Survive an avalanche by carrying these four key pieces of gear

And keep in mind: in most accidents, a snow slide is triggered by the group hit by it.

By Berne Broudy

Posted on Jan 28, 2019 7:30 PM EST

snowy mountains
Anyone who Ventures far into backcountry mountains—or even skis off-piste at a resort—should know what they’re getting into. Slides kill more than 150 people worldwide every year, doing in snowmobilers, skiers, and ­snowboarders. But carrying the right gear (and taking a safety class) will make those epic, swooshy descents safer. These tools will help you get rescued—or save a teammate—in a snowfall emergency. Getty Images

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

Backpack

Mammut Light Removable Airbag 3.0
A folded bladder inside the Mammut Light Removable Airbag 3.0 embiggens you once it’s deployed, so ideally, you’ll float at the top of a snow stream. Yank the handle on your left shoulder to trigger an air canister and inflate the nylon balloon in three seconds. Mammut

Beacon

Black Diamond Recon BT unit
The three antennas in the Black Diamond Recon BT unit transmit and receive radio signals on a dedicated frequency. Start the journey into treacherous terrain with it in “send” mode; your friends will set theirs to “search” if they need to track you down. Black Diamond

Related: These skulls look purple and orange. They are both red.