Backcountry Access Tracker3 Avalanche Beacon reviews and deals for sale

Reliable

I love how user friendly this is. No problems in the backcountry and the locking mechanism is strong, durable and reliable. Snow tests show me this is accurate and what I need.

Be aware

I replaced my tracker 2 with the tracker 3 mainly due to the smaller size. One issue to be aware of.....the switch does not require you to push the lock when switching it from search to transmit....the beacon can be accidently switched from search to transmit when stuffing it into a pocket while getting rescue equipment out.....and suddenly you have a stray signal pop up which throws… read more everyone off! Try it...put your beacon in search....and then just turn the lever, it will go back to transmit without touching the lock. Its the only issue I have with the beacon.

Be safe out there

I decided to up the ante and go for this pro level beacon instead of shorting myself by buying a lesser/older model....couldn't be more stoked. More features than I probably need but this is the 'new norm'. Be responsible, train up, get the best stuff when life/limb may depend on it.

trusted

Updated my beacon this year from Tracker 2 to the 3. I hope to never have to use it, but it is the one I trust to have on me in worst case scenario. Super easy to use and reliable in the on-snow tests.

Great Pro Level Beacon

Amazing pro level beacon. Simplicity when it all goes wrong is of the utmost importance and this beacon delivers.

Solid, Simple, Reliable

Upgraded from a Tracker DTS. Still very simple and easy to use. The search mode is similar, but seems slightly smoother and more consistent. Better at multiple burials as well. Nice and slim, so it fits well in a pants pocket.

Trustworthy

This thing is great. Simple, and user friendly. Durable, and reliable. All great words, to describe something that is intended to save your life.

super awesome beacon

This beacon is very thin, light and simple to use. It comes with a pretty comfortable harness, too. Definitely recommended when looking to upgrade your beacon or get your very first beacon!

Fantastic Avalanche Beacon

The BCA Tracker 3 is great - relatively easy to use and quite intuitive after some (very important) practice. Use this as much as you can practicing before you head out into the Backcountry - your piece of mind will lighten your load on the skin track!

The Best

The 50+ other reviews say it all - this is perhaps the best beacon out there for the price point. Signal suppression and triple antennae will keep you and your partners safe in the backcountry, whether you're buried or multiple members of your party are. It's grim to think about, but the raw truth is that avalanche terrain is dangerous, and you want technology that you can trust… read more with your life.

Simple and Perfect

I have only been backcountry skiing for two years and am by no means an expert. This is why this beacon is the best! This beacon is simple and not annoying. The multiple burial feature on this beacon works absolutely perfect in the three times I have practiced with 3+ beacons and does so quicker than any of my friends beacons. The switch on the top to turn it on or switch it to… read more search mode has a quality lock on it and can't be turned off accidentally and can be easily switched to search mode with gloves. The only button on the front is easy to push to switch from the first and closest signal to the second or third closest signal very easily and does so fast. As compared to the ARVA beacon that is the most annoying beeping thing on the planet. Or the Mammut or Ortovox beacons that are very complex and really only useful if you are a guide as well they feel more breakable and more expensive. The peips beacons are good in the speedy acquisition of a signal but lack the simplicity in the multiple burial department and can leave you wishing you had a few more features. The tracker 3 is just simple, fast, robust, and the perfect balance of the features you want and need. I love it and wouldn't recommend any other beacon over it.

Tracker 3

I am a certified AMGA splitboard guide and avalanche educator. Full disclosure I am also a BCA ambassador. With any new beacon I like to give it a full season trial period before I commit to my every day beacon. I did this with the Tracker 3 and I now call the T3 my everyday beacon. I worked as an instructor for a large multi agency training session. This was taught by and sponsored… read more by a competing beacon manufacturer. I went through a 3 day pre training and then taught this 2 day course using the other brands beacon. The focus of this training was multi burials. I ran each drill with the "other" beacon and then with my T3. My times were significantly better with the T3 every time. Fact

same great beacon, smaller size

Just as easy to use as the T2 with some cool new functionality and a much smaller size, perfect for pocket carrying.

Small and works great

This is one of the smallest beacons out there and easily fits in a bib chest pocket. Must have for anybody getting into or looking to upgrade their touring gear.

BCA Does It Again!

BCA has been making some of the most user-friendly, functional, and reliable beacons on the market for quite some time. The Tracker 3 is no exception and is their latest and greatest beacon. The first thing I noticed when opening the box is the sleek, sexy design. It is slim and weighs less than half a pound with batteries! You won't even notice it in your pocket or in the harness… read more - and the harness is much more comfortable than others I've worn. The rubberized sides make it easy to grab with gloves on and the dial is large enough to be used effectively. The Tracker 3 utilizes three antennae to improve the efficiency and signal strength while in search mode. A basic dial switches from transmit to search, and it features a little lock to prevent you from accidentally switching modes. It is extremely accurate when performing a tight search and will easily pinpoint your target. My old beacon would have fluctuating numbers during search, but the Tracker 3 stays solid. This beacon is simple and intuitive but also very advanced. The multiple burial search function can be a little confusing, and I recommend getting some practice with it before going out in the field - as with any beacon. You can mark victims with the button on the front and move on to search for another beacon, and all options in that scenario are controlled by the one button. It would be a good idea to get familiar before you are in a rescue scenario and need to work fast without panicking. You can't beat the quality of this beacon at this price point! If venturing out into the backcountry you absolutely must have a beacon, and the Tracker 3 is a great choice whether you are a seasoned vet or a newbie.

Don't leave home without it

The BCA Tracker 3 is only the second beacon I've used, the first being an older and much earlier generation Pieps model. Comparing the two, I pretty much like every feature better on the Tracker 3. It has a sleek design with a rubberized back that is easy to grip with gloves or mitts, it's lighter than most beacons (ounces equal pounds and pounds slow you downs!), and I find the… read more interface simple to use in practice. The processor in this beacon is quite fast, which is an important quality in my eyes when picking something that needs to be fast and simple to use when seconds matter. While the stated range from BCA isn't as high as some top of the line models by other manufacturers, this beacon absolutely excels at fine search. Since fine search is the most critical action in discovering a buried partner, this is exactly what I was looking for in a beacon, and I find myself able to locate a buried tester on a board within a probe strike or two every time. That sort of precision is huge to me, should I ever have to use this beacon in an actual avalanche with a buried partner. In multiple burial scenarios, the Tracker 3 will allow you to suppress a signal (marked burial) so a partner can begin to dig while you continue your search for other victims. This suppression only lasts one minute, before it reverts to the closest signal. In practice scenarios, this can be frustrating, but it would be best to avoid a real life situation where you're out with a big enough group that you not only have multiple burials, but enough folks to dig out marked burials while you continue searching. Let's be real, that's an absolute disaster of a scene, with so many external forces in play I just don't see that 60 second limitation as something necessary in a beacon. The shoulder harness it comes with is comfy, I've used it a handful of times. And the attached clip works great with dedicated beacon pockets in touring pants, clipping into any loop. The BCA Tracker 3 is a great beacon, in a world of solid beacons. The moral here is don't go out without a beacon, and if you're looking to upgrade from an older model, or get into the beacon game for the first time, you could definitely do worse than this one, while doing better will likely cost another Franklin (or two), and may not even provide more functional utility. Unless you're an avalanche professional, and constantly drilling in multiple burial scenarios, then I would consider spending the extra money on the Barryvox or the DSP.

Nice and compact!

I sold my old Tracker 2 and upgraded to this, and I love it! It is so much smaller and lighter. I never go out in the backcountry without it

Game Changer!

Super hyped on my Tracker 3! After upgrading to this from an old simple beacon that only did single body detection I was slightly lost at first. However, after a little time doing beacon practice and reading the manual I couldn't believe what I'd been missing. The multiple burial detection is simple and makes searching easier especially with the close proximity feature and big picture… read more mode. These features definitely made me feel like I had a better understanding of the situation during beacon practices over my previous beacon. Beyond just the beacon, the removable attachment clip is perfect for clipping into the beacon pocket of my pants and the beacon is small and light so it doesn't weight my pants down. Although, I've started using the shoulder harness that comes with it more often because it's super comfy and I don't even notice it's on when I'm out in the backcountry (shoutout to that shoulder pad).

Simple and Sleek

The first time I used the T3 I was impressed with how easy it is to use. I like the simple design and bright red screen. As an avalanche educator and backcountry skiing enthusiast I love beacons that are sleek and also easy to use. When I am teaching I try to bring out the T3 so that folks can see the numbers easily and be able to practice with the multiple burial setting. Another… read more aspect of this beacon I love is the "big picture" option which allows you to scan the avalanche path and see all of the beacons sending a signal. If you are a backcountry enthusiast and want a new three antenna beacon I wouldn't look past the T3, it's excellent!

Great to have, never to use

My beacon is probably one of my most prized possessions that I never want to have to use for real. All the same, the T3 is easy to use and reliable which gives me the assurance I can get the job done if need be. The large screen and mechanics of it make it very user friendly for even beginners just stepping into the backcountry, while it has special features like multiple burial… read more flagging and "big picture" mode that are important for professionals alike. Plus the size and weight can't be beat. Love this beacon.

Is the harness included? If not, how much and do you sell? Thanks.

Can anybody offer a direct comparison between the Tracker 3 and the Pieps DSP Pro? I'm debating between the two as an upgrade from the original Tracker DTS. I'm especially interested in range and processor speed.

Anyone compare this with Tracker 1.0 or...

Anyone compare this with Tracker 1.0 or 2.0? Curious to see how this stacks!!