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Beacons on sale at Backcountry

3K views 35 replies 12 participants last post by  killclimbz 
#1 ·
Just a heads up, Backcountry is doing a deal on their outlet items. By entering the code "SAVE40" at checkout you can bump any outlet deal up to 40% off, and they are also running free 2 day shipping as well.

I just grabbed an Ortovox 3+ beacon (Ortovox 3+ Beacon | Backcountry.com) for $210 marked down from $350. Seems to be a good beacon and got a high rating from beaconreviews.com (Ortovox 3+ Avalanche Transceiver Review and Specifications)

I'm not affiliated in Backcountry in any way so let's not get into that douchebaggery. Just trying to give fellow members a heads up.

Also if anyone has any deals better than this, please let me know so I can possibly save a few bucks! I still need to get a 157+ pow deck...
 
#2 ·
Saw it yesterday! Planning on making another order tonight with one in it. Well worth it. They've got the Mammut Barryvox Pulse on too when I was shopping yesterday.

I don't shop hard but they're rarely cheap from what I've seen. They don't go on sale like outerwear or boards.
 
#3 ·
Yea I really haven't seen too many deals on beacons so I figured this was worth posting. The damn things are expensive so I've been scrounging trying to find a deal.

Got a probe set for $27 shipped too... just need to find a good deal on a shovel and I'll be set. Best I've found is the "lifeline" shovels from Costco @ $30/pair but I'm looking for something a little more dependable.
 
#8 ·
Just a heads up. If any of you are going to do the ride with the pooch thing. The Pieps DSP is the only beacon that works with the Pieps alternate frequency doggie beacon.

So if you are planning to do the dog in the bc thing get the Pieps. It is a great beacon anyway. Arguably the best out there along side the 3+ and the Mammut Pulse.
 
#16 ·
Just jumped on the 3+, its about half the price of the same unit here in Japan.

They will ship here too, but its pricey at 50 bucks, why can't these companies have several international shipping options:dunno:. It should be about 30$ for such a light item.

Anyway good call on this thread:thumbsup::thumbsup:.
 
#22 · (Edited)
The big one is the beacon would turn off after you turned it on. The switch would still be in the on position. I believe that was linville's problem if I remember correctly.*See Linville's response below I was incorrect* There are various things with all of their gear. They just have a higher number of defects that make it to market. I have not heard much about shovels or probes. I do own a BCA Carbon 340 probe. So far it's held up. I am wary. Their packs the last two three seasons have had stitching problems, meaning you need to get them repaired. Great design layout, maybe the best, but they were not holding up.

I don't know what the hell happened either. They used to be the industry leader.
 
#23 ·
The issue I had was that the beacon had fresh batteries and showed battery life in the parking lot well into the 90s. When I pulled it out to do some beacon testing later it was dead. Popped in new batteries and it came right back on. I'm pretty sure the batteries that wouldn't work in it are still in my TV remote to this day. The issue only happened once to me but I'm far from the only person out there to experience a similar issue with a BCA beacon. With so many other options on the market, why risk going with a company that has a history of spotty quality?
 
#27 ·
The one issue I had with my BCA Beacon is that it somehow switched itself to search mode at some point during the day. I was none the wiser until I was walking back to the car and I noticed the inside of my jacket was beeping when approaching a group of skiers standing at their cars.

I'm hoping it was a one time fluke but my next beacon is definitely not going to be a BCA. If I had more money, I'd replace mine sooner rather than later but there are a few pretty expensive snowboard and ski purchases in my near future so a new beacon will have to wait until spring or next season.
 
#31 ·
i've always disliked the tracker/tracker 2. no positive on lock like Orto does on all their shit (pieps too?), way too much panicky sounding bleeping and blurping when searching, poor range...

i would also argue that BCA has never been the industry leader. they may have some flashy marketing in the mags and some good market penetration in the US (most of it likely due to lax pro-forms with cheapo prices), but both orto and pieps are huge in europe and CA - where the bc market is much older, maybe bigger for beacons.

most of their products come at a lower price and are serviceable but usually of lower quality than companies like Black Diamond, Mammut, Pieps, Orto, etc.

that said i believe the orto 3+ had some recalled units last year... all beacons are becoming more and more digitally oriented and i'm sure as with all electronics every company goes thru some failures. personally i wouldnt own a BCA beacon but i ride with people who could be potentially using one to try and save my life, so there ya go.

240 probes suck.
 
#33 ·
Yeah, 240's work in Colorado. Though I would rather have a 265 at the very least. Mostly because you bend over more with a shorter probe. We also had several burials last season that were no joke. The sheep creek avalanche had victims 15ft deep. Ugh. That would suck with my 340. Not that it mattered, it was a body recovery at that time.

If you ever have to participate in a probe line, you'll also appreciate a longer one too. Hopefully no one here ever has to do that.

It is not much of a weight or room penalty to have a longer probe either. For the guy going out 2-4 times a season in Colorado, it is probably all you need.
 
#35 ·
Nother heads up comin atcha.

Just picked up a Black Diamond Bandit pack with an avalung for $67 shipped (Black Diamond Bandit AvaLung Pack | SunnySports)

And another heads up... that website has some not so stellar reviews. So I just requested a price match from a more reputable company and placed my order there. Still would have liked to get the avalung sling, but for half the price I guess I'll take a nice pack instead.
 
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