Where do you wear your transceiver?

**Meadow Skipper** · 08-31-2018, 02:27 AM

Chest harness, pants pocket, leg pocket? I’ve always worn mine in a chest harness, but some people prefer a pocket carry. BCA article discussing some of the pros and cons of transceiver positioning:
https://backcountryaccess.com/where-...e-transceiver/

**NWFlow** · 08-31-2018, 05:13 AM

Chest harness for me as well, but considering changing to pocket carry with a beacon upgrade this year and adjusting to new systems all at once.

**kootenayskier** · 08-31-2018, 06:42 AM

Transceiver on right leg, phone on left chest, with a 24” separation. The article does not address the issue of maintaining security and minimizing fuss with the upper body clothing changes inherent in backcountry skiing, or comfort, which are the main reasons why I wear it on my leg.

**viglio** · 08-31-2018, 07:09 AM

I've worn mine in my upper chest bib pocket for years. I'm probably gonna die because of it. But at least the pocket is internally sewn. Unzip jacket, unzip pocket, beacon in hand - takes all of 3 seconds, even when wearing a pack.

**Name Redacted** · 08-31-2018, 07:20 AM

Left pants pocket. No fighting with layers to get it out. Phone in chest pocket.

**SkiLyft** · 08-31-2018, 07:29 AM

Right pants pocket with phone in left chest pocket. As others have said 24” from phone and pocket is internally sewn.

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**Name Redacted** · 08-31-2018, 07:40 AM

One thing that I have seen that makes wearing in your pants pocket less appealing is when searching and probing the target is smaller. Meaning that when it is on your chest, and you do a fine search, then start probing in concentric circles, you are slightly more likely to get a hit on the chest, than on the hip. If the victim is buried head up, it can take more time and effort to reach the hip pocket to turn off the transceiver as well (for multiple burials).

**thefortrees** · 08-31-2018, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by shredgnar

One thing that I have seen that makes wearing in your pants pocket less appealing is when searching and probing the target is smaller. Meaning that when it is on your chest, and you do a fine search, then start probing in concentric circles, you are slightly more likely to get a hit on the chest, than on the hip. If the victim is buried head up, it can take more time and effort to reach the hip pocket to turn off the transceiver as well (for multiple burials).

Makes sense but I feel like if you’re patient and trust your probing system, you will get a hit eventually. I’ve definitely had practice sessions where my fine search was off and I didn’t strike until my circles were a few feet across.

**Meadow Skipper** · 08-31-2018, 08:23 AM

One of the points in the article (and in a couple of the trainings I’ve taken) was that a chest harness places the beacon closer to your airway, which might help rescuers start resuscitation earlier. Assuming the fine search is right on...or lucky.

**Bruce Springskiin** · 08-31-2018, 08:54 AM

I run hot, so usually am climbing with my jacket off. Getting swept is less likely on the climb but not unlikely so I go with beacon in the pants pocket. I get the airway argument, but hip pocket is still close to your core, and about 6” further from my head. Pants stay on jackets and layers come on and off.

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**Banh Mi** · 08-31-2018, 08:56 AM

Chest harness with phone in right pants pocket, 24” away.

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**kootenayskier** · 08-31-2018, 09:07 AM

The theory that you’re easier to find and quicker to resuscitate if you’re wearing a chest harness isn’t based on any evidence that I’ve seen, and is intuitively of potentially only minor benefit in very specific situations (and may be detrimental in others). For me, the potential for a minor benefit in an extremely unlikely scenario (getting buried) doesn’t outweigh the significant everyday benefits of wearing it in my pants.

**rudy** · 08-31-2018, 09:08 AM

I used to use the harness until I get a bad rib bruise last year from taking a leg to the beacon. Shit hurt for weeks so I've switched to pants pocket and am happy with the new location.

**John_B** · 08-31-2018, 09:10 AM

Pants pocket since I'm usually skinning in a base layer and I hate having my beacon on my outside layer.

**cravenmorhead** · 08-31-2018, 09:12 AM

Chest harness, I don't like climbing with much hardware in my pants pockets due to thunder thigh syndrome.

**Banh Mi** · 08-31-2018, 09:16 AM

Skiing hard with stuff in your pockets suckkks

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**El Chupacabra** · 08-31-2018, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse

Skiing hard with stuff in your pockets suckkks

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Is that a transceiver in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

**Name Redacted** · 08-31-2018, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

One of the points in the article (and in a couple of the trainings I’ve taken) was that a chest harness places the beacon closer to your airway, which might help rescuers start resuscitation earlier. Assuming the fine search is right on...or lucky.

Also another advantage that I was trying to convey.

I still pocket carry though but I'm dumb like that.

**Meadow Skipper** · 08-31-2018, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by shredgnar

Also another advantage that I was trying to convey.

Yeah, I thought your points were worth considering.

I still pocket carry though but I'm dumb like that.

I’m interested in people’s reasons for that, the harness carry has never bothered me.

**BCMtnHound** · 08-31-2018, 09:48 AM

Hip pocket for me. I often have a vhf radio chest harness on.

**mcski** · 08-31-2018, 09:48 AM

Chest harness. More comfortable to me even though sometimes it is a pain w layers.

Didn't read the article, but keeping it attached to you by harness tether during a search seems kind of a must to me.

**TahoeJ** · 08-31-2018, 09:53 AM

Right pants pocket - secure with a zipper closure, not velcro. Has an attachment to loop it on.

More comfortable and further from my phone in my chest pocket.

**GoldMember** · 08-31-2018, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse

Chest harness with phone in right pants pocket, 24” away.

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Same here.

**Name Redacted** · 08-31-2018, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

I’m interested in people’s reasons for that, the harness carry has never bothered me.

Personally, I was doing some training, and teaching at one point so it was just more convenient. Plus, not having to have your jacket open is nice when it's sub zero temps outside. So I guess the habit stuck.

Also, I don't always wear a seatbelt, and rarely wear a helmet. Sometimes my battery power runs below 40%, I don't take batteries out in the summer, and this one time one of the batteries leaked into the chamber and corroded the contacts. Cleaned it off and it still worked so rocked it for another season before retiring it to a practice beacon. I like to live on the edge