Imagine the following: you’re trekking through a remote or mountainous region, admiring the breathtaking landscapes and reveling in the thrill of adventure. Then with a surprising swiftness, a ferocious snow storm descends upon you, catching you off guard. The temperature plummets, visibility diminishes, and the terrain becomes treacherous. The reality of emergency is upon you. Now what?

In such wild places, the weather can change rapidly, making winter conditions particularly hazardous. Preparations that may have been adequate otherwise like warm clothing, extra food and water, a reliable navigation system, etc. may not be enough to get you through worst-case scenarios. 

Being armed for extreme and unexpected winter conditions can mean the difference between life and death. Preparing intelligently safeguards your well-being, and your worries can melt away so you can instead focus on fully appreciating the soul-first dive into mother nature at her more feral moments.

If you identify as one of those brave souls who likes the challenge of taking cold weather excursions and are thinking of upping the difficulty by heading into more arctic areas, these gadgets below are the height of tech available to ensure that you don’t fall prey to Jack Frost’s icy clutches by keeping safety at the top of your packing list. 

Pre-Assembled Avalanche/Inclement Weather Emergency Packs

Black Diamond Guide Avalanche Safety Set

If you are just starting your collection of winter emergency supplies for adventuring, Black Diamond’s Avy Safety Set may cost a pretty penny, but it’s better than paying with your life in unfortunate situations. The set includes a beacon, a collapsible evacuation shovel, and a snow probe.

1. Black Diamond’s award-winning BD Guide BT beacon features a massive 60-meter circular range and mark-and-scan function for multiple burials. The antenna switch automatically adjusts to send the best signal and the integrated inclinometer allows easy slope-angle assessment when you can’t see with the naked eye. It can even connect to the PIEPS App with Bluetooth wireless technology to manage beacon settings, update firmware and access training mode.

If this is the only part of the package you’re interested in, you can purchase the Black Diamond Guide BT Avalanche Beacon individually.

Alternatively, Black Diamond has a version that is lighter in weight and cost. The Recon LT is the lightest fully featured avalanche beacon on the market for a decent price.

2. Black Diamond’s QuickDraw Tour Pro 320 Probe is perfect for testing snow depths before you take a step that would swallow you in a frozen trap. High-visibility 1 cm markings are easy to see, and its updated ferrules make for increased durability and quick alignment. Integrated stuff sack and non-slip grip make for fast, one-pull deployment in emergency situations.

On its own, the Black Diamond QuickDraw Tour Probe 320 is a simple yet high-quality product that is well worth the price to ensure your footing stays above deep terrain.

3. Black Diamond’s Evac 7 Shovel features an innovative handle that can be set up in standard shovel mode or as a hoe, making it ideal for digging test pits or rapid snow removal when you need speed. Its sleek design is both convenient and lightweight, making it the perfect addition for your emergency tool supply kit.

Is this little digger all you need? You can purchase a Black Diamond Evac 7 Shovel on its own!

SOL’s Camp Ready Survival Kit

There’s no second-guessing that you have remembered the emergency items you need with Survive Outdoors Longer Camp Ready Survival Kit. Purchasing this, you get a 29-Piece Kit full of survival essentials stored in a 4L durable and clear panel view roll-top dry bag.

Storage doesn’t have to go in your pack as you can secure your gear in multiple ways by attaching the dry bag with the secure buckle or 550 paracord provided to the outside of your backpack. Inside you’ll find the supplies you need to light the way with an emergency LED headlamp, stay dry and warm with SOL TightPak Towels & All Season Blanket (complete with grommeted corners to second as a hang shelter), build a fire with the compact wire saw, reorient yourself with the baseplate liquid-filled map compass, and more.

The complete set to help you make it through an unexpected overnight includes:

1 plastic hand shovel
1 4L roll-top dry bag
1 50 ft 550 paracord1 wire saw
1 LED headlamp
1 mag block fire starter
1 Slim Rescue Howler Whistle
1 roll of duct tape, 2″x26″
1 fishing/sewing kit
1 baseplate compass
1 Fire Lite Micro Sparker w/ flint roller
1 All-Season Blanket
2 TightPak survival towels
4 Fire Lite Tinder Quik tinders
12 tinder sticks

Already got some of those things? No worries! There are more options that are more tailored to your particular needs of other various selections to choose from, like a fire-starter kit or a survival medic kit for great deals! 

Long-range Radios/Walkie Talkies

In an icy wilderness where potential danger lurks behind every snowdrift, walkie talkies transform into powerful tools to aid any winter adventurer’s rescue mission in dire situations. Don’t get caught out in the cold; packing a reliable portable radio can save your life.

Rugged Backcountry Radio – Rocky Talkie

Tested in the serious terrain of the Colorado Rocky Mountains and created with skiers and rock climbers in mind, the Rocky Talkie is one of the most durable and dependable walkie radios on the market. With a 2-year warranty, investing in this comm device isn’t a risky buy despite the $110 price tag–what’s risky is going without one. 

3 to 5 days of battery life even in -20F, shatterproof LED screen, thermoplastic protective covering and ready to use straight out of the box, this 2-way radio is a necessity for any rugged mission and peace of mind. Infused with the max legal power allowed for use without a license, the Rocky’s max range is over 25 miles. However, 1-5 miles is more typical in backcountry terrain. 

If you’re looking for something a little more utilitarian for less extreme outings, this article from REI on How to Choose Two-way Radios can help you determine your specific needs. However, for a good all-around winter-resistant option, look no further. Well, just a little further. Look at the next paragraph.

Retevis RT27

Great for families hitting the slope while extending independence for their kids without sacrificing communication or for friends having an epic snow-fight field battle, the Retevis RT27 meets the criteria. Coming in at just over $200 for a set of 6 with a charging port that can plug in all half-dozen at once, this is truly a great family deal. You can also get a pair with options to buy singles, 5, or 10 for various prices.

It’s affordable, can perform in harsh environments down to -71℉ and is water-resistant. The talkie also comes with 22 FRS channels and an LED light you can use when the daylight starts to fade to supplement your headlamp or flashlight. Semi hands-free, it has a responsive voice-activated mode that starts broadcasting when the walkie hears your voice.

As is the case for many rechargeable batteries, the battery in this radio degrades over time. The realistic range is also only up to a few miles in snowy mountain environments, which is still majorly impressive for the cost. The RT27 is the best budget skiing walkie-talkie of 2023.

Utility Survival

Now that you have your emergency kit and are awaiting the help you have radioed for, you need to make sure you have the resources you need while waiting for rescue. Like all the anecdotes about carrying a Swiss army knife, having a utility tool prepares you to work in whatever environment you are in for whatever needs arise.

Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool with Standard Sheath

Reputation-wise, the Leatherman brand has been one I have been familiar with my whole life and I’ve sworn by. Yet the heft of weight of traditional Leatherman multi-tools isn’t something that is ideal for packing on the slopes. Then Leatherman released its Signal model, and ounce-counting weight-conscious backpackers everywhere rejoiced!

Equipped with less weight and adventuresome use in mind, the Signal is heavy enough to pack a variety of tools yet light enough to not weigh you down. The model is catered toward outdoor needs multi-tool packing a fire-starting ferro rod, hammer, one-handed blade and an emergency whistle for a total of 19 tools for any situation into a compact, 4.5 inch size.

What’s cool is that you can choose from 9 very different colors. (The Aqua and Crimson options stand out so it doesn’t blend into the white scenery if you drop it in the snow!) Answer the call to gear up and go further with the Leatherman Signal!

Go Time Gear Life Bivy – Emergency Sleeping Bag

It may seem obvious, but warmth in waiting situations matters. If you’re stuck in one place during frigid weather, keeping the blood pumping can prove to be especially challenging. Carrying the best-selling Life Bivy is lightweight at 4.1oz in its 4” x 3” stuff sack with a 120-decibel whistle protects you from pounding rain, howling wind, or relentless snow for a mere Andrew Jackson and change. 

The durable features will help you stay dry and alive: resist tears and punctures with extra-thick coated polyethylene material, reflective interior up to 90% of your body heat all while keeping wind, rain, and snow out with its seam-sealed edges.

Go Time Gear Life Tent – 2 Person Emergency Survival Shelter

Definitely not built for glamping, this 2-person emergency shelter still feels like a luxury if you’re stranded outside in a winter storm or forced to spend an unplanned night out during an emergency. At around $20, this small investment could save your life. 

Go Time Gear’s Life Tent is a high-performance 2-person emergency shelter engineered to keep you dry, warm, and alive in any survival situation – and quickly. When the visibility is shrinking and the temperature is dropping, the thermal emergency tube tent sets up fast between trees. The puncture-resistant PET mylar instills confidence and protects from water and wind. The whole thing fits in a 5.25” x 3.25” stuff sack and weighs just 8.7oz.

Like the Life Bivy, the Life Tent comes with a 120-decibel whistle and 20’ paracord, 550lb nylon core Para-Synch drawstring that can also be used to tie down or repair gear and backpacking supplies.

When Winter Strikes, Strike Back!

Whether you’re a fearless winter adventurer or planning to embark on a frosty escapade soon, remember this: being prepared can truly save your life. When the wilderness turns harsh and the elements conspire against you, having the right gear becomes paramount. From the lifesaving avalanche safety sets to the all-encompassing survival kits, and the rugged long-range walkie talkies that keep you connected even in the most remote locations, these gadgets are your best allies in the face of winter emergencies.

Embrace the call of the wild, but do so responsibly. Pack your cold weather essentials, equip yourself with the latest technology designed for extreme conditions, and venture forth with confidence. The frigid landscapes are waiting to be explored, and with the right tools in your hibernal pack, you can tackle any challenge that comes your way. So gear up, stay safe, and let the wonders of the winter wilderness unfold before you. 

Adventure awaits!