Ski Patrol Radio: The Best Setup
If you’ve ever missed a ski patrol radio message because the wind was louder than your speaker, you’re not alone.
For ski patrol and lift crews, the best setup is a rugged speaker mic clipped to your shoulder. It stays clear of your helmet, stays put while you ski, and puts a big talk button where your gloved hand can find it.
A speaker mic (short for remote speaker microphone) clips to your jacket or harness and connects to your radio with a cable. You hear and talk through it without taking your radio out.
Which radio accessory fits each ski resort team?
| Team | Our pick | The problem it solves |
|---|---|---|
| Ski patrol | Speaker mic | Hear and talk in wind, snow and gloves without touching your radio |
| Lift operators | HD™ Speaker Mic | Answer fast over lift noise; plug in an earpiece when guests are close |
| Rentals and guest services | One-Wire S-Series Headset | Hear radio traffic privately while helping guests |
Can you wear a radio earpiece under a ski helmet?
Usually not comfortably. Three things get in the way on the mountain:
- Ski helmets cover your ears, so earpieces and headsets are hard to wear or keep in place.
- Gloves make small buttons hard to find.
- A radio in a harness or pocket takes time to reach.
A speaker mic solves all three. It can easily attach to your jacket, has a talk button you can reach quickly, and lets your radio stay where it is.
What should ski patrol use?
Our pick: a speaker mic
The problem: wind, snow and gloves make a ski patrol radio hard to use, and there’s no time to dig for it.
How it helps: a speaker mic clips to your harness or jacket, so you can hear and talk without taking your radio out. Our speaker mics come with a wide variety of radio connectors and work with hundreds of radios.
Wear it over your shoulder. That keeps the speaker close to your head, so you can hear radio traffic over the wind and talk without turning your head.
What to look for: a large push-to-talk button you can press with gloves on, and a sturdy clip that holds tight to your harness.
What should lift operators use?
Our pick: HD™ Speaker Mic
The problem: loud lift machinery, guests close by, and hands busy loading chairs and clearing ramps.
How it helps: the HD’s extended-range speaker is made to be heard in noisy areas. It clips to your jacket with a removable heavy-duty clip, and its large push-to-talk button is easy to find without looking.
For privacy: the speakermic also has a 3.5mm earpiece jack. When your helmet is off, like in the lift shack, plug in an earpiece so guests don’t hear your radio traffic.
What should rentals and guest services use?
Our pick: One-Wire S-Series Headset
The problem: helping guests face to face while radio traffic keeps coming in.
How it helps: the S-Series puts an earpiece and mic on one simple cord. Only you hear your radio, and you can talk without taking your radio out of its holder. It’s an affordable option made for retail and hospitality work.
Ski patrol radio FAQ
Where should I clip a speaker mic when I’m skiing? Over your shoulder or high on your chest harness. That keeps it close to your ear and mouth, and out of the way of your helmet.
Can I press the talk button with gloves on? Yes, if the button is large enough. The HD™ Speaker Mic’s large button is easy to find by feel.
Can guests hear my radio traffic? A speaker mic plays out loud. For privacy around guests, plug an earpiece into a speaker mic with an earpiece jack, like the HD™, or use the S-Series headset.
Will it work with my radio?
Our products work with hundreds of radios, and each one comes in versions made for specific models.
Not sure what fits your radio? Give us a call at 801-371-8900 or send us a message. We’ll quickly help you find what works with your specific radio.