Like all gear, avalanche beacons have a limited lifespan. Most manufacturers recommend getting a new one every 5 to 7 years, but they’re expensive. It can also be a pain to figure out how and where to recycle them.
ORTOVOX’s Avalanche Beacon Retirement Program solves both of those problems. ORTOVOX will take any beacon and recycle it, and in return, you get 30% off the brand’s Diract Voice beacon.
ORTOVOX has run similar trade-in programs in the past. But this year’s differs in that it lives both online and in retail stores. And for the first time, the offer extends globally instead of just in the U.S. Also, unlike previous years, which offered $75 off ORTOVOX beacons, this deal gets you $114 (30%) off this $380 beacon.
Diract Voice represents one of the most innovative leaps in beacon technology in recent years. Not only will it guide you to a buried individual like a traditional beacon, but it also guides you with verbal audio directions. It tells you which way to go, how far to walk, and when to get closer to the snow, and it notifies you when you’re right over the target.
Diract Voice debuted in 2021 and won the ISPO Product of the Year award. In GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Avalanche Beacons, we named it the Most Innovative Beacon. GearJunkie’s own Sean McCoy tested Diract Voice and said it was “nothing short of a revolution in avalanche rescue.”
Retire your old avalanche beacon today, and get a brand spanking new Diract Voice beacon for just $262. Here’s how to do it.
ORTOVOX Beacon Retirement Program: How to Participate
If you’re ready to invest in a new beacon, participating in ORTOVOX’s retirement program is pretty easy — especially if you live near an Ortovox retailer. Check online to see if a store near you participates in the program. If it does, simply bring your old beacon into the store, hand it over, and buy a Diract Voice beacon. The retailer will apply the 30% discount to your purchase at checkout and recycle your beacon.
You can also snag the avi beacon trade-in online: First, add a Diract Voice beacon to your shopping cart. Use the code “DIRACTVOICE30” at checkout, and the discount will be automatically applied. Next, use the link provided on the ORTOVOX site to create a prepaid return shipping label for your soon-to-be-retired beacon.
Package it up, ship it off, and ORTOVOX handles the rest.
Why Trade In Your Avi Beacon?
Avalanche beacons are a critically important piece of safety equipment for backcountry skiing. In the event of an avalanche burial, your beacon sends out a signal that can be tracked to your exact location under the snow. Your partners use their beacons in “search mode” to locate you and dig you out.
Beacons are very sensitive pieces of equipment. Over time, some of their components start to deteriorate. This can cause problems with signal drift, inaccurate pinpointing, and reduced range.
Regular beacon testing is important to monitor how well your beacon works. You don’t want to discover that it isn’t working properly in the field in a real emergency. Proactive beacon retirement and replacement could make the difference between life and death.
As mentioned, most manufacturers recommend replacing beacons every 5 to 7 years. Check your user manual to see what the specific manufacturer recommends.
If you can’t participate in ORTOVOX’s Beacon Retirement Program, some ski shops run their own trade-in programs. You can also always reach out to the manufacturer, and it will typically offer a recycling service of its own.
Read the full article here
