Where to Wear the Transceiver with a Vest?

Heimie · Jan 28, 2018

Hey everyone. I just bought a Highmark Vest for this year. Also have a Pieps DSP Sport. Now the harness that comes with the beacon is a nice neoprene unit and fits well. I can't imagine wearing this under the vest, after trying it on in the house. I couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be digging into my ribs! And I'm thinking of adding the armor to the vest, which should make it worse. So, I have to lose the neoprene case, and pop the beacon into the vest pocket. Well I have come up with a nice tether system to attach it to the vest and still give me an arms length for using it, and so that in case of an emergency I am not disconnected from my transceiver in a secondary slide.

I tried to email Highmark about the vest and the beacon location, but have not heard back. So, with all of you that have vests, where do you wear the beacon? Outer vest pocket, pants pocket on the leg, or ??? So, will it get too cold and lose it's battery life too quickly, being in the outer pocket away from body heat? The booklet says it should work at -20 C. I know that my GoPro or iPhone lose their battery at -5 C.

Any ideas, or help would be great!

Frankenytro · Jan 28, 2018

I wear a BCA mtnpro vest and have my pieps becon in the front vest pocket. I face the screen towards my body and have never had an issue with battery life or damage to the beacon. I also change my batteries more often than probably required... but they get used up in head lamps, goggle fans and other various items that use AAA batteries. Hopefully the best works out for you, for me it was a total game changer.

lewey · Jan 28, 2018

I wear mine down on my side. No discomfort at all, never notice it. Don’t think I’d be too stoked on just throwing it in a pocket, but know people who do. Each to their own I guess.

Big A · Jan 28, 2018

I have the Highmark vest as well and I carry my pieps in the lower left outside pocket, very accessible, I put it in a spare goggle bag for a little extra protection and have had no issues, been doing this for four years now, I change my batteries twice a year.

tex78 · Jan 28, 2018

If the vest gets ripped off ya the beacon is null and void

It's meant to be around you under the jacket

Mine is waist to the right side and I have a highmark vest, no issues at all

Heimie · Jan 28, 2018

Frankenytro said:
I wear a BCA mtnpro vest and have my pieps becon in the front vest pocket. I face the screen towards my body and have never had an issue with battery life or damage to the beacon. I also change my batteries more often than probably required... but they get used up in head lamps, goggle fans and other various items that use AAA batteries. Hopefully the best works out for you, for me it was a total game changer.

Thanks. I think it will be a game changer. My avy backpack was really starting to make my shoulders sore. My one side of my collarbone was hurting too. I'll probably change the batteries like you, and use them in kids toys! HA! This gives me good piece of mind that I'm totally over analyzing this issue and worrying too much.

Heimie · Jan 28, 2018

lewey said:
I wear mine down on my side. No discomfort at all, never notice it. Don’t think I’d be too stoked on just throwing it in a pocket, but know people who do. Each to their own I guess.

Yeah, I may try to use a goggle bag or something for protection, but with it being tethered into the pocket, I'm confident it won't leave me.

Heimie · Jan 28, 2018

tex78 said:
If the vest gets ripped off ya the beacon is null and void

It's meant to be around you under the jacket

Mine is waist to the right side and I have a highmark vest, no issues at all

I don't know if it would come off over the head and shoulders, the way it fits, unlike a backpack. My vest never came with the leg/crotch straps like the backpacks do. And, if I need my beacon, I don't want to have to take my vest, then jacket, then possibly the bibs off to get to my beacon, then put it all back on. In a situation like that, I would have the beacon out and ready in mere seconds. Now, that being said, I'm sure that almost anyone would have to take the pack off to reach their shovel and probe. I would be putting my pack back on immediately after, and continue with the rescue.

Now, that being said, I'd like to know how many guys that wear avy backpacks use the leg/crotch straps. I'm not saying that nobody does, but it is very few that I have seen with them on. I think my chances of keeping the vest on vs. the guy with the backpack without leg straps, are much better.

Not looking to debate this. I just wanted some ideas. I'm sure there are numerous places/ways to wear this, and I am trying to figure out my own preferences.

0neoldfart · Jan 29, 2018

lewey said:
I wear mine down on my side. No discomfort at all, never notice it. Don’t think I’d be too stoked on just throwing it in a pocket, but know people who do. Each to their own I guess.

I wear mine on the side under the vest as well, and my snowpulse vest is armored. Never noticed in 5 seasons.

tex78 · Jan 29, 2018

Heimie said:
I don't know if it would come off over the head and shoulders, the way it fits, unlike a backpack. My vest never came with the leg/crotch straps like the backpacks do. And, if I need my beacon, I don't want to have to take my vest, then jacket, then possibly the bibs off to get to my beacon, then put it all back on. In a situation like that, I would have the beacon out and ready in mere seconds. Now, that being said, I'm sure that almost anyone would have to take the pack off to reach their shovel and probe. I would be putting my pack back on immediately after, and continue with the rescue.

Now, that being said, I'd like to know how many guys that wear avy backpacks use the leg/crotch straps. I'm not saying that nobody does, but it is very few that I have seen with them on. I think my chances of keeping the vest on vs. the guy with the backpack without leg straps, are much better.

Not looking to debate this. I just wanted some ideas. I'm sure there are numerous places/ways to wear this, and I am trying to figure out my own preferences.

Boy don't let a avy instructor see ya put it in the outer pocket

Anything can happen, tree rips the pocket let's say, she gone

To get to my beacon, open up vest front, open up jacket half way just like getting something out of jacket inside pocket and it's right there

Rbrduk · Jan 29, 2018

I have seen avy instructors with their transceivers in outside clothing pockets.
Not sure if it was for training purposes or that's where they carried it all the time.

Heimie · Jan 29, 2018

Rbrduk said:
I have seen avy instructors with their transceivers in outside clothing pockets.
Not sure if it was for training purposes or that's where they carried it all the time.

I have also seen an avy instructor (very reputable at that, and not Triggerpoint, as in your sig) have his in the leg pocket of his sled pants. I don't remember if it was tethered or not, but he said it was unlikely that his pants would be ripped off in an avy! Haha!

But seriously, thank you everyone. I am going to try a couple positions and places as suggested.

:thumbsup2:

0neoldfart · Jan 29, 2018

Heimie said:
Hey everyone. I just bought a Highmark Vest for this year. Also have a Pieps DSP Sport. Now the harness that comes with the beacon is a nice neoprene unit and fits well. I can't imagine wearing this under the vest, after trying it on in the house. I couldn't imagine how uncomfortable it would be digging into my ribs! And I'm thinking of adding the armor to the vest, which should make it worse. So, I have to lose the neoprene case, and pop the beacon into the vest pocket. Well I have come up with a nice tether system to attach it to the vest and still give me an arms length for using it, and so that in case of an emergency I am not disconnected from my transceiver in a secondary slide.

I tried to email Highmark about the vest and the beacon location, but have not heard back. So, with all of you that have vests, where do you wear the beacon? Outer vest pocket, pants pocket on the leg, or ??? So, will it get too cold and lose it's battery life too quickly, being in the outer pocket away from body heat? The booklet says it should work at -20 C. I know that my GoPro or iPhone lose their battery at -5 C.

Any ideas, or help would be great!

I just noticed the last line regarding the iPhone, and would like to offer a bit of advice: Your iPhone CAN and WILL interfere with your beacon. So if you bring it along, shut it off when riding. I should have mentioned that my beacon is an Ortovox S1, and although it too lives in a neoprene case with holster, it may be smaller / thinner then the unit you are using, hence the comfort factor. But I would not suggest wearing it in an external pocket at all or in the chest area - if you kiss the bars you stand a good chance of breaking it or your sternum.

RGM · Jan 29, 2018

Heimie said:
Yeah, I may try to use a goggle bag or something for protection, but with it being tethered into the pocket, I'm confident it won't leave me.

Always use the case. It can prevent the beacon from getting switch to off or recieve.

moyiesledhead · Jan 29, 2018

Mine's in my vest pocket now. Kept it under my jacket for a couple years after I bought my vest. Decided taking my vest off to get to it in an avy emergency just didn't make sense. Pretty confident in the strength of the pocket, and if I'm in an avy violent enough to rip my vest off I doubt where my beacon is will matter much.

Heimie · Jan 29, 2018

0neoldfart said:
I just noticed the last line regarding the iPhone, and would like to offer a bit of advice: Your iPhone CAN and WILL interfere with your beacon. So if you bring it along, shut it off when riding. I should have mentioned that my beacon is an Ortovox S1, and although it too lives in a neoprene case with holster, it may be smaller / thinner then the unit you are using, hence the comfort factor. But I would not suggest wearing it in an external pocket at all or in the chest area - if you kiss the bars you stand a good chance of breaking it or your sternum.

Yes, I know about the iPhone thing. When I was in the AST1 course I learned about it. I do not take it with me anymore. I have a cheap digital camera I keep in the handlebar bag now. The only reason for bringing the phone was to take pictures, but I've almost NEVER had reception. So if I do have it, it is off and in the backpack.

Heimie · Jan 29, 2018

RGM said:
Always use the case. It can prevent the beacon from getting switch to off or recieve.

Well, with the locking mechanism on ANY beacon, just being in a pocket shouldn't change the mode function switch. If it does, throw it out and buy something else! Thank you for your concern, however I am sure that it would take quite a bit to change the mode, as it takes 2 hands for me to switch it.

moyiesledhead said:
Mine's in my vest pocket now. Kept it under my jacket for a couple years after I bought my vest. Decided taking my vest off to get to it in an avy emergency just didn't make sense. Pretty confident in the strength of the pocket, and if I'm in an avy violent enough to rip my vest off I doubt where my beacon is will matter much.

I totally agree with this post. And, I have a pipe wrench tether from work, that's an elastic cord inside a webbed strap attached to the beacon. I have the other end attached to one of the sewn in buckle straps that comes through the pocket. It's not just in the pocket loose. Also, my vest has a decent zipper and then a Velcro flap over that! I don't want it to be buried under too many layers, but more important is that if I need it, I want quick access and to make sure it has battery power. If it does get damaged from kissing the bars or something, then my day is done and I will rent or buy one for the rest of the trip until I can replace it. Also, if it does get damaged from kissing the bars between them and me, I probably won't feel like riding for the rest of the day anyway! Haha!

lewey · Jan 29, 2018

I wouldn’t be as worried about my pocket ripping off as simply just leaving it open. Think we’ve all probably done that before

Frankenytro · Jan 29, 2018

lewey said:
I wouldn’t be as worried about my pocket ripping off as simply just leaving it open. Think we’ve all probably done that before

This is why the teather idea is such a good one. My pocket has a plastic d ring sewen inside and my beacon has a wrist strap that allows attachment via a small locking a hook from marks.

Heimie · Jan 29, 2018

Frankenytro said:
This is why the teather idea is such a good one. My pocket has a plastic d ring sewen inside and my beacon has a wrist strap that allows attachment via a small locking a hook from marks.

That’s what I was looking for in my vest. Which vest do you have?

Where to Wear the Transceiver with a Vest?

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