Are you trying to find avalanche beacons among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling avalanche beacons on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 26 hours of research and did 56 avalanche beacons tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best avalanche beacons you can buy today
- Includes the BCA Tracker S Avalanche Beacon Transceiver, Made by Backcountry Access. The "S" Stands for Simple, which is what you want in an avalanche rescue situation.
- Includes the SnowBigDeal 260 centimeter Avalanche Probe. Made from Aluminum with depth markings in centimeters. A probe helps to pinpoint a buried person under the snow.
- The Avalanche Transceiver includes the carrying harness to hold store the beacon safely against your body.
- Avalanche Beacons operate in Transmit and Receive modes to be able to search for as well as be found by a partner.
- Don't travel in the backcountry without proper rescue gear. This kit includes two of the three essential items: Beacon, Probe, and Shovel (Not included).
- 3-Antenna Digital Transceiver
- Multiple Burial Indicator
- Auto Revert Mode
- Includes Harness and Batteries
- Limited 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty
- English (Publication Language)
- A premium avalanche beacon outfitted with all the features needed for fast, accurate searches in the event of a slide
- 60-meter circular range for extended symmetrical search area. Three antennas. 3 AAA Batteries. 400 Hour battery life
- Housing with soft touch contact points for improved ergonomics and handling
- Mark function for multiple burial scenarios. Interference protection in both search and send modes. Frequency: 457 KHZ ((EN300718))
- . Lightweight harness-style carrying pouch included. Compatible with iProbe for added search capabilities
- The T3 Avalanche Rescue package is great for those looking to gear up for their first backcountry experience, or experienced backcountry travelers wanting to replace their old outdated equipment.
- The package comes with our industry leading Tracker3 avalanche transceiver, BCA's extendable B-1 EXT avalanche shovel, and quick deploying Stealth 270 avalanche probe.
- Package pricing on the core equipment you need to stay safe in the backcountry.
- ✅ Avalanche Beacon - This avalanche gear package includes the bca tracker 3 avalanche beacon / avalanche transceiver and a 240 or 270 centimeter avalanche rescue probe.
- ✅ Avalanche Probe - After locating the backcountry avalanche victim with the tranceiver, use the 240 or 270 centimeter probe to pinpoint the exact location under the snow.
- ✅ Tracker Avalanche Beacons & transceivers are must have items for your backcountry avalanche pack. The bca tracker 3 beacon is an upgraded avy beacon from the tracker 2
- ✅ This Avalanche Rescue Package includes the beacon, harness, batteries, instructions, and a 240 or 270 centimeter avalanche rescue probe. Perfect items to have in your ski or snowmobile pack.
- ✅ 3-Antennae digital backcountry access tracker 3 avalanche transceiver. Multiple-burial signal supression and easy-to-use functionality. The perfect avalanche beacon kit
- Effective digital search strip width: 70 meters
- Digital receiving range: 70 meters
- Extended search range: extended receiving bandwidth (analog): up to 95 m; Extended search strip width (analog): 100 m
- Circular receiving field: almost identical receiving range for X and Y antennas
- Lithium-enabled: also works with lithium batteries: Less risk of leakage. More stable in low temperatures. Longer battery life (350 hours SEND)
- Effective digital search strip width: 70 meters
- Digital receiving range: 70 meters
- Circular receiving field: almost identical receiving range for X and Y antennas
- Display: display with background lighting, very easy to read even when wearing polarized glasses
- Acoustic search guidance: allows the rescuer to visually search the avalanche field
- Antennas: digital three-antenna
- Digital Range: 70m (229.6 ft)
- Functions: acoustic search guidance, reverse direction function, multiple buried subjects, Auto Revert from search to send (after 4 minutes of inactivity)
- Battery: 3 AAA
- Battery Life: [alkaline, 1.5v, 3xAAA] 300 hours SEND
- BCA's High-End Rescue Package for all Backcountry Riders. This Avalanche Kit Beacon Includes the Tracker4 Avalanche Beacon, Stealth 300 Probe, and Dozer 2H-S shovel with Saw.
- BCA Tracker 4 Avalanche Beacon Includes batteries and harness. If you are looking at avalanche beacons & transceivers, you will know this avy beacon is a top of the line avalanche transceiver.
- Backcountry Access Stealth 300 Avalanche Probe is a 300 centimeter probe to assist in pinpointing a buried person under the snow. Regardless whether they were skiing, snowmobiling, or snowboarding,
- This avalanche kit includes the Backcountry Access BCA Dozer 2H-S Avalanche Shovel with Saw. The shovel converts to Hoe Mode to move a greater amount of snow in a shorter period of time.
- Weight of the Avalanche beacon is 7.6oz (including batteries). Weight of the Avalanche Rescue Shovel with saw is 1.98 lb. Weight of the 300 centimeter avalanche probe is 11.6oz
- Unit weight with batteries: 7.6 ounces/215 grams, Harness weight: 3.5 oz/100 grams
- Frequency: 457 kHz, Batteries: three AAA alkaline
- Battery life: minimum 1 hour in search mode after 200 hours in transmit mode (approximately 250 hours in transmit only or 50 hours in search only)
- Range: 50 meters
- Certified to be in compliance with all applicable North American and European norms
- ✅ Includes BCA Tracker 3 Avalanche Beacon/Transceiver
- ✅ SBD 260cm Aluminum Avalanche Probe
- ✅ Beacon Includes Body Harness and Batteries
- Make your dollars go farther with our streamlined value package. Includes Tracker S, Stealth 270 probe, B-1 EXT shovel.
- Housing with soft-touch contact points for improved ergonomics and handling
- Bluetooth functionality allows user to manage settings, software updates and optimization
- Three antennas provide 60-Meter Circular range for extended, symmetrical search area
- Mark and scan function for multiple burial scenarios
- Digital Signal Processor to pick up beacons transmitting drifted signals
- Use Case: Avalanche transceiver with integrated audio and visual support for coarse and fine search in emergency situations (Specs: 7.9 x 12 x 2.3 cm, 210g)
- Simple Operation: Extremely intuitive operation with 360-degree real-time display helps gain precious life-saving seconds
- Protects: Uses Smart Antenna technology to ensure you are found more quickly; feeaturing 3 antennas and a search strip width up to 50m
- Rechargeable: The Diract comes with a rechargeable low-temperature battery that is especially long-lasting and environmentally friendly; even at -20°C, the low-temperature battery provides a reliable power supply, and unlike normal batteries, it will not leak
- Visibility: Even in extreme light conditions, the full-graphic, extra-large screen is easy to read and, thanks to clear instructions and a 360-degree real-time display; intuitive user guidance even in stressful situations
- Avalanche Airbag Powered by the Alpride Supercapacitor Engine and 2 AA Batteries
- BC Link Radio Compatible
- External Shovel Carry System
- Side Stash Pocket
- Removeable Internal Compartment Divider
- The BCA T4 Rescue Package includes a Tracker 4 beacon, Stealth 270 aluminum probe, and B-1 EXT shovel. This equipment is ideal for the everyday recreationalist getting into the backcountry because it's great gear that comes at a package price. If you're new to the sport or have decades of experience and need to upgrade avalanche equipment, the BCA T4 Rescue Package has the reliable kit that will last you many seasons of travel in avalanche terrain.
- Use Case: The Rescue Set Diract is an emergency kit that includes lightweight, reliable avalanche equipment for beginners; highly intuitive and can be easily mastered even in stressful situations
- Avalanche Set Includes: Rescue set includes the Shovel Badger Avalanche Shovel, Diract Avalanche Transceiver and Alu 240 Probe; kit is an ideal emergency set offering reliable avalanche equipment for beginners; ideal for snowmobiling, backcountry tours, and mountaineering
- Badger Avalanche Shovel: Effective, lightweight aluminum shovel with ergonomic hybrid grip offering maximum power transmission (Scoop 2.5l, Weight 625g, Length 70 (45) cm, Blade 28 x 21 x 4cm)
- Diract Transceiver: The DIRACT combines intuitive operation and technology and a handy, clever compact design. It is streamlined to just one button and ensures intuitive user guidance in stressful situations; with clear symbols and 360-degree real-time display. The three-antenna device comes equipped with Smart-Antenna Technology, which auto-analyzes the device’s location and switches to the best-transmitting antenna for rapid response times. (Specs: Dimensions (in mm): 79 x 120 x 23, 210g)
- Probe Alu 240: Intuitive, lightweight aluminum avalanche probe with small pack size (Length: 240 cm)
- Use Case: Diract Voice Rescue Set was designed for beginners who want to be on the safe side; includes lightweight, reliable avalanche equipment that are highly intuitive that are easily mastered even in stressful situations
- Avalanche Set Includes: Rescue set includes the Beast Avalanche Shovel, Diract Voice Avalanche Transceiver and Alu 240 Probe; kit is an ideal emergency set for snowmobiling, backcountry tours, and mountaineering
- Beast Avalanche Shovel: All-rounder, lightweight avalanche shovel with optimal force transmission in a convenient packable size (Scoop 2.3 liters, Weight 1lb. 4.5 oz., Length 32.7/83 cm, Blade 28 x 21 x 4 cm)
- Diract Voice Transceiver: Compact, intuitive, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver integrated with voice navigation to reliably and quickly guide you to your buried companion in an emergency (Specs: 7.9 x 12 x 2.3 cm, 210g)
- Probe Alu 240: Intuitive, lightweight aluminum avalanche probe with small pack size (Length: 240 cm)
- Extendable and packable.
- Positive slip-proof grips on both the shaft and blade.
- Bombproof, packable B-2 blade, oval shaft, and T6 heat treatment.
- Folding saw includes high strength polymer handle and 420 Stainless Steel taper-ground, razor teeth blade.
- Our new generation compact beacon with a unique button trigger option AND movement sensor. Long Range BLE 5.0 but also compatible with BLE 4.0. Shows battery level in broadcast. Button and/or movement sensor can be configured to trigger different broadcasts.
- Broadcasts your choice of iBeacon, Eddystone TLM, Eddystone URL, and/or Eddystone UID format. Eddystone TLM broadcasts battery strength, temperature, and broadcast count data every tenth broadcast. (This is NOT an Eddystone URL beacon for broadcasting your website or ad message to nearby phones. That service has been SHUTDOWN WORLDWIDE by Google as of Dec 6, 2018.)
- Free configuration apps for iPhone & Android allow you to adjust settings according to your needs.
- Transmit distance: 0.2-90 meters. Selectable TX levels: -40, -20, -16, -12, -8, -4, 0, +4dBm
- Our website has very detailed step-by-step instructions with multiple screenshots under the Quick Start Guide menu.
- This beacon is compatible with all bluetooth-capable smartphones as well as with our BLE beacon scanning gateway (Item BCG04 - not available on Amazon)
- (This is NOT an Eddystone URL beacon for broadcasting your website or ad message to nearby phones. That service has been SHUTDOWN WORLDWIDE by Google as of Dec 6, 2018.)
How to choose a good avalanche beacons
Does the idea of finding a fantastic avalanche beacons make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in avalanche beacons. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top avalanche beacons products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top avalanche beacons on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top avalanche beacons brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top avalanche beacons based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the avalanche beacons were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good avalanche beacons, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your avalanche beacons.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting avalanche beacons for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our avalanche beacons. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what avalanche beacons should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on avalanche beacons.
