Comments on: Ortovox Patroller (formerly X1) — Avalanche Beacon Review http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:31:49 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jonathan L http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/comment-page-1/#comment-24225 Jonathan L Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:12:41 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1577#comment-24225 David, The absolute best beacon is.... the one you take with you. Every time. Not the best reviewed, not the cool one your friend has. The fastest beacon is the one you've practiced with over and over, not the most expensive or latest and greatest your buddy bought that he played with once and now straps on like expensive jewelry. Demo, play, borrow, try them on with the clothes you're really gonna wear. Ergonomics, comfort, practice count more than charts in the end. If you're going to spend 4 minutes fiddling with it cause you don't know it well or it confuses you in an emergency or it's bulky and you don't like the straps and you consider not taking cause it's probably stable that day... it's the wrong beacon for you. Enjoy, be safe, don't spend too much time on the damn internet. :smile: David,

The absolute best beacon is…. the one you take with you. Every time. Not the best reviewed, not the cool one your friend has.

The fastest beacon is the one you’ve practiced with over and over, not the most expensive or latest and greatest your buddy bought that he played with once and now straps on like expensive jewelry.

Demo, play, borrow, try them on with the clothes you’re really gonna wear.

Ergonomics, comfort, practice count more than charts in the end. If you’re going to spend 4 minutes fiddling with it cause you don’t know it well or it confuses you in an emergency or it’s bulky and you don’t like the straps and you consider not taking cause it’s probably stable that day… it’s the wrong beacon for you.

Enjoy, be safe, don’t spend too much time on the damn internet. :smile:

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/comment-page-1/#comment-24221 Jonathan Shefftz Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:42:12 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1577#comment-24221 All beacons currently on the market are very similar (with the lone exception of the Pieps Freeride) in terms of weight and size (despite frequent claims to the contrary). Harness design comfort varies considerably though, all this is more a matter of personal preference, so hard to review. As for the Patroller, I don’t view it as directly comparable to the BCA Tracker. Instead, the Ortovox D3 is very similar to the Tracker (and also to the Tracker 2). Of those beacons, my reviews here focus on the major strengths and features among them, so read up on those reviews, then demo friends’ and/or stores’ beacons. All beacons currently on the market are very similar (with the lone exception of the Pieps Freeride) in terms of weight and size (despite frequent claims to the contrary). Harness design comfort varies considerably though, all this is more a matter of personal preference, so hard to review.
As for the Patroller, I don’t view it as directly comparable to the BCA Tracker. Instead, the Ortovox D3 is very similar to the Tracker (and also to the Tracker 2). Of those beacons, my reviews here focus on the major strengths and features among them, so read up on those reviews, then demo friends’ and/or stores’ beacons.

]]> By: David Friedman http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/comment-page-1/#comment-24214 David Friedman Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:49:35 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1577#comment-24214 I am getting really into big mountain riding and want to start entering the Backcountry. I have been researching both the BCA Tracker and the Ortovox Patroller. I see similar strenghts and weaknesses in both of these beacons....Does anyone on here know about both of these? If so, could you provide me with the info and reasons of which one you would choose for someone just getting into Backcountry snowboarding? It seems that the BCA Tracker is heavy and bulky. Is that not true of the Ortovox Patroller? Any info/insight from anyone would be greatly appreciated! Thanks I am getting really into big mountain riding and want to start entering the Backcountry. I have been researching both the BCA Tracker and the Ortovox Patroller. I see similar strenghts and weaknesses in both of these beacons….Does anyone on here know about both of these? If so, could you provide me with the info and reasons of which one you would choose for someone just getting into Backcountry snowboarding? It seems that the BCA Tracker is heavy and bulky. Is that not true of the Ortovox Patroller?
Any info/insight from anyone would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/comment-page-1/#comment-23921 Jonathan Shefftz Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:44:48 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1577#comment-23921 Just an update that for the 2010-11 season, the Patroller will be renamed the Digital Patroller, but really the model will be discontinued, since the Digital Patroller will essentially be the D3 but with the all-strap harness systems of the Patroller and F1 (instead of the D3’s tethered pouch system). Just an update that for the 2010-11 season, the Patroller will be renamed the Digital Patroller, but really the model will be discontinued, since the Digital Patroller will essentially be the D3 but with the all-strap harness systems of the Patroller and F1 (instead of the D3’s tethered pouch system).

]]> By: Jonathan Shefftz http://www.wildsnow.com/1577/ortovox-patroller-x1-review/comment-page-1/#comment-12704 Jonathan Shefftz Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:24:59 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1577#comment-12704 Just an FYI that if anyone has *general* comments/questions/criticisms that are not specifically related to the Ortovox Patroller/X1, pls post them here: http://www.wildsnow.com/1476/avalanche-beacon-review-intro/ Also, if I'm slow responding to comments, just check the weather forecast for New England and you'll know why! And if you want a private response, just google my name and you'll find my email address very easily. Just an FYI that if anyone has *general* comments/questions/criticisms that are not specifically related to the Ortovox Patroller/X1, pls post them here:
http://www.wildsnow.com/1476/avalanche-beacon-review-intro/

Also, if I’m slow responding to comments, just check the weather forecast for New England and you’ll know why!

And if you want a private response, just google my name and you’ll find my email address very easily.

]]>