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SAFETY GEAR

Probe, Beacon, Shovel is the mantra of any backcountry skier but there is more to safety gear than just those items. We've reviewed several avalanche shovels, probes and transceivers in addition to rescue sleds, first aid kits, tarps and backcountry tools so have a read or a watch of the videos and let us know what you think.

View Transceiver Comparison Chart
TRANSCEIVERS  Price RANGE WEIGHT BATTERY SIZE ANTENNAS GEAR OF THE YEAR RATING
MAMMUT BARRYVOX S2 $750 70m 180g 1 AA 68x115x21mm 3 NO 9.5/10
ORTOVOX DIRACT VOICE $495 50m 210g Built-in 120x79x23mm 3 NO 8.5/10
BLACK DIAMOND RECON LT $460 50m 158g 1 AA 110x75x25mm 3 NO 9/10
PIEPS MICRO BT BUTTON $430 50m 150g 1 AA 102x71x18mm 3 NO 9/10
MAMMUT BARRYVOX $600 100m 205g 3 AAA 67x27x115mm 3 YES 9.5/10
PIEPS MICRO $419 50m 150g 1 AA 102x71x18mm 3 YES 9/10
PIEPS DSP PRO $375 60m 200g 3 AAA 115x74x27mm 3 YES 9/10
BCA TRACKER 3 $350 50m 215g 3 AAA 115x71x24mm 3 NO 8.5/10
ARVA NEO $360 70m 230g 3 AA 123x74x31 mm 3 NO 8/10
MAMMUT ELEMENT $355 50m 315g 3 AA 113x75x27mm 3 YES 9/10
ORTOVOX ZOOM+ $299 40m 200g 1 AA 116x79x23mm 3 NO 8/10
ORTOVOX 3+ $235 40m 210g 1 AA 122x73x27mm 3 NO 8/10
PIEPS DSP $450 60m 198g 3 AAA 116x75x27mm 3 YES 10/10
ARVA EVO 3+ $290 40m 305g 4 AA 136x80x300mm 3 NO 7/10
BCA TRACKER 2 $335 50m 330g 3 AAA 128x82x27mm 3 NO 8.5/10

Mammut Barryvox S2 TransceiverMAMMUT BARRYVOX S2 TRANSCEIVER
Date: Jan 7th 2025
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Product Link: Mammut

Read the full review here.

Ortovox Diract Voice TransceiverORTOVOX DIRACT VOICE TRANSCEIVER
Date: March 22nd 2022
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Ortovox

Read the full review here.

Black Diamond Recon LT BeaconBLACK DIAMOND RECON LT BEACON
Date: March 2nd 2022
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Black Diamond

Read the full review here.

Pieps Micro BT Button TransceiverPIEPS MICRO BT BUTTON TRANSCEIVER
Date: March 4th 2020
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Pieps

Read the full review here.

BCA BC Link 2.0 RadioBACKCOUNTRY ACCESS BC LINKS 2.0 RADIO
Date: Feb 26th 2019
Reviewer: Sarah
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Product Link: Backcountry Access

Read the full review here.

Mammut Barryvox S TransceiverGear Of The Year AwardMAMMUT BARRYVOX S TRANSCEIVER
Date: Dec 12th 2018
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Product Link: Mammut

Read the full review here.

Pieps Micro TransceiverGear of the Year 2018PIEPS MICRO TRANSCEIVER
Date: Dec 8th 2017
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Pieps

Read the full review here.

Pieps DSP Pro Transceiver ReviewBackcountry Skiing Gear of the yearPIEPS DSP PRO TRANSCEIVER
Date: April 11th 2014
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Pieps

Read the full review and watch the video here.

Backcountry Access Tracker 3 Avalanche TransceiverBACKCOUNTRY ACCESS TRACKER 3 TRANSCEIVER
Date: Mar 26th 2014
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Backcountry Access

Read the full review and watch the video here.

Backcountry Access BC Links Radio ReviewBACKCOUNTRY ACCESS BC LINKS RADIO
Date: Mar 6th 2014
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Product Link: Backcountry Access

Read the full review here.

Arva Neo Transceiver ReviewARVA NEO TRANSCEIVER
Date: Feb 5th 2014
Reviewer: Jordan
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Arva Equipment

Read the full review here.

Ortovox Pro Alu III Shovel ReviewOROTOVOX PRO ALU III SHOVEL
Date: Jan 15th 2014
Reviewer: Jordan
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Product Link: Ortovox

Read the full review here.

Mammut Element Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver Review Backcountry Skiing Canada Gear of the Year 2014MAMMUT ELEMENT BARRYVOX TRANSCEIVER
Date: Nov 16th 2013
Reviewer: Andrew
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Mammut

Read the full review here.

Ortovox Zoom+ Transceiver ReviewORTOVOX ZOOM+ TRANSCEIVER
Date: Sept 7th 2012
Reviewer: Bradley
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Ortovox

Read the full review and watch the video here.

Pieps Checker, Pieps iProbe and Pipes Bivouac Bag Review PIEPS CHECKER, IPROBE AND BIVOUAC BAG
Date: May 11th 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Pieps

Read the full review here.

Brooks Range Snow Study Kit ReviewBROOKS RANGE DIGITAL PRO SNOW STUDY KIT, RUTSCHBLOCK CORD, SCIENTIST 35 FOLDING SNOW SAW AND 24 INCH SKI STRAPS
Date: Mar 29th 2013
Reviewer: Vince Hempsall
Overall Rating: 5/10
Product Link: Brooks Range

Read the full review here.

Ortovox Kodiak ShovelOROTVOX KODIAK SHOVEL
Date: Mar 20th 2013
Reviewer: Bradley
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Ortovox

Read the full review and watch the video here.

BCA Stealth 260 Carbon Quick Lock Probe BCA Stealth 270 Quick Lock Probe BCA STEALTH 260 CARBON & 270 QUICK LOCK PROBES
Date: Jan 24th 2013
Reviewer: Linda
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: BCA

Read the full review here.

Brooks-Range Quick Tent, Guide Tarp and Kiss Ground ClothBROOKS-RANGE QUICK TENT, GUIDE TARP AND KISS GROUND CLOTH
Date: April 17th 2012
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Brooks-Range

Read the full review here.

K2 Rescue ShovelK2 RESCUE SHOVEL
Date: March 29th 2012
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: K2

Read the full review and see the video here.

Ortovox 3+ TransceiverORTOVOX 3+ TRANSCEIVER
Date: Jan 13th 2012
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Ortovox

Read the full review here.

Pieps DSP transceiverBackcountry Skiing Canada Gear of the Year 2012PIEPS DSP TRANSCEIVER
Date: Oct 10th 2011 - UPDATED April 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 10/10
Product Link: Peips

Read the full UPDATED review here.

Arva EVO 3 TransceiverARVA EVO 3+ AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER
Date: Oct 8th 2011
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 7/10
Product Link: Arva

Read the full review here.

BROOKS-RANGE ULTRALITE RESCUE SLED
Date: Mar 5th 2010
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Brooks-Range

Read the full review here.

ADVENTURE MEDICAL FIRST AID KITS
Date: April 24th 2011
Reviewer: Marian
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Adventure Medical Kits

Read the full review here.

BROOKS-RANGE BACKCOUNTRY MULTI TOOL
Date: Jan 30th 2011 - UPDATED April 2013
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 9/10
Product Link: Brooks-Range

Read the full UPDATED review here.

Backcountry Access Arsenal shovel with Saw and A1 shovel with probe BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS ARSENAL SHOVEL WITH SAW AND A1 SHOVEL WITH PROBE
Date: Jan 18th 2011
Reviewer: Andrew 
Overall Rating: 8/10
Product Link: Backcountry Access

Read the full review here.

BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS TRACKER 2 AVALANCHE BEACON
Date: Sept 29th 2010
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Product Link: Backcountry Access

Read the full review here.

BROOKS RANGE ULTRALITE ALPINI BIVY SACK
Date: Sept 24th 2010
Reviewer: Brad
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Product Link: Brooks-Range

Read the full review here

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