The 6 Best Avalanche Beacons of 2024
By: Jordan Berde: Ski Buyer | October 18, 2023
Few pieces of ski equipment have as much of an impact on your safety as your avalanche beacon. Your beacon is quite literally your lifeline in avalanche terrain, it’s your only method for finding your friends, or being found by them if the worst happens. So it should come as no surprise that companies are always trying to improve and innovate their transceivers. We’ve come a long way from the days of clunky transceivers with poor battery life, that required the user to plug in headphones. When buying an avalanche beacon the best beacons are quick, precise, and easy to use.
New This Year:
The 2024 season underscores the importance of innovation and reliability in the avalanche beacon arena. With a focus on minimalist designs, the latest beacons on the market are both lightweight and packable, making them essential companions for those venturing into the backcountry. These devices combine simplicity with functionality, a blend that is crucial in time-sensitive rescue scenarios. The compact design doesn't compromise performance, ensuring that adventurers have a trustworthy tool at their disposal when it matters the most. The continuous evolution in safety gear emphasizes the industry's commitment to providing enthusiasts with efficient and user-friendly devices for enhanced security on the slopes.
This Year's Best Avalanche Beacons:
Black Diamond Recon X
The Black Diamond Recon X Avalanche Beacon takes the place of the previous Recon BT, with its 60 meter circular range, three antennas, and Bluetooth® connectivity. In addition, you can download the PIEPS app and manage your beacon settings and update firmware from your phone.
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 60 m | Compatiable w/ iProbe for added search capabilities | $349.95 |
Mammut Barryvox
A complete re-design of the industry-leading Pulse and Element beacons brings us the new Mammut Barryvox Avalanche Beacon with improved performance, simpler operation, and better impact resistance. Revamping on a great product is never easy, but Mammut's had the Swiss gnomes working overtime on the new Barryvox. With an enhanced, 70 meter recommended search strip (previously 50 meters), clearer visual interface, and better one-handed operation even with gloves on, the Barryvox sets a new standard in avalanche safety tools.
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 70 m | Auto Revert To Send Mode | $384.95 |
BCA Tracker4
The best in the business just got even better. The BCA Tracker4™ Avalanche Beacon takes everything you know and love about the Tracker3™ and upgrades it with a larger LED display and a rubberized over-molded case for better grip and durability. Featuring a fast, intuitive interface along with signal suppression and Big Picture modes for multiple burial scenarios. this workhorse offers is simple to use and dependable when you need it most.
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 55 m | Close Proximity Indicator | $399.95 |
BCA Tracker S
The BCA Tracker S™ Avalanche Beacon is a new offering from BCA that incorporates most of the proven Tracker 3's capabilities but leaves off the motion detection and upgradeable software features for a more reasonable price. Max range and search strip specs are still top notch at 55 meters and 50 meters, respectively, and as with other BCA beacons operation is simple and intuitive.
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 55 m | Temperature Resistant LED Display | $299.95 |
Ortovox Diract Voice
When it comes to avalanche rescue, simplicity, clarity, and ease of use reign supreme. The Ortovox Diract Voice Avalanche Beacon stands out with a unique voice navigation system that guides you during rescue with clear spoken instructions. Three Antenna search with a 50 meter search range lets you flag up to 4 people in the case of a rescue, and its single button operation makes it easy to focus in the heat of the moment. Don't let stress fog your judgement, get the Diract Voice and know exactly what to do, every time.
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 50 m | Clear Speech Navigation | $450.00 |
Arva Neo BT Pro
Featuring everything you need for a productive search and rescue, the Arva Neo BT Pro Avalanche Beacon goes above and beyond send and receive to make your life easier. Its signature Bluetooth function connects to the Arva App, and it features both digital and manual modes. Group check and a four victim display marking system helps when a big group is present, and standby mode keeps your device on and ready if you have to shovel. No one wants to be involved in an avalanche, but you need to be prepared. The Arva Neo BT Pro Avalanche Beacon ensures you have the tools to act when mother nature says "not today."
| Search Range (m) | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| 80 m | Automatic Revert To Transmit | $429.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Backcountry Guides:
- Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
- Backcountry Gear - Checklist
- Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
- Avalanche Beacons / Transceivers - How to Choose
- Avalanche Shovels - How to Choose
- Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
- Avalanche Airbags - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Skis - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Boots - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Bindings - How to Choose
- Dynafit (Tech) Bindings - Getting Started
- Backcountry Basics - How to Skin
- Climbing Skins - How to Choose
- Climbing Skins - Size Guide
- Climbing Skins - Weight Chart
- Climbing Skins - How to Cut/Trim
- Outerwear & Layers - How to Dress for the Backcountry
- Splitboarding - How to Get Started
Discover Our Favorite Gear:
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jordan Berde
Jordan (she/her) is a Ski Buyer at evo. Before working in this role, she worked at the evo Denver store for two years, where she began as a bootfitter and quickly moved into Store Lead and then Store Supervisor roles. Prior to evo, Jordan worked as a bootfitter at other shops, a mountain bike instructor for kiddos in Colorado, a ski patroller in Alaska, and a liftie in Taos. She's an avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer and recently summited Mt. Baker as a fundraiser for SheJumps, a non-profit committed to getting more women involved in the outdoors.She started sliding on snow later than most (in her late 20s), but now she’s the friend getting up at 4 am to make sure she can get a dawn patrol lap in before work! Jordan is passionate about diversity and inclusion and making outdoor activities more inclusive to all genders, races, and ability levels. When she's not skiing, Jordan is likely on her mountain bike exploring all that Colorado and Washington have to offer with her wife. Some say she never stops moving…