While browsing online stores over the weekend, I stumbled upon some great deals on avalanche beacons and airbags. Seems like stores are doing a big Christmas push.
Here, I put together two tables highlighting the best deals from various stores – one for beacons and one for avalanche airbags.
Avalanche beacons
From skimo racing point of view there is one beacon that stands out as it’s very small and light – Pieps Freeride (110g). I use it for racing as well. Then there are other “skimo” options albeit heavier and bigger but with better searching capabilities – Ortovox Zoom (200g) or Ortovox 3+ (200g). Outside of racing, you should choose a beacon based on more than weight and size. 😉
Here’s a table with 24 beacons from various stores ordered by price. Airbags are below.
Avalanche airbags
I do not own an airbag but I am definitely looking into buying one. What held me back from purchasing it in the past were their cost and not many good fitting models. But it seems like the prices have come down a bit and we, as consumers, will be able to afford some comfortable ones.
Like with beacons, here’s a table (ordered by price) with the best current deals of various models from various stores.
Jonathan Shefftz says
Mainly the third antenna: eliminates spike/nulls (i.e., crazy weird nonsensical readings) in the final search phase.
Also, the range is enhanced a bit, an indicator is added for a multiple burial, and I really like the switch for TransmitSearch (which essentially copies the older ARVA design, but much better executed, largely b/c BCA has always had unused internal space b/c of its crossed antennas instead of perpendicular antennas).
Eric Carter says
Jonathan: What makes the Tracker 2 significantly better than the DTS?
Jonathan Shefftz says
A few related thoughts:
– Ortovox added a RECCO chip to all of its beacons for 2013-14, yet made no other changes, so I’ve seen some really crazy deals on the Zoom+ and 3+ from last year.
– The old Tracker DTS can be found very cheaply as BCA gets rid of old inventory, but the Tracker 2 is so superior in every way that I don’t think the DTS’s cost savings are worthwhile.
– The Pieps Freeride is great for meeting the ISMF reg at minimal weight and bulk, but you wouldn’t ever want to use it to try to find anyone.
– Pieps dropped the prices on the DSP Pro and DSP Sport replacements for the DSP (sans appendage) and DSP Tour. The Sport is an amazingly good deal, although it’s been out stock recently as production gets going. Although the Pro and Sport have lots of great improvements the DSP and DSP Tour are still worthy choices, and should end up being discounted very heavily as retailers end up having to deal with the superior Pro and Sport have lower retail prices.
– Another reasonably priced yet highly capable beacon is the Barryvox Element, which is very similar to its more expensive Pulse sibling when used in Basic mode.