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Ortovox 3+ 2018-2019 Avalanche Transceiver Review

3+ out of 3

No-one should venture out into the backcountry without a bleeper, so it’s good to see companies like Ortovox making accessible models that are easy for to get to grips with. The Ortovox 3+ avalanche transceiver is a highly effective model that’s also one of the more affordable and user-friendly options out there.

As the name suggests, the Ortovox 3+ uses a trio of antennae, and switches between them in order to always get the best possible signal. Then when it’s time to change to the search mode, the large circular display is easy to get your head around.

“The Ortovox 3+ transceiver ensures that even the novice backcountry rider can master the key techniques”

[monetizer101 search=’ortovox 3+ transceiver’]

Thanks to accurate reporting of distance, direction and number of signals, you’ll be able to get a plan together right away. It’s got a backlight that makes it easy to see in all conditions, and it also only requires a single standard AA battery.

If more than one person has been caught in the slide, the display will show graphics of up to three buried bodies – a bit morbid, perhaps, but it certainly helps to focus on the task at hand. A flagging function lets you identify the source of multiple beacons – when you find the first one, you can switch to the next nearest signal and continue the search while others help the first victim.

“Thanks to accurate reporting of distance, direction and number of signals, you’ll be able to get a plan together right away”

In the event of a secondary avalanche that leaves you buried mid-rescue, the Ortovox 3+ transceiver can detect when you’ve stopped moving. At this point it automatically reverts back to transmit mode, allowing other rescuers to pinpoint your location and get you out. Not a feature you’ll be hoping to use, but one you’ll be glad of should the need arise.

There are techier options out there, with wider search strip widths, but the Ortovox 3+ transceiver ensures that even the novice backcountry rider can master the key techniques and be good value in a burial situation. It’s also available as a pack, along with a shovel and probe, so if you need the lot then that’s a great place to start.

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