Best Avalanche Gear ?

M

METman

New member
Im looking to get a decent transceiver, probe etc. for some out of bounds riding in Montana this year. Does anyone have suggestions on what I should get? I don't want a piece of crap but also don't want to spend on unnecessary features.
 
thanks...i will take a deeper look there, I checked it out briefly, figured I would see if anyone on newschoolers had first hand advice
 
The BCA Tracker 2 is a good beacon for a beginner. When used on single burial situations, it's extremely quick and simple to use. However, the multi-burial mode is not quite as good as some of the other high end beacon. If you want to spend more, Ortovox and Pieps high end beacons are very powerful. I've also heard good things about Mammut, but I've never actually held one.

As far as probs go, I'd probably go with one that's at least 260cm.

For shovels K2 makes a pretty nice shovel that can be used as a 'hoe' to allow faster digging. Also I really like the BCA A-2 with snow saw. It makes it more convenient to carry a saw for digging pits and the shovel itself is bomber.

If you're going to get a float bag, I'd spend the extra $ and get an ABS. If you can't afford an airbag (i can't), at least get an Avalung. You can buy them stand alone for around 120$.

Most importantly, take an Avi 1 course (200-500$) and do some reading. 'Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain' is a very good read.
 
The BCA Tracker is a really good beacon. Easy to use and learn with and while in search mode, it shows you both the direction and accurate distance to the buried beacon. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. Look on craigslist, you can often find used ones for cheaper.
 
Thanks, I am going to scout online for the BCA Tracker 2 and compare it to some other slightly higher range pieces.

I am already signed up for an avalanche course to refresh myself (it has been almost 8 years since I did any major backcountry riding)

The k2 shovel sounds like a pretty good setup, thanks for the tip.

I am going Avi Lung, cant afford an ABS at the moment.

 
For future reference, put this kind of thread or any others that involve questions about ski gear. But I would check out the bca tracker and be sure to check ski magazines like Freeskier or powder cause usually they have a good section on backcountry gear
 
well there's all different sorts of transceivers and other gear..It's more about what you know how to use the most efficiently
 
get the shovel with the extendable handle. it will save your back. going for the lightest shovels and probes isn't the best option because they are more likely to break when you're digging your friend out of avy debris.

TSY.jpg
 
I personally like the Black Diamond deploy shovels much more than any other. They just pop out so quickly are super durable since it's anodized aluminum. I love it. But that's just me.

 
I would spring for the Ortovox S1+ as your beacon.. honestly is the best beacon there is..

its easy to use..compact...excell's with multiple burials and has a digital monitor showing you the direction to the victim in relation to your location..

other then that... BCA or Voile for Shovel and probe unless you have enough coin then bye black diamond everything (except beacon) so just shovel, probe, snow saw..

also a snow study kit from Brooks Range or BCA can be helpful if you are getting into avalanche forecasting or just enjoy geeking out on snow science as well
 
Echoing others comments:

1) Do not buy a plastic shovel. THEY DO NOT WORK IN AVY debris. Make sure it has an extendable handle too, digging in avy debris is HARD.

2) Buy a simple and reliable beacon that is easy to use. The BCA Tracker 1 has proven problems depending on beacon orientation (due to the number of antennas) . Do no get it. The Tracker 2 or Ortovox S3 are easy to use and have good range.

3) If you can swing it, buy an airbag pack. Although they will never replace a beacon, they do just as much to save your life in a slide. They are becoming a basic part of the backcountry kit.
 
wouldn't dream of a plastic shovel ever!

Im testing out a few beacons including the tracker 2 , whatever seems most natural im going to pick.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice, hopefully a bunch of people read this and got a reminder of avi safety before what i'm sure will be a big snow winter
 
Was about to post about the Tracker 1 issues. Ya beat me to it. I have a Tracker 2 and it works very well for me. It's a popular beacon too, which means you will probably have friends with them who can help you with it if you need.

Also, because its more important than anything, TAKE AN AVY 1 CLASS. Your gear is worthless without the knowledge to back it up... and its very important to understand how the snowpack works, and that sometimes you need to trust your gut, even if it seems stable and skiable.

Also... depending on where you ski, I think an avalung pack can be a good investment, mainly if you see getting stuck in tree wells as a regular danger. Not that it's not a good avalanche tool, I just think that it has a dual purpose for sure.

And yeah... an airbag. I wish I could afford one. Although, the entire goal is never having to use your gear in the first place. I think it's crazy how we spend so much money on gear that we hope we never have to use. But its completely necessary.
 
^^^very true , I'll be in montana backcountry zones so a fair amount of tree skiing but beacon,probe, shovel and avi course are all higher up on my list than the avi lung and bag.
 
Yea, I think the avalung is more likely to save your life in a tree well than an avalanche. I rode with one all last year and I seriously question my ability to keep it in my mouth if I was caught in something.

Might work in a soft slab or point release, but in a hard slab? You'll be lucky if you're backpack is still on. Fat chance of keeping that little rubber tube in your mouth.
 
That's the point where Id worry about your airbag popping or being ripped off. Those are the really scary ones. That's why I said it depends on where he lives. I know up here at baker, I want every possible life saving piece of gear, because we get some MASSIVE slides.
 
Truth.

At least you're dealing with a deep maritime snowpack. The continental snowpack we have in Jackson is way sketcher and harder to navigate.

I would bet this guys is going somewhere in Colorado tho, which IMO has the sketchiest snow pack anywhere in the united states.
 
The Tracker 3 is coming out in October, its the same thing but in a smaller package. So the tracker 2 should drop in price then.And if you want just a basic pack (non-avalnug of abs), look at the osprey kode 22/26 or the dakine heli pro dlx or pro II
 
Avalungs are so cheap and create such an unbelievable increase in survival time (assuming no trauma) that its stupid not to have one. I'd say it should be very high on your list, unlike a bag.
 
I read this in a thread made a little while ago but it's a great thing to keep in mind. If you have a Gopro Hero 3 with wifi or bluetooth and it's on, the signal from the camera will screw with the beacon signal and will give an inaccurate reading.
 
dont get a plastic shovel, they blow, bend and cant get through ice and heavy snow. Go with all metal. Blade size isnt that important but bigger is better for jumps and such, they just take up more room, and an extendable handle is always helpful.Look into the tracker 2 for a beacon, easy to use and works really well

 
When it search mode it will give you false readings. Pretty much true with any electronic device (turn them off if you're searching for someone). If I put my tracker to right up to my phone or contour I get a phantom reading of < 1 meter.

So in theory, If you were buried with a goPro on it shouldn't be a huge issue, because it won't fuck up the reading until they are right on top of you. That is of course unless the wiFi signal is able to distort it from further away.

Someone with a new goPro and a beacon should test it.
 
get to know some patrollers, they buy new transceivers every year or too, and you can buy a high end model, lightly used, for cheaper.
 
OH MY BOSH I THOUGHT THIS WAS NEWSCHOOLERS, SINCE WHEN IS THERE AVALANCHES IN THE SNOWBOARD PARK?!?! TAKE YOUR SLIDING SNOW MUMBO JUMBO TO TGR!!!
 
solid idea, i know few guys who are guiding down at yellowstone club this year I'll have to see what the deal ios with used gear.

I am a little hesitant to get used stuff on ebay just because it can be life or death. sometimes i would rather spend the money.
 
That would actually be amazing. An airbag that deployed into a massive blow up doll.

Sounds like McConkey to me.
 
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