For someone who is new to avalanche beacons, the Tracker DTS is probably the best way to go, especially if you're wanting to save money. You can save money and go with something cheaper, but you get what you pay for. There are beacons out there that sell for less than $200 new, but it's going to take a LOT more practice and getting used to if you want to be able to find someone with it. If you buy a used beacon, make sure it's still working right (that doesn't just mean it turns on). Over time, beacons can drift off frequency. The further off frequency the beacon gets, the shorter its range will be. So be careful if you buy used (or have it checked to make sure it's still good).
