The Finest Avalanche Beacons of 2024-2025

Avalanche beacons (also known as transceivers) are life-saving devices used by backcountry skiers and split boarders, mountaineers, hikers, or anyone venturing near or into avalanche terrain. We place a lot of emphasis on the type of skis, bindings, and boots you use for backcountry pursuits. However, rescue gear, like a beacon, is critical to survival, so why not choose the best avalanche beacon out there?

We extensively tested six avalanche beacons to determine which is the best on the market. We pitted each beacon against the rest in a variety of single and multiple burial scenarios. Lead tester Spencer Herford, an AIARE Course Leader who has been using and practicing with beacons for over 20 years, ran every beacon through multiple scenarios.

He also enlisted fellow professionals, former students, and several ski partners to help by using these beacons during testing. We did all our testing in the central Colorado mountains. We evaluated these beacons based on ergonomics, ease of use, ability to be updated, special features, and range. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option like the Mammut Barryvox or a top-of-the-line performer like the Arva EVO BT, we’ve got you covered.

Below, you’ll see how the entrants fared based on our rigorous testing. To compare each beacon, check out our comparison chart. Peruse the buyer’s guide and FAQs to make an informed decision before buying the best beacon for your needs.

The Best Avalanche Beacons of 2024-2025

Avalanche Beacon Comparison Chart

How We Tested Avalanche Beacons

Why You Should Trust Us

Our main tester, Spencer Herford, is an avalanche instructor, backcountry skier, and split boarder who has been using beacons for over two decades. He is an AIARE Course Leader, split board and ski guide, and a graduate of the Colorado Mountain College Avalanche Science Program. Fortunate enough to learn from countless leaders in the avalanche safety realm about snow science and rescue, Herford has participated in, led, and designed countless rescue scenarios.

As an avalanche educator, he has had the honor of starting many people’s backcountry careers. Often, this includes coached rescue drills. As a result, he gets to see every beacon on the market used in a range of rescue scenarios. This makes him uniquely poised to advise how each beacon shines and where each could use some improvement. Because he is out there over 100+ days a year, year after year, Herford also stays abreast of technological advancements. He also has his finger on the pulse of improvements (or failures) made on beacons from year to year.

Our Avalanche Beacon Testing Process

We used each beacon in single and multiple burial rescue scenarios designed to mimic real situations a rescuer might face. Each beacon was tested multiple times in these mock rescues. We looked at how fast each processed signals and how well it handled EMI. We also tested to see how it operated with gloves on and how intuitive it was to use. We enlisted the help of backcountry partners, former students, and professional colleagues to give more targeted feedback on scenarios.

We tested in several venues in central Colorado, many of which are used in avalanche education courses. These are usually large open areas free from distraction that simulate a debris pile. Each scenario started from the point last seen, which was outside of the search area. We then turned the beacon to search mode and started search strips to find the signal, usually in 40 m strips. As we tested beacons, we also tried the manufacturer’s recommended search strips to gauge how well those worked. Once a signal was acquired, we followed the arrows and distance to the sending beacon. As we approached below five m, we did our fine search with the beacon close to the snow surface. After finding the lowest number, we verified with a probe strike.

Beyond rescue simulations, we also carried these beacons on personal backcountry tour days. We did trailhead departure checks to make sure each member had adequate battery power (usually above 60%) and could send and receive a signal. We also looked for how well the supplied harness carried the beacon or how the beacon fit into a dedicated rescue pocket in ski pants. If you’re looking to round out the rest of your touring kit, check out our guides to the best backcountry skis, bindings, and boots and our latest round-up of the best climbing skins.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Avalanche Beacons

Avalanche rescue technology is an ever-changing landscape. Just look at how beacon technology has changed in recent memory. We started with single-antenna analog beacons that were difficult to use. We have now progressed to new modern three-antenna beacons that are incredibly intuitive and fast, even for new users. We would recommend you consider a few things when choosing an avalanche beacon.

Ergonomics

Everyone has different-sized hands and uses different types of gloves outside in winter. Some folks deal with freezing hands and use thicker gloves. We encourage you to wear the gloves you plan to use most often when trying out beacons. Make sure you can turn it on and switch modes effectively. Taking gloves off to use rescue gear can lead to cold or wet hands. We tried each beacon with various gloves to see how easy it was to use. The Ortovox Diract Voice stood out among the tested beacons as the most comfortable and easy to use.

Range

Range, or the distance from which a beacon can pick up a signal is a complicated metric. Although important, it’s not the only factor to rely on when choosing a beacon. It makes sense to want to pick up a signal from as far away as possible because this allows rescuers to get to the actual grunt work of the rescue (shoveling) more quickly.

However, in some cases, the ability to pick up a signal at a more extended range comes from a beacon’s increased sensitivity. Ultra-sensitive beacons can be prone to more cases of EMI, which can make a rescue more difficult due to phantom signals or misdirection. Mitigating EMI is an area of notable innovation in the past few years. Many beacons are integrating software to handle this interference. In some cases, beacons can even mask it or process it out. Some beacons we tested will also notify you of EMI with an icon. Or, they will tell you to shorten search strips to better filter out the noise.

Generally, our testers recommend beacons with more extensive receiving ranges because rescuers can close the gap to a victim faster. It also increases the potential to pick up multiple buried victims faster to deploy resources better. The Arva Evo BT and Mammut Barryvox are the clear winners for range in the test. The Black Diamond BT Pro and Recon X rank close behind.

Special Features

At the basic level, an avalanche beacon needs to be able to send and receive a signal from other beacons. Beyond that, we see a few special features that can be helpful depending on how you plan to use the beacon.

Flagging

A major one is a flagging mode, which essentially tells your beacon to ignore a signal and give information on the next signal. This is helpful in multiple burials; many professionals see this as essential. For recreationists, if you are skiing in avalanche terrain, the best rule you can follow is to expose only one person at a time to the hazard. Many times, recreational avalanche rescues tend to involve only one buried individual, which makes flagging less critical. If you use flagging, you need to be absolutely sure you are masking the correct signal.

Group Check Mode

Beyond flagging, many beacons can feature a group check mode, which is helpful for making sure your partners are sending a signal. This mode shortens the beacon’s receiving range and allows for these departure checks even if there are many other groups around you.

Auto Revert to Send

Imagine if you were conducting a rescue and another avalanche came down on some of the rescuers. If they were all in search mode, rescuers not caught wouldn’t be able to find them if their beacons stayed in search mode. On some models, the “auto revert to send feature” kicks in when a beacon doesn’t sense movement for 2 to 4 minutes, and it automatically reverts to send.

Big Picture/Overview

The Black Diamond Guide BT and the BCA Tracker 4 both feature a special mode that gives an overview of the rescue field by showing where multiple signals may be located. The Black Diamond mode shows the number of beacons at different distances away, and the BCA mode cycles through all the signals with a direction and distance. For practiced users, this is a great tool for gauging how to deploy resources accordingly.

Updateable

We are all used to updates in the digital world, and our beacons are no different. New and improved features, better processing algorithms, battery optimization: all of these things can be improved in software updates. Many beacons are moving to make these updates very easy to manage through companion apps so your beacon is the best it can be. The Arva, Black Diamond, and Ortovox all come with app support. The BCA Tracker 4 can be updated via USB, but only on a PC. The Mammut Barryvox requires a trip to a dealer.

Ease of Use

How intuitive is the beacon for you to use? Is it obvious how to turn it on and off? Do the icons on the screen make sense? In rescue situations where your partner could be buried below the snow, you are their lifeline! This is a huge responsibility. Having a beacon that is easy to switch into search mode, with a screen you can see and directional prompts (visual or audio) you can easily follow, is crucial in a situation where every second counts. Being calm and level-headed in a rescue situation is critical for your partner’s survival. Using a beacon that provides clear direction could help with that. We really appreciate the on screen prompts of the Arva EVO BT, the Mammut Barryvox, and the Ortovox Diract Voice.

Freaquently Asked Questions

Avalanche beacons save lives. Many avalanche fatalities in the United States still occur because the victim was not wearing an avalanche beacon. This makes their partners attempt to find them equivalent to “finding a needle in a haystack.” Its tragic that these deaths still occur when life saving technology is widely available. A successful rescue is not just dependent on the correct equipment. It’s also critical to be well practiced in rescue with your touring partners so you are ready to respond instantly.

Absolutely! All brands of avalanche beacons use the same frequency: 457kHz. This is an international standard. Rest assured, you and your partners will all be sending and receiving on the same frequency. That said, older beacons have a tendency to “drift” from this 457kHz signal standard. It’s recommended to test for this drifting every year after your beacon hits the five-year mark or so. A beacon that no longer transmits on the correct frequency cannot be found by other beacons. Many manufacturers offer a summer service to check your beacon is functioning properly. Some beacons, like the Arva Evo BT, even have a group check mode that can check other beacons in your group for frequency drift.

A smartphone is an essential item when ski touring. Digital mapping, camera, trip planning, emergency communications, etc. are all critical for a day out. Even a cell phone in airplane mode can interfere with a beacon. It is recommended to keep a phone (and any electronic device) at least 8 inches or 20 cm away from a transmitting beacon. In search mode, the distance should be at least 20 inches or 50 cm away, and at least 36 inches or 1 m away if you are sending a signal with the phone, like calling for help. 

Avalanche beacons send and receive a radio signal at 457 kHz. A beacon can be susceptible to interference from other electronic devices and metal objects if they are too close to your beacon. In general, experts recommend a minimum of 8 inches (20cm) of distance from a beacon in the send/transmit mode, and at least 20 inches (50cm) from a searching beacon. Interference is more likely when searching, and especially at your beacons maximum reception range. This Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) can look like incorrect distance or direction reading, signals that pop up and go away, multiple signals when there shouldn’t be, etc. Many beacon manufacturers are starting to integrate software that senses EMI and will tell the rescuer to remove the source of interference if possible, or shorten search strips. 

Black Diamond did extensive work on testing common electronics and how they can interfere with beacons in search mode. Common culprits of EMI include smart phones, radios, smart watches, satellite communication devices, snowmobiles, heated gloves, and even ambient conditions like nearby high voltage power lines can all interfere with your beacon in various degrees of severity. We would strongly encourage careful consideration and testing of the personal devices you choose to carry into the backcountry, and how they might potentially interfere with a beacon search.