we'd be late for dinner!
Once I made it to the truck I hit the OK button again, TIME TO START DINNER!
I also use a Rino 530hcx, that thing is way cool. I use it in conjunction with google earth and mapsource to find those area 51's
I do wish more people had the Rinos, If I were stupid rich I'd buy 10 of them and hand em out prior to each ride.
I got a question, how many people have died, or nearly died after having gotten seperated from their groups? "he was right behind us 10 minutes ago, now he's gone and we can't find him"
I don't have an ABS yet though. I'm more likly to get lost or hurt than float down the hill in an avy.
No reason, but I don't trust the government 100 percent. I agree that SPOT is great for sledding when you may need to be helped or to reassure family...I guess for me it's more the On-Star type deals.
Can't believe this thread has 3 pages without worthless BS on it
Answers: The ABS 30 pack is big enough to hold at least 2 days worth of survival gear.
I dont think you boys have really tried packing one yet. I have the ABS 15 and i have 2 days worth of survival gear in there, space blankets, first aid kid, food, water, fire starter stuff, extra goggles and gloves, it all fits, its tight but it fits, the ABS 30 is double the size. What are you packing thats taking up so much room? Perhaps its just me, but there should never be a storm or situation or whatever that requires me to be out more than 2 days. If the weather is that bad don't go... There isnt anywhere i should be where i cant walk out in 2 days or get to a place where i can call for help either...
Lastly i have been saying this all year. 99% of us ride with the same people. Split the costs on a pack between your group. With 4 people a pack costs $200 each. There should never be more than 1 person on the hill at a time. That person should be wearing the ABS pack. It takes 30 seconds to switch it from person to person. The next year buy another one so you have 2 in the group. For a mere $200 (LESS THAN A AVERAGE BEACON) you can have an extra security measure.
Like others say, if anyone that wants to wear my ABS bag while climbing is more than welcome to it while we are out riding. I dont mind sitting in a safe place watching someone else play, and knowing they have an ABS bag on increases my piece of mind a little.
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