Beacon for a fourteen year old?

mulestar · Oct 30, 2011

Hey all, I have a nephew that we need to get a beacon for. He is fourteen and wants to ride with us more and more. He always has had a beacon before, but its time to get him his own. What is a good beacon for a kid that age? Any suggestions?

Thank you.

slash · Oct 31, 2011

the best one you can afford it may save your life.......the tracker looks easy to opperate but the best thing to do is practice...

wag13 · Oct 31, 2011

Im 17...and I've had my trakker 1 since I was 15, and i like it. So i would go with trakker 1 or trakker 2

mulestar · Oct 31, 2011

Thanks I was leaning towards the Tracker 2, and yes we plan on having many "drills". Mainly cause it's my arse he may need to find...

I have the Pieps DSP, but I am not sure if his dad wants to spend that much coin, I love it by the way, and would like it if he got him one. He loves to sled, so I don't think he will be walking away from the sport, so it could be worth it.

SnowBigDeal · Oct 31, 2011

I'm pretty cheap......so for my 9year old I would probably get him the Pieps Freeride beacon because it is cheap and I would be able to find him in an avalanche but at 9 years old I don't plan on him searching for and finding me.

However, if he were 14 years old I would think that he would be able to use a beacon well enough to search for me and hopefully be able to dig me out. So I'd recommend the Tracker DTS at a minimum with my preference being a Tracker 2 for him because it is so easy.

mulestar · Oct 31, 2011

Thanks Snowbigdeal, I bought my Pieps through you, I believe I will point him towards the Tracker II, I am sure we will get it from you. Thanks.

Norona · Oct 31, 2011

Tracker 2 for sure and a nine year old and a fourteen year old can probably find someone quicker than most of the folks on this site. Kids get beacons fast and they usually are fast as well. The Tracker 2 is one of the best as it is simple to use, does not have too many bells and whistles and simpler the better. I would steer clear of the pieps freeride. The DTS is awesome but the freeride not so much..

The Fourth Wolf · Oct 31, 2011

Any person who rides the mountains should have a beacon but more importantly, any person who rides the mountains should be able to assist in the event of an avalanche.

Man, woman or child...if you can't dig, you should think twice about going. If the group is big enough to cover physically weaker members then I guess it could work.

Start this boy's avalanche education now.

shelbwyo · Oct 31, 2011

My dad bought me and my brother tracker 2 and they are nice... They dont use much battery and they are easy to use... Took an avy class last february and it helped me to become more familiar with it... It might not hurt to get your group together and go hide something on a hill and have them find it, just good practice to stay familiar with their equipment. I would get him a tracker 2 they seem to be top of the line and i bet he will be able to use if for a long time.

veritascs · Nov 1, 2011

Age has nothing to do with it.

Find the easiest to use and practice with it beforehand. Simple.

SnowBigDeal · Nov 1, 2011

Norona said:
The DTS is awesome but the freeride not so much..

I agree with you Dave. I guess my point was not that the pieps freeride is a good beacon, but instead it would be good for someone who you want to find, but who may not be able to find you.....regardless of how good the beacon is.

bdoe22 · Nov 1, 2011

ORTOVOX 3+

my vote is for the ortovox 3+.

av8er · Nov 1, 2011

BCA Tracker DTS or Tracker 2

I have an extra DTS Tracker excellent condition, $200 Shipped it was my wife's and she doesn't ride anymore

maximus · Nov 5, 2011

mammut element looks pretty solid as well. Back to one button, i think my pulse is easy to use on the most part but would probably get an element to replace it. i had a tracker 1 before and it was simple to use but the other manufacturers are catching on to this and offering better functionallity at the same price point (eg mammut element, orthovox3+).

Honestly you just need to hide the price tags and go out an try all the 3 antenna beacons and then buy the one that you think that you think works best for you.

deschutes · Nov 6, 2011

2nd on the Ortovox 3+.

Polaris2012 · Nov 7, 2011

mulestar said:
Hey all, I have a nephew that we need to get a beacon for. He is fourteen and wants to ride with us more and more. He always has had a beacon before, but its time to get him his own. What is a good beacon for a kid that age? Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Go with the Tracker very easy to use and works well!! It is also not to expensive

98670x · Nov 8, 2011

deschutes said:
2nd on the Ortovox 3+.

Me three

mastertech · Nov 9, 2011

The tracker is a top choice for many!

But the above stated about the free-ride.. When the free-ride first came out some buddys and myself took one out and myself as well as my buddys could perform the same with it as we did with other leading beacons..

I believe, If you practice and learn what needs to be done and are exsperienced you can go with a little cheaper beacon.

CB.8 · Dec 12, 2011

I just got a Barryvox pulse and my 7 year old can use it without instructions. They have a newer model the element which is basically the pulse in basic mode (the mode I use it in).

sleddin pete · Dec 12, 2011

Any beacon that you know how to use will save someones life.

With that being said my wife and I both have Trackers,easy to learn and use.Haven't tried the second generation but if it's improved it should only be easier to use and better performance.

Beacon for a fourteen year old?

Well-known member

Parts Moderator & Chat Box Cop

Well-known member

Well-known member

SnoWest Paid Sponsor

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

SnoWest Paid Sponsor

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Skidoo hill crew

Well-known member

Similar threads