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There are two "rules" which are commonly stated with how to wear an avalanche beacon which are closely related, but not quite the same: You should wear it over your bottom layer. The avalanche be...
#2: Attribution notice added
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System
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2020-04-17T18:57:23Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/21834 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#1: Initial revision
<p>There are two "rules" which are commonly stated with how to wear an avalanche beacon which are closely related, but not quite the same:</p> <ul> <li>You should wear it over your bottom layer.</li> <li>The avalanche beacon may never be visible.</li> </ul> <p>The reasoning for the first is simple: If you wear it further up and need to take that layer off (too warm), you need to take off the avalanche beacon which is a bad idea (potential to forget to take it back on, brief moment where it's no use). The reason for the second is usually given as the risk of the beacon getting "ripped off" and lost when you get into an avalanche. I can simply not imagine there being enough attack surface for a sufficient force to rip off the beacon. My personal hypothesis is, that this is a typical myth that evolved from out of the first rule, as it requires that first rule and is pretty simple and illustrative to remember.</p> <p><strong>Is there a significant/practical risk of an avalanche beacon worn on top getting lost when you get into an avalanche?</strong></p> <p>I am looking for any evidence (tests or anecdotal) or clear, fact based arguments (as opposed to opinions). I am not looking for alternative ways to handle avalanche beacons that prevent a potential problem in the first place (reason being, I already know some and wearing them in the "harness" is the common and manufacturer recommended way).</p>