Black Diamond Recon X Beacon Review

Black Diamond’s Recon X is like a great backcountry chief made into tech: It’s powerful yet efficient, simple but smart. What it may lack in some of the features of fancier beacons that guides swear and SAR need for big searches, it has everything for your next adventure with your trusted partners pushing into the unknown.

60 Meter Search Range

The Recon X boasts a 60-meter radius range, about a 11,304 foot area for detection. I noticed that it was picked up quicker on beacon checkpoints (like we have at a lot of popular trailheads in the Tetons). When I used it for searches in practice sessions both in the backyard and the sidecountry it picked up the beacon I was searching for quicker than other “standard” beacons I’ve used. Because it definitely lacks the big interactive screens of some more expensive avalanche beacons. But its digital detection skills are on point for finding up to 3 beacons.

As always, I experimented with it first indoors to see how it worked. The Recon X registered that there were multiple signals around me. When I found the first beacon, simply pushing the flag button noted where it was and “silenced” the reception of that signal, allowing me to change to beacon 2. This is easy and obvious if you’ve taken an avy class where you have to dig up multiple burials. But given the fact that the Recon X is perfect for beginners, it’s helpful to have such a smooth, easy-to-use multiple-burial function. Playing beacon hide and seek around our house (a favorite game I play with my son to start getting our heads on) the Recon X did an amazing job of getting around and through walls and more.

One final little feature I thought was cool is the group setting. The group setting turned my Recon X into a perfect “start of tour” test. By shortening the range to 1 meter, everybody could ski past me and I could ensure their beacon was working. It was the perfect way to get our heads on heading into our group yurt trip.

Built for the Backcountry

This Recon X Beacon is small but rugged. I like the additional push lock to keep it from accidentally sliding from send to search. The harness is firm, with a quick Velcro pull tab to get your beacon out. Though the size is small enough that you could easily throw it into a welded pant pocket (some people love to have their beacon in their pants  instead of on their chest). And I never noticed it even with my phone in my chest pocket (on airplane mode, obviously) and my backpack strapped across my chest.

The tech is great, fast-working and super dependable. But one feature I think is really cool is a setting, available once connected to the PIEPS app, that will make it automatically go from search to transmit after some time without movement. This might just be what saves your life if a second slide rains down while you’re searching for the first burial victims.

Black Diamon’s Latest Beacon Technology

Back to the points about the technology here. For a beacon touted as being a great option for a basic backcountry user, the options and settings on the Recon X are impressive. Using the app, not only can you turn on the Auto-Revert Search-to-Send (which starts the beacon beeping audibly if it doesn’t move for whatever time frame you set), you can also connect it with the iPROBE and, one of my favorites, you can run a diagnostic check. I’m a crusty old snowboarder but damn sometimes technology is grand.

Pros:

1. Ease of Use and Beginner-Friendly: The beacon is praised for its simple operation, making it suitable for beginners. The multiple-burial function is smooth and easy to use, and the group check feature simplifies pre-tour testing.

2. Reliable and Fast Detection: The beacon consistently picked up signals quickly during practice sessions, both indoors and outdoors. The 60-meter search range and digital detection skills are effective for finding multiple beacons.

Cons:

1. Lacks Advanced Features of More Expensive Beacons: The review acknowledges that the Recon X doesn’t have all the “fancy” features found in beacons used by guides and SAR teams. This implies a potential limitation for more complex search scenarios or professional use.

2. Reliance on App for Some Features: While the reviewer praises the app connectivity for features like auto-revert to send and diagnostic checks, it also means some functionality is dependent on a smartphone and the app working correctly. This adds a layer of complexity and potential failure point compared to beacons with all features built-in.

Overall Impression

Recon X: Simple Operation, Powerful Performance. I don’t guide and don’t need a beacon with that level of options and complexity. I usually head out with just a few partners, and usually most of them are pretty skilled backcountry travelers. I need something that works quickly and easily but still can allow for multiple burials with a decent range.

The Black Diamond Recon X Avalanche Beacon ($349.99), with its 120 diameter search circle, small size but industry-leading tech, hits all of these boxes. It’s a perfect little transceiver, almost unnoticeable when on your body or even in your pocket, with all the basic settings you need but the power and options you want. Whether you’re a first time backcountry explorer or a longtime vet heading out with your partners, the Black Diamond Recon X has just made a case for being the best avy beacon all around.

Related Avalanche Beacon’s We Have Reviewed

1. BCA Tracker 4 Beacon
2. Pieps Pro Avalanche Beacon
3. Ortovox Zoom+ Transceiver
4. When to Upgrade Your Avalanche Beacon