Signal mirror?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
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Anyone carry a signal mirror?

Thought this might be a good idea for backpacking and it would also be nice to have when you get something in your eye (i.e. eyelash, gnats, sparrows :D, etc.)

Looking at two different models. I think they are both fairly light weight.

County Comm...
ccmirror6large.JPG


Adventure Medical Kits...
AMK-Rescue-Flash-Signal-Mirror-M.jpg


Any thoughts?
 
I have both and a few others. Laminated glass signal mirrors with "retro-reflective" or whatever aiming holes are supposedly superior, but I've had good luck with these 2 smaller ones. The glass mirrors are noticeably heavier.

Obviously the larger the mirror and the higher it's reflectivity, the more effective it would be.

As KuRUpTD said, both are good choices for a PSK, depending on space needs.

Having an aiming hole with the mesh that produces a fireball is great, but using your fingers as an aiming device works just fine for me, although possibly less accurate.
 
Damn right.

The thing with ANYTHING reflective is when someone is looking for you, and even when someone isnt, if they see something shiny from air, their going to pass around for anything look. Nothing in nature is reflective, and pilots know when something is shining at them, there is a problem, if theirs not is an extra few minutes of their time worth your life? no.

Even your run of the mill mirrors will work, but the ones specifically designed for signal do work easier.
 
In central Brazil they are a must carry item. With more than 200 days of full sunshine the mirror is one of the best daytime signals available. I carry a small starflash in my Altoids PSK. For training we use a large Navy mirror and several small stainless steel camp mirrors.
 
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Nah.

Biggest waste of space in the pack as far as I am concerned. If I were at sea, maybe, but anywhere with tree canopy they are useless. Carry a space blanket so at least you have something to make your debris hut a little more waterproof and it is reflective so you will sleep better knowing you can signal the chopper for your exctraction in the morning.

I have heard plenty of accounts of people being rescued at sea from flashing a signal mirror, but have yet to hear one in the wilderness I traipse around. I guess I could polish the bottom of my stainless steel cup or flash a knife blade if I had a mind to.

Now as an aid in removing something from your eye? I guess it is worth SOMETHING, but the sighting mirror on a compass would do just as well and does double duty.
 
I once signaled 45 km with a hand mirror. In open country, especially with few roads and lots of elevation they are exactly what you need.

img3173xu4.jpg

This shot was taken in rainy season, but even then a mirror is still visible. Mac
 
TAH said:
Anyone carry a signal mirror?

Thought this might be a good idea for backpacking and it would also be nice to have when you get something in your eye (i.e. eyelash, gnats, sparrows :D, etc.)

Looking at two different models. I think they are both fairly light weight.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


I've thought before, about getting one, but I have a mirror on my compass. Also, you mentioned getting things out of your eye - I carry a magnifying mirror for this purpose. Sucks as a signal mirror, though.

Doc
 
They take up almost no space and add almost no weight. Darn cheap insurance. I have used them often to distract varmints as well.
 
they work extremely well under tree cover. If there is sunlight patches in the woods, you can reflect them back and it will be seen by pilots overhead. I will attest to this when i was a passenger is a single prop plane. Our target (bunch of trail workers building a emergency hut) signalled us from under heavy tree cover. It was just as visible as a mirror flash with no tree cover. we dropped our cargo box down to them. (nails, hammers, planes, etc)
 
I'm with udtjim... they're so light, easy to pack and inexpensive, there's no reason not to carry one. Besides, just cuz yer out in the woods doesn't mean you shouldn't keep your beard trimmed ;)
 
On my last backpacking trip with some friends, I was able to signal across a gorge 1/3 mile or so from one peak to another with my BRKT Bravo-1. It worked very well. Everyone on the rock outcrop across from me saw it. If your blade is not coated, it works just fine. I'm sure a mirror designed for signaling would work better though. It would have been nearly impossible though with leaves on the trees.
 
A mirror is a must have signaling device. Besides the side benefits you mentioned. Looks like either one would do just fine.
 
I would not be out and about without one.
A good signal mirror weighs little and can save your life.
 
The Adventure Medical rigs are plastic and about the lightest I've found.

Another way to tackle this is to use a compass with a sighting mirror.

Mirrors work over distance and where whistles can't be heard over the roar of a river, wind, motor noise, etc.
 
I carry one of the lexan based mirrors. Very light. I haven't had to use the mirror. However, when hunting in moderately forested terrain I've seen a flash of light reflected off a polished blue rifle barrel at close to a mile. So I expect that by varying one's position, a mirror could be made to work in a number of forest situations---though probably not all.

DancesWithKnives
 
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