Thread: Avie Beacons at REI

Idris and Splat told me to get one for this upcoming trip. Since they know their shit and I don't want to die I'm getting one.

Here's what they have:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...acon&x=17&y=15

BCA Tracker $300
Ortovox F1 $240
Ortovox X1 $290

Which is the best one?

Oh, and does Return Everything Incorporated let you return them?

Originally posted by Punani
Oh, and does Return Everything Incorporated let you return them?

Yeah, just don't rip the shit out of it.

If you aren't goin to be able to practice a lot with the thing, I'd go with the all digital Tracker.

2 cents.

Don't forget about the Mammut. I search with it at about the same times as i did with the tracker but i like the harness system better on it.

Tech Tizzle Nizzle!

BCA for me but to each their own. Use whatever you can save my ass with. Mucho tech over on teletips.com

Tracker yo.

For any beacon - take the avy 1 class, but if you're going to go analogue make sure you're going to be able to practice on a regular basis (at least every other week in winter). After I took my class I felt pretty capable w/either system (and I already owned the BCA Tracker), but a couple months later I practiced with each and had a very hard time with an older F1 - Tracker: still simple to use.

The best deals I've found are here:
http://www.avalanchetools.com

Tracker, decent probe and metal shovel (possibly w/woodsaw) for $340 shipped!

Also, if you have any time to practice running beacon and probing searches before going to Europe I would seriously suggest it. [/assuming Tom and Splat will appreciate it if you actually know how to find them and dig them up...]

Originally posted by shamrockpow
...analogue...

Dude, are you English?

Originally posted by iceman
Dude, are you English?

I'd guess Irish by the handle...

Just giving him a hard time...in America we spell it "Analog".

Generally.

Don't go labelling me or making crazy generalisations. I'll try to practise spelling more American for you. Any crazy behaviour is just caused by english spell checking and I'll try and get with the programme.

PS: check out the British spellings of fulfil, fulfilling, fulfilment, and fulfiller to really make your head spin

I do not work at REI

I joined the REI co-op, which is 15 dollars to become a life time member(really cheap in the long run, and you earn cash). The way it works is you pay 15 dollars(only once) to join the co-op and at the end of the year REI will typicall give you 10-15% of the money you have spent at their stores. This depends on if REI sells alot of product that year and how generous they feel, but it averages 10-15% money back like I said earlier. 15% of the BCA tracker is $44.85 so you have already earned money by joining the co-op. And if you purchase alot of gear from REI I would reccommend joining since you save/earn a lot of cash. All you have to do is go Here and you can join.

I've owned a Tracker and a Mammut. Loved them both.

Definitely go digital/directional though.

Vote goes to the Ortovox, much bigger range and it's still user friendly

If you have to debate between beacons because of cost, please make sure you spend some money to learn how to use one, or at least have someone willing to learn ya... [/preaching]

Tracker ownerizes.

SP
I just picked up 2 Trackers DTS (digital). I have not used any other brands so I cannot reco one over another. But... Last night I was letting my kids use them in the house and both my 12 and 9 year old had little trouble locating the "victim" (msg easy to use!). Each loved taking turns hiding and searching. We are heading out to the woods this afternoon to do some more "testing".

Frankly, if you are moving your skiing toward more and more off-piste I think your life and others are well worth the 350 - 400$.
If you don't want to spring for one you could borrow one of mine when we ski together. (you can borrow the shovel and probe, too.)

Another reason to have a peep. Sure you may always be in bounds and never ever get caught, but what if you see another poor soul get trapped. Shit, without a device, shovel and probe you are nearly worthless to help out in an emergency. (well, I guess you could get on your cell phone and try to find help.) It is called looking out for each other.

No shovel? Yeah, just cause you found me... now what? Spring for a shovel and probe, too!!!

Actually, I read a post above and it is good advice! Look for a BCA package deal. I got the BCA "special"; the Tracker, w/ the Tour Shovel System (6' probe stores in the handle). Paid 450CHF. About 380 US $.

LITT

Originally posted by char
Yeah, just don't rip the shit out of it.

Yeah, I am a member... and, if you return it, please include FRESH batteries for the next person who "borrows" it!!!

LITT

Originally posted by iceman
Just giving him a hard time...in America we spell it "Analog".

Generally.

So "Rogue" should be Rog and "Vogue" shold be Vog?

TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK TECH TALK


I use the Ortovox F1

I'd reccomend the F1 if you are goin to use your beacon a lot and practice often.

For you, I'd recommend the X1 if you are going to keep and use your beacon sometimes and practice sometimes.

I'd reccomend the DTS if you planned to rarely use and practice your beacon or plan to return it.

if you try doing a hidden beacon search indoors, your signal is going to get bounced all over the place. Walls have metal, I-beams, all sorts of shit that distorts the signal. Try going out into an empty field and do it there. Basically, do 'em outside.

for a beacon JONG like yourself Poon; spend the extra cash and go with the Tracker

Splat will thank you later

well, i have an f-1 and it works fine. definitely takes a bit more skill/practice to use.

that being said, if i was buying a new one it would be the DTS - no question.

our friend "derf" once said that he was going to buy a DTS, and then just give it to whoever he is skiing with that day so they can save his ass faster...

Originally posted by Xover
for a beacon JONG like yourself Poon; spend the extra cash and go with the Tracker

Splat will thank you later

Definitely. You'll just have to satisfy a few extra women to make up the difference in $$$.

I was in a beacon comp at Fernie and the results were not as most of you would expect. Overall the anolog F1 or SOS were quickest with a guy with a hybrid second in the first round. Now this guy had just finished his level 1 course. All of the trackers didn't make it into the second round of top 5. I'd say overall they were the slowest. Quick to get in the general area but very slow to pin point the beacon. Now you could say that pin pointing a beacon is not real life and once you get in a 1 meter box you probe .

Second round the guy with the hybrid ( maybe a Ortovox M2) was supper fast on a two beacon search .( first becon found was not turned off) . The feature to go from dig to anolog for the pin point I think made him the fastest and well just finishing his level 1.