Walkie Talkies for Skiing or Snowboarding
There is nothing more rewarding than finally pulling your skiing or snowboard equipment out of the garage after nine long months of waiting for the winter to return. You can practically hear the beautiful mountain tops, thick blankets of snow, and awe-inspiring winter wildlife calling your name. But you can’t return to the snow just yet. No matter what winter activity you do or where you do it, you need to take at least one pair of reliable heavy-duty walkie talkies with you. Walkie talkies are not a piece of equipment that you can leave behind. Under the right circumstances, walkie-talkies can keep you from losing your life.
The Best Walkie Talkies For Skiing And Snowboarding.
Walkie talkies are a simple and affordable way of communication across miles long ranges. But you can’t just grab any walkie talkies from Target or Walmart and head to the slopes. Anyone who goes out into the wilderness needs to purchase reliable and durable walkie-talkies that are guaranteed to function and send out your message, no matter what. Because of how other radio wave-based devices work and how different large objects can interrupt signals, a skier or snowboarder needs to purchase a walkie talkie with strong long-range performance. Plus, its battery should last for at least 10 hours at a minimum.
Why Use A Walkie Talkie?
There are several reasons why a skier or snowboarder needs to have a reliable walkie-talkie. All of these reasons are valid, but the last reason is why you shouldn’t even attempt to put on a pair of skis without a walkie-talkie in your pocket.
Short and long-range communication is easier
Walkie talkies allowed people to communicate with one another over a certain distance. If someone is within their walkie talkies’ circumference of reception, they can talk to that person on their channel. So if you’re in a group of people, you can change plans, talk about techniques, get a consensus on where to dine, make jokes, and do anything else you aren’t able to if you’re not standing right next to each other on the slope. Another thing to consider is that shredding skiers and snowboarders make a lot of noise. Even if you’re an arm’s length from the person you’re speaking to, some people cannot hear each other over the noise around them and through their earmuffs. Instead of constantly repeating yourself when trying to talk to your group, you can speak into the walkie-talkie for clear and easy communication.
No cell phone reception
Nature is chaos, and no matter how your smartphone is engineered, it cannot maintain reception while in nature without buildings and cell towers around. Most people who go out into the snow know that their cell reception drops the farther they travel away from towns and cities. So as you rise in altitude and travel closer to a mountaintop, you can’t call or message anyone. But if you have a walkie-talkie, you can communicate with other devices that receive radio waves. You can’t call your mother in another state, but most well-built, and high-quality walkie talkies can send and receive messages from over 8 miles away.
Reason number three: Receive help in an emergency
If you get lost from your group, leave the trail and wind up in a deep dark forest, or injure yourself and can no longer walk, you need to communicate with other people. Although most walkie talkies won’t reach more than 8 miles, if you have a walkie-talkie, you can reach anyone within that radius. When your friends or partners realize that you aren’t back from wherever you were going, they can use their walkie talkies to find you. Along with transceivers, walkie-talkies protect you from dying in the cold. Other hikers, skiers, or snowboarders in the range of your walkie talkie will be able to talk to you if they have communication devices as well. Additionally, you’re able to respond to a search-and-rescue team if they try to contact you.
Features To Look For
There is a variety of walkie talkies available, and each set has its different features and benefits. Below is a list of features most walkie talkies contain so you can see what to look for when you purchase your own set. You can also visit skiing and snowboarding forums and communities to inquire about walkie-talkie recommendations or other communication methods. You can use these essential criteria to evaluate the best skiing walkie talkie and the best snowboarding walkie talkie.
More than 15 Channels
Walkie talkies and other radio wave-based devices are frequently used by skiers, snowboarders, Rangers, Emergency Services, and local workers who must communicate with each other over long distances. To find a clear channel so you can talk to your partner or group, a good walkie-talkie set needs to tune into at least 15 channels. But if your device also uses privacy codes, then you’ll have an easier time finding a quiet channel. Just make sure everyone is tuned to the same channel and the same privacy code.
NOAA Weather Alert
Even the most novice skier or snowboarder knows that the weather can change in a flash. One moment the sun is shining, and hundreds of people are skiing up and down mountains. A moment later, everyone is evacuating because a blizzard is on its way. The chaotic nature of weather is why every walkie-talkie should be able to receive NOAA weather alerts. Most walkie talkies can tune into at least five channels, although the higher end ones can tune into 10.
Easy to use with gloves
Unless you absolutely have to, you should not take your gloves off and expose your skin to the cold. So the best type of walkie-talkie would be one where you do not have to take off your gloves to use them. Look for walkie talkies that reviewers say they do not have to take off the gloves to use them. If you find a pair of walkie-talkies that you like, be sure to test them well you have your gloves on. If you ask someone in the store, they may allow you to test the device before purchasing it.
Long-Lasting Battery
When your walkie-talkie is on, it will function in two different modes. And active mode and a standby mode. Walkie talkies with high-quality batteries can remain on and in standby mode for over 30 hours. There are even walkie-talkie models with an exchangeable battery, so you can switch out the depleted battery for a full one.
Light-up buttons and screen
Suppose you decide to ski at night or have skiing goggles with a heavy dark tint. It will be difficult for you to see your walkie-talkie buttons, especially if the buttons are black. But light-up buttons and a light-up screen will illustrate your device and allow you to see what you’re doing. You should also look for walkie talkies that allow you to turn off the backlight so the battery can last longer.
Headset
In this day in age, hands-free communication is an absolute. Owning a walkie-talkie that comes with a headset allows the user to use their hands and even communicate with people while they are skiing or snowboarding down or across a mountain.
Long-range communication
Many walkie talkies have a communication range of at least 20 miles or more. But these range numbers are only true if there are no barriers like buildings, trees, cars, or other large obstacles in the way. Walkie talkies usually have a second smaller range like 4 to 8 miles if there are barriers in the way. So be sure you ask about the barrier communication range before you purchase any type of walkie talkie.
Power saving mode
When your walkie-talkie is not in use, it should have at least one power-down mode, so it stays on and receives messages the battery won’t drain within one or two hours. Another important feature is if the walkie-talkie comes with an extra battery pack to charge the extra battery. Also, don’t negate the usefulness of battery-powered walkie talkies. You won’t regret carrying around a 12 pack of AA’s if your walkie-talkie dies, and you’re nowhere near your group.