The Arva EVO BT is a three-antenna digital avalanche transceiver (beacon) that stood out in our testing. It takes one of the best of many different beacons and wraps it right into a high-performance, inexpensive bundle.
This beacon has lengthy vary, unbelievable efficiency in single and a number of burials, nice ergonomics, an easy-to-read display, detection of electromagnetic interference, and helpful particular options like a sturdy group test mode. This beacon does all of it and does it very effectively.
Briefly: The Arva Evo BT is a unbelievable beacon with lengthy vary, fast processing energy, and a bunch of well-thought-out particular options. It’s a nice beacon for brand spanking new backcountry customers and professionals alike.
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Good ergonomics -
Lengthy distance sign acquisition -
Clear backlit display -
Group test mode exams transmit frequency and energy -
Wonderful efficiency in single and a number of burial eventualities
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Arva beacons are typically tougher to seek out within the U.S. -
Beacon could really feel small in hand when you’ve got massive arms
Arva EVO BT Beacon Evaluate
Testing
As an AIARE Course Chief and Splitboard/Backcountry Ski Information, I’ve taught avalanche schooling programs for 4 seasons and backcountry touring for practically 15 years. After I educate avalanche programs, I see many various college students with nearly each beacon in the marketplace.
As a result of I get to look at a lot of folks use a lot of beacons each day, I see patterns with completely different beacons, the place many excel or wrestle, in addition to frequent obstacles that college students have.
I used the Arva EVO BT beacon as a instructing and demonstration beacon for a number of months in group testing eventualities, on private ski excursions, and in a number of avalanche schooling programs. I used the beacon in single and a number of burial eventualities to check for sign acquisition vary, ease of use, and efficiency in processing a number of beacons (far aside and shut proximity). I additionally examined lots of the beacon’s particular options.
Vary
I used to be impressed with the lengthy sign acquisition vary of this beacon. Different manufacturers supply a equally lengthy vary; nevertheless, in my expertise, this vary comes on the expense of a better chance of electromagnetic interference (EMI) points and phantom alerts.
This doesn’t appear to be the case with the Arva in our testing. Again and again, I’d decide up a sign from a really lengthy distance, and it was all the time correct and dependable. I like the concept of with the ability to do bigger search strips when within the sign acquisition part of a rescue.
Avalanche schooling programs normally educate to the usual 40m search strip. Nevertheless, with this beacon, I’d really feel pretty snug doing 60m strips. The extra floor I can cowl shortly, the sooner I can proceed to achieve the sign and rescue my accomplice.
A number of Burials
This beacon performs very effectively in single and a number of burial eventualities. The processor is quick, audio tones change as you get nearer, and icons pop as much as advocate when to start out probing. Utilizing superior a number of burial methods like micro search strips may be very simple and dependable with this beacon.
The beacon additionally signifies when it detects EMI; nevertheless, it doesn’t change the really useful search strip distance (normally all the way down to about 20m) like many different beacons on the market.
Group Test Mode
One distinctive characteristic I like is the group test mode, which is accessible if you flip the beacon to ship perform and hit the flag button. Group test is great, because it shortens the receiving vary to about 1 m, so you’ll be able to shortly establish in case your accomplice’s beacons are sending a sign.
Arva takes it one step additional, and the EVO BT checks that the frequency of the sending beacon is appropriate as effectively. That is superb when you’ve got a accomplice with an older beacon, so you’ll be able to confirm that the sign has not drifted from the usual, which may occur as beacons age.
Companion App
The Arva EVO BT has a stellar companion app. A diagnostic device permits you to test whether or not the beacon is working and may replace firmware and alter some settings, together with reverting to transmit, battery sort, and so forth.
Ergonomics
The beacon felt good in hand as effectively. The dial on prime modifications mode and the lock mechanism feels strong and dependable and is simple to make use of with gloves on. One tiny design element I admire is the mode dial, which has a small “fin” that enables your thumb to relaxation comfortably when holding it in search mode.
Every element is effectively thought out. One one that tried it mentioned the beacon felt a bit small in hand, however I didn’t suppose it was too dangerous. I like the brilliant display on the Evo BT as effectively. It’s massive and clear with a pleasant backlight to it when wanted.
Conclusion
The Arva EVO BT is a well-equipped, easy-to-use, high-performance piece of substances with a lot to love. We adore it a lot that it was one of the best total decide in our information to the Finest Avalanche Beacons.
We’d wholeheartedly advocate this beacon to any leisure person at any stage. For professionals, we discovered it extremely intuitive and quick to make use of in any state of affairs. The cherry on prime of this beacon is the asking value of $389. This is a wonderful value for a beacon that’s nearly as good as it’s.
