Why are we writing about the Titanium Emergency Whistle from Vargo Outdoors? Well, this month is National Preparedness Month, and along with food, water, shelter, and a way to make a fire, a whistle should be a part of your outdoor gear and your 72 hour kit.
First, do not rely on your cell phone. In a natural disaster or even out in the mountains, you may not have any service. Or you could have a dead battery. At that point, your phone will serve you as a signal mirror, and not much more. That’s why you should also have some two-way radios, which are great for camping and hiking, and cover short to moderate distances. But you need to go full analog too. And at only 1/10th of an ounce, this $10.95 (MSRP) Titanium Emergency Whistle is feather light, with no moving parts. Not even a pea. Sure, you could yell. But how far will that carry, and for how long? Vargo was able to test this whistle to at least 100 decibels, with a sound will not be mistaken for anything other than a whistle. And no matter how tired you are, you can use it to signal for help.
Find your Vargo Titanium Whistle on Amazon!
How do you test a whistle? I tried it indoors (bad idea) when I first got it and yes, it was very loud. Then I came up with a plan to test it outside. I took one of my dogs for a walk, and while at one end of the local park, gave it a quick toot. The shrill sound carried across the park, and a few strangers looked up from what they were doing. As I got farther away, I tried again. Same result. So even at a couple of hundred yards, and with the freeway nearby, it can be heard. I imagine it would be more effective in the quiet woods, when someone is actively listening for it.
Like all Vargo gear, the Titanium Emergency Whistle has that extra cool factor, since it’s 100% titanium. It even comes with a reflective lanyard. The price is a bit more than a plastic or aluminum whistle, but it’s still not so much that you can’t get one for each family member, or maybe give a few as gifts. And it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. So carry your phone, get some radios too, but don’t forget your whistle. vargooutdoors.com
– Brian