Storm Safety Whistle - Black

I tested 4 whistles with the following results shown (with the weight listed in grams):Fenix NW20 (30 g) 91 dBStorm (22 g) 105 dBLeapro pea (6 g) 95 dBAcme Siren (49 g) 89 dBThe tests were done using an American Recorder Technologies, SPL-8810 meter outside at 2 meters distance. The table lists the average of 3 measurements. (The Acme Siren was the only one that had much variation between measurements, >3dB.) The Leapro is a cheap plastic pea whistle that I have had for years and is much smaller than the Storm. There seems to be not of response when googled. I will continue to use it for hiking and trail running where its small size and weight make it almost unnoticeable. However, for higher risk activities like alpine climbing and backcountry skiing I will probably take the bulkier Storm. The Fenix NW20 looks high tech but had a disappointing and poor performance, especially considering the higher price. Since the loudness measurements (decibels) are on a logarithmic scale, the sound pressure of the Storm is a full order of magnitude greater than the other whistles tested.Get the Storm if you want the loudness and do not mind the bulk.Note that results might vary over longer distances, varied terrain, and in different weather conditions. The above readings are done with the C weightings (dBC) but are consistent with the A readings (dBA).Update in June 2015. Further tests in the woods with friends indicates that the Storm carries better and is "easier" to hear. These tests also included the Whistles for Life Tri-Power which came in a close second.

I bought this for use in emergencies should I or someone in my hiking group gets lost or injured. I used it last week when I got separated from the other two people I was with. Unfortunately, they didn’t have whistles to respond with when I blew mine, but they heard me, and two blasts meant I was safe, just trying to connect with them.In a true emergency in true wilderness, especially when hiking alone or stranded, a personal locator beacon is a good idea, but they are expensive and overkill in most hiking situations where you don’t need to call in search and rescue, just locate a lost hiker in your group. It is also a good reliable backup, should the locator beacon fail for some reason when you need it most. Recommend it to your friends, especially those you hike with.

This whistle is SUPER LOUD!!! It is in fact so loud that I can't blow the whistle in my neighborhood for fear that I'd hear about it later, and I have to hold my ears when I do blow it. I originally bought this whistle to use on walks with my dog. My German shorthaired pointer loves to run FAR away off-leash whenever we go somewhere it is allowed. I wanted a way to call her back to us, and this works great! I do have to say, the design is pretty genius. The sound is directed away from you rather than towards you like some of the other "loudest whistles in the world" on Amazon. It also is a solid plastic design with no moving parts, which makes it waterproof, virtually unsinkable, and durable. The only minor thing that I have with this whistle that wasn't enough for me to take away a star, was that the grip on the body of the whistle doesn't fit my fingers that well. It may fit you, but even so, it doesn't matter too much to me. I highly recommend this for anyone in my position, or just as a way to get a lot of attention!

I got lost in the mountains in Colorado, which was TERRIFYING. I didn't realize I had wandered that far from the campsite, but when I tried to find my way back, all the trees looked the same and I couldn't remember which direction I'd come from. It was really frightening. The sun wasn't far from dropping behind the mountains and I knew that if night fell and I was still lost out there I'd be in real trouble. I blew and blew really hard on my whistle, and even moved to higher ground and blew some more, like my life depended on it (because, well, it did.) No one at camp heard the whistle, but a dog did. The dog started barking way in the distance and I followed the sound back to the camp. I don't know how in the world I would have found my way back out of the woods if not for this whistle and a camp dog's excellent sense of hearing! I was SO GLAD I had this whistle tied to my backpack. It truly came in handy in a scary situation.

This whistle is definitely pretty loud. It is loud enough to hurt your ears if you blow it in a confined space. That said, it's large and clunky and therefore impractical for all but the most whistle-intensive applications.Just imagine: you're being accosted by a psychopath in a jason mask who thinks you look like a chicken sandwich — he fires up his chainsaw and eyes you with lust as you reach into your knapsack to fumble for your safety whistle (because you'd never want to put this behemoth on a lanyard around your neck), and then...The only people who should buy this whistle are military drill instructors and insecure high school sports coaches, who have to have a whistle in their hot little hand at all times. Or maybe directionally-challenged hikers/backpackers with small children who don't mind rummaging around to find it in their rucksack. Or possibly lifeguards who.... no, nevermind, where is the lifeguard going to put this thing upon their person? There's no room!If you need a "safety whistle", I highly recommend you skip this thing and just get a standard gym whistle that can be worn around your neck on a lanyard. Capiche?

I purchased this Storm whistle as a safety/security item to have while traveling. I have not used it yet in an emergency situation nor have I blown it at full lung output, but I think it will be loud enough for my intended purposes. Also, I like that it is made in the USA!