I have a buddy new to the sport and he wants to buy a beacon. I have a BCA tracker beacon and have recommended that he purchase the same beacon as me. He wants to purchase something else and "save a few bucks." I appreciate the fact that he wants to buy a beacon, but is it worth skimping on a beacon? Please provide me/him with some in-site on this. I don't know what he wants to buy, but it apparently is not a BCA beacon.
Is it worth saving a few bucks on a beacon?
- Thread starter skidoojohncsu
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Yep. BCA Tracker's probably the best bang-for-buck though.
All the beacons out there today are very good and the high end ones are really amazing especially for the multiple burial scenarios. As long as he buys one with digital technology it will be fine. Of course the key to any beacon is practicing (a lot) before you need to use it. Good Luck.
If he wants to save a few bucks, have him buy a used Tracker. I have 2 that have almost no use as they are extras. Between my husband and I we have 3 Trackers and 2 Peeps. He prefers the Peeps, I prefer the Trackers. Even though I practice and I know my beacon well, finding someone is not always that easy, so practice, practice, practice. At home, with the kids, at lunch on the hill, at work, where ever, when ever. It has to be fun. Because when you get to the real thing, you will know what has to be done and it will not be fun. Make handling your beacon second nature, like driving a car.
No, mine are not for sale, but I am considering the purchase of a new Tracker because they are so good. There are some awesome deals on BCA stuff now. The new Float 30 Avi Pack, new Beacon, shovel, probe, and some other goodies for like $800 to $900. I considered it, but it was after I already bought the Float 30 Avi Pack for $499. and I really do not need another probe or shovel.
Definitely go digital though and get some training.
No, mine are not for sale, but I am considering the purchase of a new Tracker because they are so good. There are some awesome deals on BCA stuff now. The new Float 30 Avi Pack, new Beacon, shovel, probe, and some other goodies for like $800 to $900. I considered it, but it was after I already bought the Float 30 Avi Pack for $499. and I really do not need another probe or shovel.
Definitely go digital though and get some training.
There are alot of good beacons out there, as said before buy a digital, they are easier to learn and use.
The question I would ask him (if he is looking to save a few dollars, or just being cheap) is this. How much money is it worth to you to not have to go to your family and say, I couldn't find your loved one, because I was cheap and didn't want to spend $300 ($400, $200, whatever the price is). When put into a life or death perspective, I feel most people disregard the cost, and buy something that will work, and that they feel comfortable with. The key thing is practice, practice, practice.
The BCA Tracker is a good beacon for the money, and I feel cost effective for most anyone (usually in the mid to high $200 range). Give some vendors a call (SnowBigDeal, First Place Parts, etc) and see what they can offer for prices on a beacon. Also if you need a shovel and a probe (if he doesn't already have these items), ususally you can get a decent package price.
The question I would ask him (if he is looking to save a few dollars, or just being cheap) is this. How much money is it worth to you to not have to go to your family and say, I couldn't find your loved one, because I was cheap and didn't want to spend $300 ($400, $200, whatever the price is). When put into a life or death perspective, I feel most people disregard the cost, and buy something that will work, and that they feel comfortable with. The key thing is practice, practice, practice.
The BCA Tracker is a good beacon for the money, and I feel cost effective for most anyone (usually in the mid to high $200 range). Give some vendors a call (SnowBigDeal, First Place Parts, etc) and see what they can offer for prices on a beacon. Also if you need a shovel and a probe (if he doesn't already have these items), ususally you can get a decent package price.
John check out mountaingear.com. They were selling trackers for $239 on sale a couple weeks ago. The sale may still be going on.
Any beacon will work with alot of practice. I really like the Ortovox M2's that I have, they have a signal strength bar that is adjustable and gives a digital readout in meters. Super easy to use and impossible to not turn on when worn, unlike some of the others.
i guess u can ask him how much his life is worth? why skimp out on some thing that could save ur life let me guess he probally has just about every thing done to his sled he could do right and wants to save a few bucks on some thing that could save his life!!!
Politely remind him that the beacon he is wearing is the one that will save YOUR life when you are buried.
what next summer
Yep he is buying the beacon for YOU. If he wants to cheap out tell him you'll trade him, he can have the good one to find you. Because the beacon doesn't matter for being found. But really, beacons aren't that expensive. I bought a BCA tracker because it is so easy to use, and still is very competitive range vs the others. I also think it's a good idea for everyone to have the same beacon in a group, because you can help each other out learning how to use it etc.
when it comes to being cheap on a beacon...id say if its considering a anolog vs a digital...definately spend the $ on the digital. not even sure how many analog style beacons are still made.
its SO much easier to operate and locate w/ visual indicators (digital). which is going to reduce search time significantly alone.
i started with the cheapo analog beacon, which is better than nothing for someone who either doesn't ride the mtns a lot...or just doesn't ride often.
if you're riding in terrain where you need one, more than once a month, definately spend the extra $ on digital. even if your not..its quite possibly worth while.
my only wish is everyone i rode with had the same..so that if i'm the one barried they can find me more easily as well.
i have a Tracker DTS, that i picked up at a snowshow which was packaged w/ a snobunje for 285$. (265$ w/o the bunje...so the bunje wasn't REALLY free...but...still hard to beat a 20$ bunje)
i just found this link with a quick google: http://www.whittakermountaineering....country-access/tracker-d.t.s-avalanche-beacon $260
its SO much easier to operate and locate w/ visual indicators (digital). which is going to reduce search time significantly alone.
i started with the cheapo analog beacon, which is better than nothing for someone who either doesn't ride the mtns a lot...or just doesn't ride often.
if you're riding in terrain where you need one, more than once a month, definately spend the extra $ on digital. even if your not..its quite possibly worth while.
my only wish is everyone i rode with had the same..so that if i'm the one barried they can find me more easily as well.
i have a Tracker DTS, that i picked up at a snowshow which was packaged w/ a snobunje for 285$. (265$ w/o the bunje...so the bunje wasn't REALLY free...but...still hard to beat a 20$ bunje)
i just found this link with a quick google: http://www.whittakermountaineering....country-access/tracker-d.t.s-avalanche-beacon $260
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The important thing to remember is that unless you have someone with extensive avy training if your involved with a big group that is burried then chances are most of them will not make it...those are the facts. Most people don't realize how bad they will be in a REAL situation and for that reason the best beacon for most is the simplest. I have done tons of work with teaching and putting beacons into the hands of people that have no training and they actually do so well with that beacon(BCA Tracker). The Mammut and the Pieps are awesome and their functions do work amazing but when the crap hits the fan, many people forget a lot of stuff, not judging, just facts here. Go with the simplest and still do lots of training. Remember that your beacon should just do its functions, the ones with elevation etc. just use more battery power, on that note remember to replace batteries often, use the half used ones in the remote at home and always have fresh batteries with you. I don't want to say money is no object but really they are all quite reasonably priced so go with what you find the easiest.
Also some beacons are good for distance and some for more pinpoint so having different ones in your group is actually good. They will all find each other and I agree with most that has been said above except for the comment about having an older analogue because you don't go that often etc. Infact riders that are not out there all the time should have better training and better beacons. The best way to avoid avy's is to be out there all the time aware of the changing snow conditions, weather and what you see...safe winter to all out there...
Also some beacons are good for distance and some for more pinpoint so having different ones in your group is actually good. They will all find each other and I agree with most that has been said above except for the comment about having an older analogue because you don't go that often etc. Infact riders that are not out there all the time should have better training and better beacons. The best way to avoid avy's is to be out there all the time aware of the changing snow conditions, weather and what you see...safe winter to all out there...
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johnny be bad
Well-known member
our group bought the same beacons. imo thats a better way to go. easier to teach and learn from each other, that way.
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priest lake rmk
Well-known member
I am selling a Ortovox M2 for $100 shipped.
go digital and practice often!!!
Ask him if he went parachuting what he would rather have holding the chute together - cheap string or the proper cord? Does he really want to cheap out on the beacon and be worried about it not working when it really matters?
In the long haul - he won't remember the extra $30 -50 bucks he's going to save. Hard decision but sometimes you have to level with people when its your safety on the line as well. It would be a hard conversation to have with someone's widow if you had to tell them your cheap beacon didn't work when you needed it.
Take him to the local race track and let him talk to some of the good old time race car drivers. Ask them why they buy good safety equipment - most will tell you that when you're heading towards the wall at 80-100 mph, whether or not your 5 point harness and roll cage will save your @ss is the last thing you want to be worried about. I've seen good safety equipment save people's lives.
NSC
In the long haul - he won't remember the extra $30 -50 bucks he's going to save. Hard decision but sometimes you have to level with people when its your safety on the line as well. It would be a hard conversation to have with someone's widow if you had to tell them your cheap beacon didn't work when you needed it.
Take him to the local race track and let him talk to some of the good old time race car drivers. Ask them why they buy good safety equipment - most will tell you that when you're heading towards the wall at 80-100 mph, whether or not your 5 point harness and roll cage will save your @ss is the last thing you want to be worried about. I've seen good safety equipment save people's lives.
NSC
