SOL Rescue Howler Whistle -- Can it really be heard from a mile away?

SOL rescue howler whistle is the newest addition to my pack, but is it as loud as advertised?

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[RAINSMAN]

Whistle, inReach, and phone every time I hike. 100 Miles Wilderness made me feel really isolated and that nobody was coming to get me if something is wrong.

[Oppinnindi]

8:59 he finally blows the dam whistle. You’re welcome 🙈

[lornelorne]

Just sounds like a bird chirping somewhere... I turned up my volume and I can hear it on the video, but if I heard that while I was out, I'd just think it was a bird and ignore it.

[ctf]

whistles are must for a kit
they are small they can fit nearly anywhere and they are useful

[misadventuresllc]

I think a whistle along with other signaling methods is viable. If you hear someone close by and are weakened to where you can’t yell anymore a whistle can bring them closer to you

[jimfuller]

Having a whistle that can't be misinterpreted as a bird call would be wise too.

[h.m.tolympic]

I turned it to max volume, yep, I heard it. But barely.

[supertyfon]

If i wanted to go hiking and got lost and needed to be heard a vuvuzela is what i'd use their about 130+dB at 1 meter at 235 to 465 hz enough to penetrate a bit better through open areas i did distance videos from 500 meters to 3 km and it was heard plainly in forested areas but it could carry 10 or maybe 20 km in mountainous areas at night.
It may have bin made as a stadium horn but i see it as a mouth whistle with a longer audibility range and similar dB output.

[dredpiratesnoop]

Interesting test I was wondering if my somewhat damaged ears from a misspent youth at too many rock concerts was marring the result. If you do a further test in the same location maybe you could sound the whistle at the shed in the middle of your yard .... a second at the shed on the far edge of the clearing and a third at the wood pile / edge of your property?

[PaulSchortemeyer]

Really interesting test! I think here's so many things that affect sound travel that it's difficult to make effective assessments. I have heard that sound waves are definitely affected by objects blocking their clear travel from A to B... and wind direction has a powerful impact as well! That's probably why you could hear the roofers that day 🙂

On another note, high frequencies are the first to be lost in older human ears - followed by others. From the three times you mentioned your wife's inability to hear you perhaps she could consider a hearing test. I know it's taboo to say this (for some weird reason) but it's just a friendly suggestion from a complete stranger.

I still think it's a wise decision to carry the whistle. I always do, and people will eventually hear you once they get closer and closer. I just imagine the ease of narrowing down my location more quickly...especially near water. Thanks again for the great video!

[jimwhalen]

If Paul blows a whistle in the woods and his viewers listen, does it make a sound? Not really. The name of that company is an acronym for survive outdoor longer. I can think of another phrase represented by that same acronym that may be more appropriate for this particular product. Better with a whistle than without. Glad you found your wife quickly, that must have been frightening. I carry an acme 636 when walking in the woods, it may not perform any better than the SOL, but I like it. A storm whistle was a backup signaling device on the boat and I always brought is in the kayak. The Main concern in the yak was fog rolling in on the bay, I’ve paddled back to shore by compass blowing that thing a few times. In hindsight, earplugs would have been a good idea. The storm whistle is loud but bulky for pocket carry.

[peterb]

Hey Paul! I am a big fond of cycling in abandoned sylvan areas or on even forbidden nature trails and I always bring a Fox40 Classic with me. It is audible of approximately 1, 200 metres or even a mile. (Although the manufacturer's official suggestion is 600, but I suppose my conjecture is way closer to reality concerning these whistles.) I assume you might try it, since it's neither a fortune nor something with a bad reputation bearing in mind that the initial idea was to create the perfect referee whistle. (we all know this thing is freaking loud, though the Fox 40 Sonik blast is capable of producing up to 120 decibels, at least according to the manufacturer, so if you want something more powerful in terms whereabout-indication, this might be the perfect choice for you and your wife)

[onedirection]

Didn’t even hear the whistle. Hence the name SOL 😆

[markgang]

Wayfinding and figuring out how to stay found are skills outdoorsmen should learn. Self rescue and having an understanding of mapping skills can get one out of many situations. Also knowing techniques for others to find you are also important when plan one does not workout. Bringing the bare essentials does not put oneself in the best position when things like Murphy's law are involved. knowing how to properly use bare essentials can get you out of many a situation, but not all situations. Choosing wisely is related to personal choice, experience, and knowledge. Each can only take you so far. Having a whistle, rattle, or clicking device could help a rescue unit find you if you were to become disabled. I purchased a orange plastic referee whistle with dual pitch but not a pea inside the whistle. When giving it a large breath it is loud enough to cause discomfort in my ears. The leaves and branches of trees will keep the sound from traveling a longer distance in the summer months. During the winter when the trees are barren then the sound should travel farther. I am sure you have noticed that you most likely do not hear an echo in the forest. You can hear echos from mountain tops and in caves where the sound can bounce off solid objects.

[SlvrChkn]

For about the same size and weight but more money @$15 you can get a 130db bear grenade. Just a thought

[shananigans_outside]

I have a whistle I’ll have to test it out. I got it at dicks, it’s on a neck cord with a compass and You put safety matches inside.

[eltacsyms]

try an air horn. Also a hyper whistle is louder.

[sfmarckx]

Hi Paul,
Thank you for this! I look forward to your review of the next batch of whistles. Maybe you can get someone to help and whistle back and forth. I'd be curious to hear if someone down below in the trees hears a whistle from your porch better than someone on your porch hears the same whistle from down below in the trees. Not sure the best way to set that experiment up...
I have several whistles, including the latest one on my new pack, which I thought was probably good enough... until I watched your video. Thank you for that wake up call!
All the best, Scott

[notsearching]

You've elegantly captured the pros and cons of the humble whistle.

On one hand, as communication devices go, it's hard to beat: it's cheap, lightweight, durable and never runs out of batteries. If you find yourself injured or lost, it would be worth its weight in gold.

On the other hand, it's not as magical as the packaging suggests. Over the years, I've tried a variety of whistles, including the SOL whistle you experimented with, and have always found myself unimpressed in terms of the distances the whistle can be heard. I'm currently carrying the Acme 636 Safety Whistle (link below) and it seems to perform better than other models I've tried, but I'm sure it would struggle in dense woods and over long distances.


What I love about your video is that you're showing the importance of experimenting and knowing your gear.

As for other suggestions, while it sounds (to me, anyway) excessive, adding a signal mirror has value, too. It has the same cheap, lightweight, durable, battery-free profile as a whistle and in the right conditions will work over a much larger distance. And I agree with @Mark's comment, the Garmin InReach has been a game changer for us and I'm glad to pay its subscription fees.

Here's the specific whistle I carry:

by the way, I tried the glow-in-the-dark version, and found the GITD feature to be ineffective. I'll stick to the bright green version which is pretty dang visible.

[mortsnerd]

If you have an iPhone you could use Find My Phone to locate your wife. The GPS should still work even if there’s no cell signal. A small air horn would be effective too. I’ve read that you can scare off even a grizzly with an air horn, although I think they are banned in national parks.