Summary: The Mammut Element Barryvox is the little brother to the Mammut Pulse. It includes all the core features of the Pulse, including three-antennas, a long reception range, marking of multiple burials, solid spike handling, great audible indication, a group check mode, and it supports firmware updates. It also retails for $140.00 less than the Pulse.

The above Summary mentions many of the features the Element shares with his big brother. Let's look at the differences and what they mean.

• One Button. Whereas the Pulse has buttons on either side and the action of buttons depends on what's displayed on the left and right side of the screen, the Element has a single button. That's all most people want, or need, during an emergency.
• LCD Screen. The Element has an LCD screen with an arrow that can point in 9 different directions. That's fairly similar to other digital transceivers with the exceptions being the ARVA Link, Pulse, and Ortovox S1 which have fully graphic screens. Those graphic screens (in conjunction with internal compasses) allow the direction indicator to freely point in any direction as the transceiver is moved. Although the Pulse's graphic screen is cutting edge, the Element's display is no laggard.
• Digital Only. The Pulse can be toggled between digital and analog modes. That's nifty for old-schoolers who've spent years learning how to search using an analog tone and it allows the Pulse to have a tremendous range its an analog-only mode. It's also a feature that the vast majority of Pulse owners never use. (Note that the Link's little brother, the Axis, does include both analog and digital modes.)
• Multiple Burial Features. The Element shares the ability to suppress a receiver during a multiple burial search. Additionally, the Pulse allows you to scroll through a list of transceivers and select the individual transmitter that you'd like to suppress. I think most of us want a transceiver to take us to the closest transmitter and, when we're ready, suppress it without offering any other options.
• Hardware Differences. The Element does not have an earphone jack or screen backlighting. A backlight is useful at night (i.e., when the rescue team arrives), although a headlamp is much more helpful.
• Configurable. The Pulse allows you to set numerous configuration options including the language (the Element uses icons), a basic or advanced profile (the Element uses a basic profile), enable or disable the direction tones, tweak the pin-point search graphics, specify the time before the unit reverts from search to transmit (the Element is fixed at 8 minutes), optimize the group check mode for skiers or snowmobilers, enable vitals data (the Element does not transmit W-Link data), and customize the startup screen (a nifty feature if you misplace your transceiver).
• User Manuals. The Element comes with a scant "Quick Reference" manual versus the Pulse's 60 page manual.

If any of the above options are important to you, then by all means consider the Pulse. Otherwise, know that the Element is a sweet avalanche transceiver with a great heritage.

Searching: Although I haven't formally measured the Element's reception range, it should be identical to the Pulse's range in digital mode (the Pulse's range can be extended in an analog-only mode). In my informal tests, the Element consistently had a longer reception range than the Ortovox 3+ and Tracker2. The Element has the same recommended signal strip search width as the Pulse (50 meters).

If you're headed in the wrong direction while searching (which can easily happen, since transceivers simply align you with the transmitting beacon's flux lines) the Element displays an intuitive U-Turn symbol to tell you to turn around. (The ARVA Axis and Link also display a U-Turn symbol. The Pulse and Ortovox S1 graphically point behind you. All other transceivers require you to see that the distance is increasing.)

The Element has excellent audio indication (increasing cadence, pitch, and volume). The Element and the Pulse are the only avalanche transceivers to change the audio tone based on the direction you are headed using "directional tones."

The only feature that doesn't impress me (and I am very impressed by the Element), is that when you are within three meters of the transmitter (i.e., during the fine search), rather than simply turning off the direction indicator, the Element displays a stationary forward/backward arrow that Mammut calls a "landing strip." This indicates that the searcher should only move forward and backward until they find the lowest reading—which is also what the Element's user manual teaches.

Personally, I'm unconvinced that the "landing strip" approach is appropriate for anyone. In my experience, it's very helpful to also move side to side during the fine search. Conversely, Mammut feels that "Beginners waste too much time with poor grid searches."  In my limited tested of the "landing strip" approach, it was easy to end up a meter or more away from the transmitter (especially during shallow burials) which resulted in several minutes of needless probing.

The display of the "landing strip" isn't a deal-breaker, because you can still perform a forward/backward, side-to-side fine search regardless of the display. I understand that Mammut knows that they're doing when it comes to designing avalanche transceivers so I'll keep an open mind, but I expect that the one minute of side-to-side movement that would be "wasted" during a fine search, even by a beginner, will save many minutes of probing. FWIW, the Pulse allows you to select either the "landing strip" or "cross fire" symbol.

Spikes: Spike handling should be as flawless as the Pulse (although I have not specifically tested the Element's spike handling).

Multiple Burials: The handling of multiple burials is similar to most digital transceivers (you press a button to ignore the closest beacon and advance to the next). Read the details here.

Controls: The Element's controls are simple: one sliding switch that changes between Off, Send, and Search, and one button that selects an option that is displayed on the screen.

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Mammut Element

Group Check: During startup, the Element displays Group Check in the display. As with the Pulse, it's slightly confusing (i.e., are you now in group check mode?). In fact, the Element is giving you five seconds to press the sole button at which time you will enter the group check mode and the words Group Check will blink. (The initial display might be a little clearer if it asked, "Group Check?"). During the group check mode, the Element will only receive signals if they are at the proper frequency and within one meter. You can press the button a second time to exit the test mode (if you forget to exit the group check mode, the Element will do so after several minutes—and beeps). You can read my minor complaints about the Pulse's group check mode.

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Pulse Package

Revert to Transmit: The Element will automatically switch from search mode to transmit mode after eight minutes pass without receiving a signal. This is done to ensure that you will be transmitting if you get buried by a second avalanche. The Element gives an audible signal before reverting. You can prevent the unit from reverting to transmit by pressing the button during the audible "about to revert" tones. (The Pulse doesn't revert until several minutes pass without motion. That's a better approach than strictly basing the changeover on time--it's also a feature that is unique to the Pulse and the ARVA Link.)

Comfort: The Element has the same holster-style harness as the Pulse. It and the Pulse remain the smallest of the multiple antenna avalanche transceivers.

Updates: The Mammut Element supports software updates. You can read about updating transceivers here.

View the comparison table for more information regarding the Mammut Element.