I’ve been carrying a new shovel and saw in my kit this season: the Backcountry Access A-2 EXT shovel with saw. One reason I was looking for a new avalanche shovel was to save a bit of space in my pack. My old Black Diamond Deploy shovel is a bit of an awkward shape and doesn’t pack super well in the avy gear pocket of my Mammut Spindrift pack. The blade of the A-2 is lower profile and looks like…
Although an avalanche shovel is a fairly simple piece of equipment, every year there are small improvements made to shovel designs. They get stronger, lighter, and easier to assemble and take apart. This article will take a look at some of the best avalanche shovels currently on the market. If you’re looking for other avalanche safety gear, check out our articles about the Best Avalanche Probes in 2018 , the Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2018, and the Best Avalanche Transceiver…
In the world of avalanche safety, the avalanche probe is one of the three key pieces of gear. Beacon, shovel, probe is the mantra. Although probe is third in the list, it is no less important than your beacon and shovel. This article discusses the best avalanche probes for any budget. What is an Avalanche Probe? During an avalanche rescue, a beacon (or transceiver) is used to find the general area where a skier or boarder is buried. You then…