looking to buy a beacon?????

[IBDRGN]

okay so like it says, i'm going to be getting a beacon and safety gear for next winter. I was wondering which is the most popular and also what you guys have, how you like them, pros and cons and which would be good to get.

I'll be heading out to the mountains for the first time next winter and want to make sure i've got the gear i need to be safe and not have to worry too much.

Thanks in advance IBDRGN

 

[bowerman61028]

Beacon

I have owned a Back Country Access Tracker DTS and now the Tracker 2.

The Tracker DTS is a great beacon and one of the most widely used in North America, although it has its downsides as well. It is only a 2 antenna beacon and the technology is slightly dated for the design. The new Tracker 2 is a better beacon and will help you do the job just that much faster.

The Tracker 2 is a 3 antenna beacon and the ease of use makes it much better for a first time user. The harness and weight also make it superior to the original Tracker DTS.

Although a beacon is an essential tool, it should be just one tool in your extensive avalanche kit. Make sure you have a probe, shovel, and most importantly TRAINING on how to use all these tools. Remember that a beacon does no good unless the other people in your riding group have one as well.

Avalanche safety is one area I would never go "cheap" on. Remember it is your life on the line and your equipment and training could make the difference between you or a friend going home at the end of the day.

Cheap is not the best option but super expensive deluxe is also not the best plan for a first time user. The deluxe expensive versions can be overcomplicated and confusing in a crisis situation. I would say put aside $250-350 and find a beacon you can use and practice with it extensively. Look around and try to find a beacon course to cut your teeth on then begin burial practice by placing a beacon in a pack have a friend burry it and work your search grid to find it. Look around for a local Avalanche 1 course to get some info or look here for people who offer them in your area.

 

[SnowBigDeal]

There are quite a few threads on here about which beacon is best. It all comes down to practice. I recommend a digital beacon as it is easier to learn how to use. The BCA Tracker DTS is the most popular, the BCA Tracker 2 is even faster and easier to use than the its predecessor. You also can't go wrong with the Pieps DSP.

Check them all out at www.snowbigdeal.com

PM me if you have any questions about group pricing.

 

[turbo800rmk]

tracker 2 is so easy, my father in law could even figure it out after a few minutes!

 

[mikew5945]

okay so like it says, i'm going to be getting a beacon and safety gear for next winter. I was wondering which is the most popular and also what you guys have, how you like them, pros and cons and which would be good to get.

I'll be heading out to the mountains for the first time next winter and want to make sure i've got the gear i need to be safe and not have to worry too much.

Thanks in advance IBDRGN

How much money do you have? An avalanche doesn't care. The beacon is a must. Have you looked at the bags? I know they are expensive. The beacon will help you find someone or them to find you. After you tell yourself how much the bags cost ask yourself or your wife what is the amount you are willing to spend after you get buried. The air bags become cheap at that point. If you get one make sure you can fill the tank at a local shop. Sending them away is old school and expensive. I like snowpulse. It protects your head and deflates in 5 minutes giving you air that you can breathe. I always wear a Tracker. Change the batteries at least twice per season. In search mode they use a lot of power. You never want to say "we could not find him because our batteries went dead." Dead batteries cause dead people. Sorry about doom and gloom but always be prepared. If you are not you don't ride with us. Good job on the beacon and make your buddies do the same. Most of all practice practice practice.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

What about your brain?

Got a good head on your shoulders? That is the MOST IMPORTANT tool in the woods. Beacons are the next most important tool.

In saying that, every beacon can find another beacon's signal. Without a doubt a three antennae is mandatory nowadays. That third antennae adds depth to your searches, making them more accurate and faster with signal pick-ups making that 15 minute window a little bigger. The most reputable 3 antenna beacons are the Ortovox S1, the Mammut Pulse, Pieps DSP and Tracker 2. All of these are going to have similar ranges and signal pickup times. The one problem I have with the S1 is it operates like a flip phone which questions its long term durability. The Mammut Pulse is a lightweight beacon but is pretty hard to learn how to use. The Tracker 2 hit the market last fall as has seen great success because of the trusted name of BCA as well as its ease of use. It is also the most affordable 3 antenna. My personal favorite is the Pieps DSP. The one HUGE thing that in my opinion puts Pieps above everyone else is its software. Its ability to check other beacons frequencies, speed, and upgradability was what sold me. Look into its ability to upgrade to the latest software.
Just my $0.02

 

[SnowBigDeal]

It protects your head and deflates in 5 minutes giving you air that you can breathe.

Good post. However, even the air in the ABS bags is "breathable air"; all airbags work via a venturi system that brings in the outside air. ABS uses nitrogen in the canister, but not even 1/3 of the air inside the inflated airbag is nitrogen.
Also, I wouldn't rely on the airbag to deflate to give you air. Even after 5 minutes the SnowPulse is still inflated quite a bit.....as are the other brand airbags.

The primary purpose of the airbag is to keep you afloat in a moving avalanche. All the other features of an airbag are secondary benefits.

My personal favorite is the Pieps DSP.

I too am a big fan of the Pieps.