Beacon advice for skier returning to the BC after 8 years

**harpo-the-skier** · 10-25-2024, 11:41 AM

I got out of BC skiing 8 years ago and sold a lot of my gear. I am now going to try to get back into it and need to get some beacons. The BCA T2 seems like the cheapest option and I can get a discount on it. I was pretty good with it back in the day, and got pretty good at multiple burials with it. The TS is a bit more expensive. Can anyone tell me what the improvements the TS has over the T2, or any other advice. I don't need to get top of the line beacons as I intend to stick to meadow skipping compared to the stuff I used to do.

**kamtron** · 10-25-2024, 11:55 AM

The tracker 2 is fairly old at this point. I still have my old one. Compared to my newer Pieps and Mammut beacons, the reliable range is about half (30 m vs 60 m), it has 1 fewer antenna so less precise signalling, and it lacks the ability to mask a signal with the flag function which is very useful in a multiple-burial situation (e.g. beacon park).

I would not buy a tracker 2

**Marshal Olson** · 10-25-2024, 12:09 PM

Not a beacon expert, but made the switch to the Tracker3 years ago and quite happy with the upgrades it brought to the table over a T2. Should also be affordable and easily available. IMO well worth a little extra. Not class leading, but solid, dependable, and intuitive in my experience. After tring a few, I am faster with it that more fancy beacons in normal BC scenarios.

Also awesome to see you back at it, Harpo!

**Sargentdrufus** · 10-25-2024, 12:11 PM

You might not need top of the line but you need better than a tracker 2. Retire that beacon (keep it for drills and stuff) and pick something up that is newer and fits your budget. I personally try to not go cheap when it comes to the life saving gear in my kit.

**MyNameIsAugustWest** · 10-25-2024, 03:06 PM

Agree. T2 is my target beacon for practice.

Like my Mammut but the most important thing is to be comfortable with whatever you buy.

**soul_skier** · 10-25-2024, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by MyNameIsAugustWest

Agree. T2 is my target beacon for practice.

Like my Mammut but the most important thing is to be comfortable with whatever you buy.

Thirded - Just relegated my 3+ to a loaner/practice beacon and am looking forward to lots of practice sessions with a new beacon to dial in the muscle memory with a new system. Pick whatever new beacon meets your technical and financial criteria and practice a ton until you are confident you can flawlessly execute a search under stressful conditions.

**MoeSnow** · 10-25-2024, 04:58 PM

Picked up the Mammut Barryvox and got comfortable with it pretty quickly. I know folks who use the Tracker 3 and like it.

I think Black Diamond has recalled some beacons over the past few years. Knowing that, I would avoid their beacons.

https://www.blackdiamondequipment.co...con-lt-recall/
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Bl...Communications

**Jason4** · 10-25-2024, 09:26 PM

The easy recommendation is a Barryvox. Get the plain version if you just want it to work, get the fancier S version if you’re aren’t too budget sensitive and you’ll learn how to use the extra features. Don’t buy the S if you won’t take the time to figure out how to use the extra buttons. Mammut just released updated versions which means you’ll probably be able to find close out deals on the previous version. The updates are nice, I’m going to get a new Barry S2 for my personal use, but the previous versions are still great choices.

The rest of the current crop of transceivers are ok, some people learn to use one better than another but they all have their quirks. I wouldn’t turn someone away if they show up with a T2 but nobody should be buying one at this point.

**altacoup** · 10-26-2024, 10:49 PM

I have both the Mammut and PIEPS pro. Doing the exact same practice search the Mammut generally picks up the signal further out. The PIEPS/BD beacon works just fine but I do prefer the Mammut in every way except the holder is kind of junk. But I pocket carry 99% of the time.

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**Djongo Unchained** · 10-27-2024, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by altacoup

But I pocket carry 99% of the time.

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Me too. Last winter in Andermatt, our guide was not open to me pocket carrying. I have my reasons based on real life experiences and told him how it was gonna be, one way or the other. He pondered the cash loss and let it slide so I went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And on a side note, Op - don't avoid the BC/pieps line. They have a long record and consistently are top rated.
If you actually read the info on the pieps recall, it was for a simply remedied issue potentially affecting almost no one. .02% affected in all of N. America.

**zion zig zag** · 10-27-2024, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Djongo Unchained

Me too. Last winter in Andermatt, our guide was not open to me pocket carrying. I have my reasons based on real life experiences and told him how it was gonna be, one way or the other. He pondered the cash loss and let it slide so I went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And on a side note, Op - don't avoid the BC/pieps line. They have a long record and consistently are top rated.
If you actually read the info on the pieps recall, it was for a simply remedied issue potentially affecting almost no one. .02% affected in all of N. America.

Shit, the harness for my beacons lives in a tote in my basement as soon as I get them. So zero percent chance that I would even have the option if traveling.

**gregL** · 10-27-2024, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by harpo-the-skier

I got out of BC skiing 8 years ago and sold a lot of my gear. I am now going to try to get back into it and need to get some beacons. The BCA T2 seems like the cheapest option and I can get a discount on it. I was pretty good with it back in the day, and got pretty good at multiple burials with it. The TS is a bit more expensive. Can anyone tell me what the improvements the TS has over the T2, or any other advice. I don't need to get top of the line beacons as I intend to stick to meadow skipping compared to the stuff I used to do.

Why not ask Jonathan S. - he knows more about beacons than anyone else on this board. Personally I like the Barryvox S (also have the Pieps Pro), but haven't used the latest versions of either.

**jackattack** · 10-30-2024, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Djongo Unchained

Me too. Last winter in Andermatt, our guide was not open to me pocket carrying. I have my reasons based on real life experiences and told him how it was gonna be, one way or the other. He pondered the cash loss and let it slide so I went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And on a side note, Op - don't avoid the BC/pieps line. They have a long record and consistently are top rated.
If you actually read the info on the pieps recall, it was for a simply remedied issue potentially affecting almost no one. .02% affected in all of N. America.

They didn't even question me. I clip it into my bib pocket 100% of the time.

**Eastside** · 10-30-2024, 02:56 PM

I just got a couple of the PIEPS Pro IPS. They are pretty nice so far. I prefer their physical functionality to my BD guide and BCA tracker.

**Djongo Unchained** · 10-30-2024, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by jackattack

They didn't even question me. I clip it into my bib pocket 100% of the time.

You remember our guides, it was the older kinda crotchety smoker guy. He lightened up after a run or two. We didn't end up on any slidy surfaces anyway, imo.