This is a quite comprehensive article - very well researched. They cite a few signal mirror success stories that I had not located, and give lots of references.
When you are reading the article, click on the links in the article text for more details. ==== Index to Signal Mirror Resources (not new) ==== Signal Mirror Resources from rafowell
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
Thank you, Rafowell - most interesting stuff. One of the joys of ETS is the presence of "deep specialists" on things like signal mirrors, electrical stuff, et al - people who really are subject matter experts.
As far as signal mirrors go, I am a satisfied user. Living, working, and undertaking SAR in Arizona and southern California for most of my life, how could I be otherwise? Ounce for ounce, there are few things one can carry in the outdoors that are as effective. You don't use a signal mirror on every excursion, but when you do use it, it will usually be for a most important reason.
This is top notch material and well worth the time to read and view it, Thanks!
I personally have found the using a Signal Mirror properly was one of the 'Harder' Survival Skills to learn. It not only takes time to learn, but it is a skill you need to practice and keep practicing. I practice each time before I demonstrate it to a class.
I also bring out a cheap plastic signal mirror, a compass mirror, my old Boy Scout mirror, and a piece of foil; so that participants can really see the difference a Quality Signal Mirror makes in a Survival Situation.
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Bruce Zawalsky Chief Instructor Boreal Wilderness Institute boreal.net
#261663 - 07/07/1312:03 AMAMK "Rescue Flash" Signal Mirror
[Re: MichaelJ07]
rafowell
Enthusiast
Registered: 11/29/09
Posts: 258
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: MichaelJ07
What about the ones from Adventure Medical Kits? Mine is small, but seems to work fine. Just wondering.....
Just checked their site....I must have a very old one because it is way smaller than what is listed on their site.
The AMK "Rescue Flash" signal mirrors are an excellent choice - good reflectance, flat = nice tight beam, and good retroreflective aimers.
One little quirk - remove the protective film from both sides before using (yes, they put some on the back, for some reason), and replace the film on the front after, to protect it.
I carry the 2"x3" Rescue Flash as my EDC mirror. Their big plus is that they are lighter than glass, and more shatter resistant. The drawback is that they aren't as bright as glass, and they scratch easily-keep that self-adhesive plastic protective film on it until you need it, and (too late for you, I imagine) you might consider fashioning the blister pack into a handy protective case.
In my car kit, I carry a MIL-M-18371E 3"x5" "Non-phony" glass signal mirror 3"x5" glass mirror, since it is more than twice as bright. However, the US Coast Guard downgraded their life vest equipment from 3"x5" glass signal mirrors to 2"x3" plastic signal mirrors in the 1990s, so they seem to think 2"x3" plastic is fine.
The 2"x3" AMK Rescue Flash mirror was designed by Doug Ritter:
Here I'm using a 2"x3" AMK Rescue Flash polycarbonate mirror at 11 mile range:
When you say "way smaller" - their standard is 2"x3", but they also make the 1.5"x2" "Mini Rescue Flash" (depicted below) that has a bit less than half the reflecting area. I can't see going that small, myself, but if you must, it's clearly your best choice in that weight category - far better than the "Mayday Signal Mirror", as you can see.
However, if you do have the "Mini" - think about using it as your "proficiency testing" mirror, and put a (sealed in blister pack, with cardboard trimmed and shipping tape sealed) unopened and fresh 2"x3" version in your emergency kit as your emergency mirror.
Comparison of the beam of the "half-sized" mini with the competition:
Edited by rafowell (07/07/1309:33 PM) Edit Reason: fix typo
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A signal mirror should backup a radio distress signal, like a 406 MHz PLB (ACR PLB)(Ocean Signal PLB)
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