So I didn’t really know much about Recco, which I didn’t realize until I actually started reading about it. Even after going over our last article about Recco, I was still left confused. I bet you might be too.

What  is a Recco Reflector?

It turns out there’s a reason for ignorance. The Recco system has developed out of an idea first explored in Sweden in the 1970’s, and to a large extent its sphere of influence has been confined to Europe, where it first saved an avalanche victim in 1987, and has been a major force in recues there ever since.

It consists of a reflector (usually one on each side of the body) that emits a signal without the need for batteries or any handling by the wearer. A receiver that is far larger than a typical beacon, usually carried by professional rescue teams, picks up the signal. For this reason, it is up to individual rescue networks to adapt the system, and it’s only recently that North American resorts and rescue teams have taken to it. And because the system only works if rescue teams carry the receivers, for a while there wasn’t much point to buying clothing with the reflector.

But times are changing in the Americas. Recco’s website claims over 60 resorts and search and rescue teams in Canada, over 100 in the United States (and even seven in South America) have all adapted the system. It’s a list that includes a vast amount of the popular ski areas on the continent, meaning that a huge number of skiers and boarders are close to a signal receiver when they are in avalanche terrain.

And there are literally hundreds of apparel brands that have Recco reflectors integrated into their products. I’m sure there are plenty of you that have one or two on you at all times and haven’t really thought about it much. It takes very little commitment to participate in the system, and there are very real and tangible benefits to doing so.

Search and Rescue teams around the globe trust Recco

Recco Reflector vs Avalanche Beacon

Firstly, it must be said, the Recco system IS NOT meant to be a substitute for beacons. The company practically screams this every chance they get, and it seems to be one of the main misunderstandings of the idea. Beacons remain by far the best and quickest way to locate a buried person in most situations, and they are the only reasonable and reliable form of companion rescue. Recco signal receivers are too large (and likely expensive) for the average skier to carry. But Recco has some clear advantages in certain situations.