Going the Distance: Arva EVO BT Beacon Review

The Arva EVO BT is a three-antenna digital avalanche transceiver (beacon) that stood out in our testing. It takes the best of many other beacons and wraps it into a high-performance, affordable package.

This beacon has long range, fantastic performance in single and multiple burials, great ergonomics, an easy-to-read screen, detection of electromagnetic interference, and useful special features like a robust group check mode. This beacon does it all and does it very well.

In short: The Arva EVO BT is a fantastic beacon with long range, quick processing power, and a host of well-thought-out special features. It is a great beacon for new backcountry users and professionals alike.

Compare the Arva EVO BT with the best avalanche beacons we tested.

Arva EVO BT

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Specifications

• Advertised Range: 60 m
• Battery: AAA Alkaline or Lithium
• Flagging Feature: Yes
• Group Check: Yes
• Auto Revert to Send: Yes
• User Updatable Firmware: Yes

Pros

• Good ergonomics
• Long distance signal acquisition
• Clear backlit screen
• Group check mode tests transmit frequency and power
• Excellent performance in single and multiple burial scenarios

Cons

• Arva beacons tend to be harder to find in the U.S.
• Beacon may feel small in hand if you have large hands

Spencer Herford

Arva EVO BT Beacon Review

Testing

As an AIARE Course Leader and Splitboard/Backcountry Ski Guide, I have taught avalanche education courses for four seasons and backcountry touring for nearly 15 years. When I teach avalanche courses, I see many different students with almost every beacon on the market.

Because I get to watch lots of people use lots of beacons every day, I see patterns with different beacons, where many excel or struggle, as well as common stumbling blocks that students have.

I used the Arva EVO BT beacon as a teaching and demonstration beacon for a few months in group testing scenarios, on personal ski tours, and in a few avalanche education courses. I used the beacon in single and multiple burial scenarios to test for signal acquisition range, ease of use, and performance in processing multiple beacons (far apart and close proximity). I also tested many of the beacon’s special features.

Range

I was impressed with the long signal acquisition range of this beacon. Other brands offer a similarly long range; however, in my experience, this range comes at the expense of a higher likelihood of electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues and phantom signals.

This doesn’t seem to be the case with the Arva in our testing. Time and again, I would pick up a signal from a very long distance, and it was always accurate and reliable. I like the idea of being able to do larger search strips when in the signal acquisition phase of a rescue.

Avalanche education courses usually teach to the standard 40m search strip. However, with this beacon, I would feel fairly comfortable doing 60m strips. The more ground I can cover quickly, the faster I can proceed to gain the signal and rescue my partner.

Multiple Burials

This beacon performs very well in single and multiple burial scenarios. The processor is fast, audio tones change as you get closer, and icons pop up to recommend when to start probing. Using advanced multiple burial techniques like micro search strips is very easy and reliable with this beacon.

The beacon also indicates when it detects EMI; however, it doesn’t change the recommended search strip distance (usually down to about 20m) like many other beacons out there.

Group Check Mode

One unique feature I like is the group check mode, which is available when you turn the beacon to send function and hit the flag button. Group check is excellent, as it shortens the receiving range to about 1 m, so you can quickly identify if your partner’s beacons are sending a signal.

Arva takes it one step further, and the EVO BT checks that the frequency of the sending beacon is correct as well. This is ideal if you have a partner with an older beacon, so you can verify that the signal has not drifted from the standard, which can happen as beacons age.

Companion App

The Arva EVO BT has a stellar companion app. A diagnostic tool allows you to check whether the beacon is working and can update firmware and change some settings, including reverting to transmit, battery type, and so on.

Ergonomics

The beacon felt good in hand as well. The dial on top changes mode and the lock mechanism feels solid and reliable and is easy to use with gloves on. One tiny design detail I appreciate is the mode dial, which has a small “fin” that allows your thumb to rest comfortably when holding it in search mode.

Each detail is well thought out. One person who tried it said the beacon felt a little small in hand, but I didn’t think it was too bad. I like the bright screen on the Evo BT as well. It’s large and clear with a nice backlight to it when needed.

Conclusion

The Arva EVO BT is a well-equipped, easy-to-use, high-performance piece of gear with much to like. We love it so much that it was the best overall pick in our guide to the Best Avalanche Beacons.

We would wholeheartedly recommend this beacon to any recreational user at any level. For professionals, we found it incredibly intuitive and fast to use in any scenario. The cherry on top of this beacon is the asking price of $389. This is an excellent price for a beacon that is as good as it is.

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