>>811407>I moved to an avalanche prone area and a couple people died this past year. Need to get me one!Start with the training.
Learn how to recognize avalanche terrain and evaluate snow conditions. Go over the avalanche bulletin and look for the signs of instability as you ride.
Practice rescue scenarios - hazard identification, signal search, coarse search, clues, pinpoint search, probe and shoveling techniques. Ride with others that have this training/equipment too!
Also recommend basic first-aid training.
Go for a class, get some education, and play with some gear before you make the investment.
Beacon, shovel, probe are bare-minimum.
Some beacons have a lot of features and buttons. Others are simple.
Analog vs. digital, go digital.
One vs. Two vs. Three antennas - 3-antennas are faster and more accurate. Go with a 3-antenna beacon. (I have a Tracker 2.)
Shovels have a lot of different features. The saws in some of them are mostly useless. Some convert from a shovel to a hoe, that's convenient in some situations. Too big and you'll be tempted to take bigger bites, wearing yourself out faster. (BCA Dozer.)
Probe... 270cm is a good length to work with. I prefer a 300, but because reasons I'm carrying a 270. It's rare I "need" that extra 30cm. Important things here are a quick/easy latching system, and solid when assembled. (Stealth 270 in my pack.)
GET TRAINING!!! Don't think I can stress this enough. Best tools in the world won't help you or your buddy if you can't effectively manage and execute a rescue.
Pack comes secondary to the rest of the gear/training. Pack you wear for you, the rest of the gear's for the crew you're riding with.
I've got friends who have been killed in avalanches (the reason I do what I do). Two friends killed just this year.
I've also got a bunch of friends who are alive and still riding today because they have the gear, training, and so does the rest of their riding group.
