I've always thought pealess was better -- the "peas" can get wet which could impede them, particularly in winter. The pea could freeze to the body of the whistle.

However, you're way better off getting a whistle with a pea than no whistle at all!

HJ

Nothing in this kit is the best. It's simple, small and most importantly affordable and the more affordable it is the more accessible it is. I'm sure the perfect kit would have a Fox40, a DR Photon, AMK bivvy, and a PLB.

Common sense points directly to the whistle as being the single-most Important item in this kit,therefore " the best" is referred to the whistle!Don't let being thrifty,override common sense!

My thoughts exactly, I would agree that the whistle is the most important item in this kit and that the Fox-40, from everything I've read, is the best choice (its what I choose for myself too).

As for the other high-cost item, the light, I do not feel this is the best choice in retrospect. It was the lowest cost, compact option that I knew of locally (I put these together in under a week, with the shopping actually being done in the last 2 days before camp - there wasn't a lot of shopping around involved!). The big problem with the Turtle light is the ease with which it can be accidentally turned on.

As others have suggested, the County Comm light might be a better choice both from a cost & functionality perspective; not only are they cheaper but it looks like they wouldn't be as easy to accidentally turn on. I've no experience with these but have heard good things.

Normally I wouldn't have considered this an option since County Comm doesn't ship to Canada, but I've just found out there is a site selling their products which does ship to Canada; something I'll try to keep in mind for the future.

That said, I look at the light as being lower in the level of importance for this kit. In my mind this item fits primarily in the psychological comfort category, with the signalling aspect being its secondary purpose.

The County Comm lights are a mixed bag. Nice light with a slide switch but the attachment point for the keyring breaks easily.

edit:

I ordered their 10 for 10 or something like that special. Easy battery change but the keyring breaking would be a big minus.

what are opinions?... the cost to potential benefit of including a high quality chem light with a short piece of string... to circle overhead to attract attention of aerial SAR or hang from low branch to attract ground SAR

The storage durability of chemlights has been questioned before. While the signalling ability may be a plus it's taking space away from a useful light source. Even the best chemlights are only rated for 12 hours of use. How well do chemlights work in the daylight? When are SAR operations usually called off for the night?

This x100. They're nice lights but that keyring sucks. There is also the possibility of the light getting stuck on and dying.

I have a bunch of their SOLEDs, which is the same light on a strong clip. I have a couple clipped to my BOB and they work pretty good for that. Unfortunately they're not selling as many colors as they used to.

One thing I do like is that they ship with a little plastic doohickey that keeps the switch from activating accidentally. I keep those in place.

I thought this was patently false; only works in Hollywood (Rambo). There is not near enough luminosity.

My $.02