Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Recently I've bought the same package, but I haven't tested them yet.
What do you want to know:
- Size of the showel?
- Size and weight of transceiver? How do transceiver fare?
- Probe?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Bennyboy1, what's not to like?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Quality of shovel mainly. Does it take up much pack space etc. Quality of build.
Also the transceiver - easy to use - with gloves etc?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I used one of these for my BASI mountain safety course last season, so a week of digging snow pits, burying rucksacks, finding them again with the transceiver and probe etc. It all did a good job. The shovel is pretty solid but folds up small enough to carry relatively easily - it doesn't really take up much space in your pack, and the handle could always strap on to the outside if necessary. The transceiver did a good job, and is easy to use, but I think the consensus was that some of the modern mammut ones were slightly better: able to detect from a few metres further away, and gave a more reliable route to follow when there were multiple burials, or just other people in the area with a transceiver on. I was happy with it none the less.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There are independent reviews of all the current and past transceivers here:
http://beaconreviews.com/transceivers/transceiver_reviews.asp
The reviewers only real negative comment of the 3+ is the non intuitive mode switch. But I skied with a couple of people with these last season, and they didn't have any complaints.
I've had Ortovox shovels and probes in the past and not had any issues.
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@PowderAdict, @kieranm,
Thank you for the quick feedback. I will have a look at the mammut reviews.
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This pack looks good value. A bit more expensive but mammut transceiver is about 20m range than the Ortovox.@kieranm, was this the one you had seen others use on the course?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Bennyboy1, I have had the Mammut Barryvox Pulse for 5 years. I have also tested the Ortovox S1+, BCA Tracker 3 and Pieps DSP Pro, but still prefer the Mammut.
The key features for me are the long range, the 360 degree direction pointer, and with the latest version 4.0 software the intelligent search mode, which performs an automatic bracketing fine search, you do exactly what it tells you to do, and in testing drops me on target with amazing accuracy.
The main downside is that it appears to be more susceptible to electronic interference than some of the other models.
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I used the Ortovox 3+ package for the Spring Off Piste Bash back in March. Thankfully not needed for real but in practice sessions all worked well. Lots of other folk on the trip using the same gear (including some of the instructors/guides) so seems to be well regarded. There are more expensive transceivers with more features but unless you're planning on using it a lot I think it's best to stick to something relatively simple like the 3+. If I was buying safety kit now I'd happily buy this package again.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I think the point with transceivers is that if it is going to be a loaner then it needs to be as intuitive as possible as you may be relying on the person you've lent it to to use it effectively. If it is your own you should practise enough that you can use it consistently even in a panic/stress situation so I think intuition is less critical.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I still rate the Mammut Element Barryvox as one of the best I have seen for price / ease of use / performance. Basically a Pulse with some of the more complex features suitable for guides etc dropped off. I bought one myself and love it.
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Everyone this is really helpful thank you.
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You know it makes sense.
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It's very personal, most of the modern avi beeps are pretty close in performance, but it's how much you practice both searching and digging that makes the difference if you ever need to use them.
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