can you place your beacon on your backPack - Snowboarding Forum

marcdeo · 11-16-2011, 01:26 PM

I have almost NO back country experience (not REAL back country anyhow) and I am in the process of gearing up for Revy in january. I will be venturing off piste, but i plan to keep it as safe as possible. (been doing ALOT of research)....

I realize they recommend beacons to be strapped around your chest/waist (depending on harness) but since everyone wears a backpack, can I not just place it there? Stupid question probably, but any help would be great.

david_z · 11-16-2011, 01:33 PM

I am no expert, but in the event you're caught in a slide you could easily lose a backpack, and if you're beacon is in the pack, it might as well be in Turkmenistan because it won't help anyone find you unless it's on you.

Wear the beacon around your chest, under your coat.

sm0ke · 11-16-2011, 01:38 PM

why dont you be smart and take an avi course?

ShredLife · 11-16-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_z

Wear the beacon around your chest, under your coat.

this......

bcasey · 11-16-2011, 01:40 PM

Do what you want imo... its your life.
Seems pretty common-sense to have it attached close to your body and not in a article of gear that comes off/unclipped with some force.
If your guide gives you shit about it.. are you going to argue with him that some people on a internet forum told you otherwise?

**killclimbz** · 11-16-2011, 02:17 PM

You can place it there and it'll work just fine. The problem is that the chances of you getting separated from your pack in an avalanche are much greater than getting separated from your chest.

I always wear my beacon over my base layers and under my jacket. Minimal chance of it getting ripped away. Plus you really don't notice it's there and you look cool at the resort bar with you jacket off drinking a beer.

romesaz · 11-16-2011, 03:03 PM

I've no experience, so this may be moot, but I've seen this as a concern before...
Your chest will keep the beacon warmer, and thus allow a better operating temperature for the batteries in the beacon. Meaning that it will not fail in the cold, as it may in the backpack.

**killclimbz** · 11-16-2011, 03:10 PM

I would have to be awfully damn cold for that to happen to a beacon with fresh batteries, but I suppose it could.

Regardless, the beacon is much better suited to be strapped (insert jokes) onto your persona.

ShredLife · 11-16-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killclimbz

I would have to be awfully damn cold for that to happen to a beacon with fresh batteries, but I suppose it could.

Regardless, the beacon is much better suited to be strapped (insert jokes) onto your persona.

do NOT insert beacon.

**killclimbz** · 11-16-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShredLife

do NOT insert beacon.

Well the batteries would sure stay warm...

11-16-2011, 01:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
marcdeo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Toronto, CA Posts: 185	can you place your beacon on your backPack I have almost NO back country experience (not REAL back country anyhow) and I am in the process of gearing up for Revy in january. I will be venturing off piste, but i plan to keep it as safe as possible. (been doing ALOT of research).... I realize they recommend beacons to be strapped around your chest/waist (depending on harness) but since everyone wears a backpack, can I not just place it there? Stupid question probably, but any help would be great.

11-16-2011, 01:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
david_z Official SBF Blogger Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Detroit suburbs Posts: 3,032 Blog Entries: 5	I am no expert, but in the event you're caught in a slide you could easily lose a backpack, and if you're beacon is in the pack, it might as well be in Turkmenistan because it won't help anyone find you unless it's on you. Wear the beacon around your chest, under your coat. __________________ Repping the world's smallest mountains... Mt. Holly - 12 Pine Knob - 9 Alpine Valley - 2 Vail - 4 Breckenridge - 3 Crystal Mountain (MI) - 3 Hawk Island Snow Park - 5 Caberfae Peaks - 1 Boyne Mountain - 1 aGNARchy: no rules, just gnar!

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11-16-2011, 01:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
sm0ke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 139	why dont you be smart and take an avi course?

11-16-2011, 01:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
bcasey Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 94	Do what you want imo... its your life. Seems pretty common-sense to have it attached close to your body and not in a article of gear that comes off/unclipped with some force. If your guide gives you shit about it.. are you going to argue with him that some people on a internet forum told you otherwise?

11-16-2011, 02:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,255	You can place it there and it'll work just fine. The problem is that the chances of you getting separated from your pack in an avalanche are much greater than getting separated from your chest. I always wear my beacon over my base layers and under my jacket. Minimal chance of it getting ripped away. Plus you really don't notice it's there and you look cool at the resort bar with you jacket off drinking a beer.

11-16-2011, 03:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
romesaz Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 351	I've no experience, so this may be moot, but I've seen this as a concern before... Your chest will keep the beacon warmer, and thus allow a better operating temperature for the batteries in the beacon. Meaning that it will not fail in the cold, as it may in the backpack.

11-16-2011, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
killclimbz Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Front Range Posts: 9,255	I would have to be awfully damn cold for that to happen to a beacon with fresh batteries, but I suppose it could. Regardless, the beacon is much better suited to be strapped (insert jokes) onto your persona.