Gear Review
Mammut Pulse Barryvox Avalanche Beacon
the best: full of technology, all the bells and whistles
By Matthew Tabrys
Ranked #37 - Avalanche Beacons
January 19, 2009
This thing is super pricey. But it is expensive for a reason. A) It is the best beacon on the market B) It has all the bells and whistles...and then some. Granted A and B go hand in hand, but still. This beacon operates on three antennae signals to locate burial victims, so you are guaranteed to pick up a strong reading. When looking for victims this beacon utilizes a 360 degree direction arrow, making it easier to find burial victims. It also displays signals from multiple burial victims, upto 8, and displays them by closest to farthest. You can also lock into a burial, so that you are distraction/distortion free from other beacon signals being broadcasted, making finding a buried victim much easier, and allowing you to do so in a shorter time. This beacons is also relatively small in size and fairly lightweight, making it less of a hinderance to wear than other beacons. And the cherry on top...this beacon, when wearing, detects motion from you breathing and your heart beating, so that if other skiers in your party have this beacon as well, they can tell if you're still alive. Great feature! If you are looking for the best beacon, the most chock full of technology beacon, and/or the most efficient beacon to use in a recovery situation, there should be not other beacon on your list but this one. Mammut really nailed it with this one. You get what you pay for. You might be paying a lot more than for other beacons, but you're getting a lot more also...you're getting the best!
View Details: Mammut Pulse Barryvox Avalanche Beacon
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Change me.
3 Comments Last Reply: March 3, 2011 By: Sean Mumm
wys3770617: To answer your question I will run you through a scenario. You are in a party of 5 (all of which are using the Barryvox). The avalanche has taken out 3 of you, leaving only 2 to do the rescue. Your beacon picks up all 3 buried victims but only 2 are giving vitals readings. Being that this slide has taken out 3 of you it is likely that is was a major slide, one capable of ripping out trees and leveling buildings. You now have to decide who to unbury first. This is a tough decision but one that has to be made, FAST. Logic would dictate that you rescue one of the 2 that have vitals first and then move on to the other victim with vitals and finally the 3rd victim who unfortunately is likely to already be dead from sever trauma. This is a very sad and unfortunate scenario, one that I hope no one ever has to be in, but one the illustrates the advantage the Barryvox has in avalanche rescue.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Heaven forbid you should ever be in a scenario where you have multiple burrials... you go after the one with the pulse first.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Just wondering...what is the purpose of the vital sign detection? If I'm buried, I want my friends digging me out regardless of whether or not they are receiving vital signs. I certainly don't want them stopping, giving up, or becoming disheartened simply because they're receiving no vital signs from me. A little cpr may be all I need to jump-start my tumbled rear end. Even if I received a beacon with that function, I'd be highly motivated to find a way to switch it off. Find me quickly, then worry about whether I'm breathing or not. My two cents. Out.
Helpful Votes: 4 Yes