Avalanche Transceivers allow equipped skiers to rapidly locate others (similarly equipped) buried in an avalanche. An avalanche victim's chance of survival drops from 93% to 26% within the first 45 minutes of burial so quick rescue is paramount. An experienced person can locate the position of a buried victim in 5 to 10 minutes, during which the chances of survival are greatest. If you intend to ski off piste then a transceiver is a must.

If not equipped with an avalanche transceiver, the buried victim will rely on either a pole search or the arrival of dogs. Both of these methods take at least 35-40 minutes to be started and rescue within an hour is unlikely.

Transceivers work by constantly emitting a radio signal. When a skier is buried then other members of the party can switch their transceivers to receive, and, with practice and training, rapidly locate and dig out the buried person. Transceivers are neither gimmicky nor marginal, they have a proven record of saving lives. Ask any guide, instructor or experienced backcountry skier or boarder.

I hope you will read the information and review linked to above but for those who won't here is the very short summary:

• The Mammut Barryvox is a fully featured unit, simple to use in basic profile but complicated in advance profile.
• The BCA Tracker 2 is the simplest to use 3 antenna digital unit. No menus, no masking.
• All other transceivers offer something in terms of either size, features or price and are fit for purpose but Facewest recommend the two above.

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