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Shovel options abound, but how to choose?
Avy shovel recs from folks in the field
What’s the most important thing in your ski touring backpack? I’d argue it’s your extra layer of clothing. But the rescue avy shovel is up there on the list. Which one to carry? The choices seem infinite. Hit an e-tailer and you can probably riffle your eager shopping fingers over more than a hundred versions.
My solution is a corner of my closet, stacked with shovels. In spring, for tours with minimal avy danger, I dig out something like the diminutive CAMP Crest. If I’m studying snow or digging out our cabin, I yank something larger from the pile. Or heading to Denali? There is always our local ranch supply store with a ready stock of grain scoops.
But what if, by preference or necessity, you don’t have a shovel quiver? What’s the ONE? To that end, I polled a variety of long-time ski mountaineers on their “normal shovel choice, mid-winter day of ski touring.” I’ll list a few top picks below (including my own), but first a few points that surfaced and specific things to look for.
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1. Blade size should fit in your backpack. This might seem like a no-brainer (doesn’t any commercial avy shovel fit in most backpacks?), but the race-driven trend to smaller/lighter touring gear means smaller rucksacks that a larger shovel might not fit into. As for moving snow, bigger is not necessarily better; those covered here are adequate. Conversely, you can indeed go to small, but the “faves” below do not. These days the popular shovel boast a blade size I’m calling “European minimal.” For example, the Ortovox Pro Alu below specifies at 29 x 22 cm, the BCA Dozer boasts 25.4 x 27.9 cm, and the BCA B1 is 24.9 x 25.4 cm.
2. Extendable handle has become standard, if not mandatory.
3. Hoe or “dozer” feature is desirable (due to current recommendations for efficient rescue digging), but not mandatory.
4. Aluminum, not plastic. (Plastic can work. Downsides: it’s difficult to quality control, and often excessively temperature sensitive. …For today’s show, watch the shovel blow up!)
5. Reputable brand, and model. I’d add that it’s best if your choice has already retailed for a season (for consumer vetting). But I wouldn’t make that mandatory.
6. Reasonable weight. Usually not an issue for purpose built ski touring shovels.
7. Blade has obvious strength, reinforcing ribs, raised sides, etc.
Our avy shovel choices
Shopping links included for those of you doing pre-winter gear upgrades. (Note: this is not intended as a full market survey, it’s more by way of suggestions from myself and others with shovel loads of experience.)
Ortovox Pro Alu
According to a longtime guide and SAR volunteer: “The one and only shovel I carry is a Ortovox Pro Alu 2.7 I like it a lot — it converts to a hoe and also an ice ax (with add-on). The blade is also a good size. I tried another brand’s option, it was too big and did not fit well into my pack.” Weight 794 grams. SHOP FOR IT
The Ortovox Pro Alu.
BCA D2
Two of my contacts voted for the BCA D2. Their take combined: “The BCA D2 is nice and strong, compact, but still fairly light (without the saw). The “ice tool” style hoe grip is effective. The included saw might be considered a gadget, but it’s useful or can be left at home. Obviously strong, and converts to a hoe. I’ve used the same D2 for the last four years or so, and it’s as good as new. Weight 947 grams (with saw). SHOP FOR IT Also note the lighter weight (716 gram) BCA RS EXT as an option, it came recommended as well. It lacks the hook grip but does convert to a hoe.
BCA D2.
Mammut Alugator Pro Light
I’m partial to this shovel. One of the guides I spoke with was as well. It lacks a hoe feature, but everything from the blade size to the shaft length is well thought out. The guide told me it’s been “durable.” Weight 645 grams. SHOP FOR IT
Mammut Alugator Pro Light.
BCA B-1
I’d be remiss to leave this one out of the roundup. In my ever humble opinion, hands down the best combo of quality, design and affordability. No hoe feature. The B-1 blade size exemplifies what I’m starting to call “European minimal” in this case 24.9 cm x 25.4 cm, it thus packs easily, and even the most budget conscious skier can’t balk at fifty bucks for a quality tool. One of the avalanche professionals I polled said it was his favorite, “Cuts a really straight pit wall and fits well in a pack.” I’ve had this shovel in my quiver since it started retail. Weight 600 grams. SHOP FOR IT
The BCA-B1.
Lou’s personal takes
– Some (if not most) shovels have holes in the blade “pocket/bucket” area, for weight savings, lashing, or just to look cool. While less mass is always welcome, a shovel without holes in the bucket part of the blade can function as a snow melting device if you’re benighted and have a fire.
– In my opinion, the fancy serrated or rippled blade edges are nothing more than a marketing device, or proof an over-enthusiastic industrial designer was on the project. In real life, they interfere with using the shovel as a scraper and add nothing to digging efficiency.
– If you do much pit work, you’ll of course want a shovel that suits your methodology, BCA’s tend to be preferred in that vein.
– Again, I’d call the extendable shaft mandatory (though fair exceptions include skimo racing, or touring with virtually zero avy danger).
– Sometimes the blade fits your pack nicely, but the shaft is too long. Remember to check.
– While producing this overview, I noticed fewer options for “larger” shovels. Like those you’d keep outside the door of your cabin, or bring along on an expedition as a “snow mover.” Commentators, if you have any suggestions for this sort of shovel, please share. Also, I’m fully aware I left some of your favorite shovels out of the mix. That’s what the comments are for. I’m looking forward to your take.
21 comments
What no mention of the Voile Telepro? This is a bombproof traditional shovel with straight blade, reasonable weight that moves a ton of snow. The big D handle is great for dexterity. Its old school but simply works.
Lou, have you seen this:
Shovels That Span the Divide Between Heaven and Hell
By Manuel Genswein and Ragnhild Eide
https://www.voile.com/AvalancheVol86_54-60.pdf
This is mine article about Snow Shovels (but in polish). You can find there screenshots with shovel shapes.
https://plecakilawinowe.pl/zestawienie-44-modeli-lopat-lawinowych-waga-rozkladany-trzonek/
No mention of the UIAA standard? Is it useful or irrelevant? Mammut has been advertising it (at least here in Switzerland).
https://www.theuiaa.org/uiaa/progress-on-safety-standards-for-avalanche-rescue-shovels-and-probes/
Also, I recently replaced my old avvy shovel because the top of the blade (where you place your foot) was a rounded design… Makes for a nice silhouette, and saves weight on those corners, but really slices into your boot instep when you’re digging in hard snow! Tore some chunks out of my rubber. Slippery too.
I like the hoe option, but I don’t trust the plastic joint linking the shaft to the blade. I prefer the Ortovox Kodiak with a sturdy design and a large blade:
https://www.ortovox.com/us/shop/avalanche-emergency-equipment/avalanche-shovels/shovel-kodiak/
I have a BCA RS EXT and an older Ortovox (green, smaller shovel size) that came with the 3+ beacon and a probe. They work very well. The absolute worst however, is BD Deploy series. The handle is too short and being bent to fit into the shovel blade, it tends to spin in your hand and is extremely uncomfortable to actually dig with. I don’t know what BD were thinking when they decided to make that one.
David, we mentioned Voile, it’s right there in the comments (smile). Yes, good shovels and they were one of the first with anything decent. That said, bear in mind this is not an overview, it’s just a take based on what a few guides and I have been liking. Lou
Luk, I’ve seen the Genswein stuff, I always thought he was a positive influence to some extent, but put too much emphasis on chopping hard snow, rather than rapidly moving the semi-soft snow of a recent avy burial. Also, he didn’t test for snow melting on campfire (smile). Lou
I’ve got a couple, depending on requirement. For lightweight and small size the Mammut Alugator Light, and for general purpose use with hoe function and d-handle the Black Diamond Evac 7.
For larger shovel, the Mammut Alugator Guide. Very long handle for comfortable digging for non emergency use. Large solid blade. Hard to fit in small packs due to long shaft with large D handle.
The Mammut Alugator light I have has a symmetrical shaft, but the push button that locks it to the blade is only on one side, so you can accidentally insert it the wrong way around, where it won’t lock in place. Then you have to pull it out and reinsert. Is the Pro light better in this regard?
How is the grip on that when wearing mittens?
I have an Ortovox Badger Saw and an Ortovox Pro Light.
Badger is big and burly and includes a saw. I use it for igloo building for 5 years and it still looks almost like new. Size and robustness are similar to a garden spade. Weight is 805g. I would not buy the saw version again as the blade is too short. A folding snow saw with long handle or a cheap DIY shop ripsaw both work better. I also realized that it was the item with largest weight saving to dollars potential in my pack, so bought the Pro Lite to save 360g for $80, which in my cycling experience is amazing value. Not used the Pro light yet, but it looks and feels good, just 10% smaller than the badger with weight saving holes everywhere.
600+ grams for a shovel? No, thanks. The ATK one weighs just 240g and works reasonably well. Tested it in a frozen debris field and it held up well. The smallish blade helps in keeping down material stresses and I doubt I’d be faster shoveling with a larger blade – at least in hard, compacted snow. I use a sturdier one for digging out my car though.
BCA RS EXT is a rebranded K2 Backside Rescue + Shovel. I have the K2 version. This shovel includes a kit to build a rescue sled, IF you have holes in the tip and tail of your skis. Various comments on this shovel here, and an in depth review from 2011.
https://www.wildsnow.com/5855/k2-rescue-shovel-review/
What about the G3 shovels? I really like, and usually carry a G3 Spadetech shovel . A small blade, but it packs well, and very strong..
https://us-store.genuineguidegear.com/products/spadetech-shovel
When I replaced my old BD shovel, I did so with the BD Evac with the dozer options. Love the extended handle. After two season with it I’m convinced the “dozer” is the way to go. So much easier to dig at any angle. Don’t forget the “shake test”. Assemble shovel, hold by shaft and shake….look for loose fitting/noisy interfaces indicative of poor design. Should be a solid fit all the way around. Lot of well branded shovels have this issue.
As always, good round-up, Lou, and couple interesting models in there with which I’m not familiar…I’ve been taking that superlight Arva shovel on tours with larger groups. The shaft is reinforced fiberglass/carbon, with an aluminum blade…so it’s so frickin’ light I can’t help but feel like it’s a compromise in durability. I take it in a larger team because the consequences of a broken shovel seem mitigated by having teammates around…that’s my imperfect math when I balance weight/durability.
+1 for that Orto Kodiak, hoe feature, mega durable!
And ++1 for the smaller Mammut Alugator….two seasons on it, impressive!
An article like for probes please. Probes get no love, and in my experience aren’t all the same. I have been on hut trips where probes broke in the first stab during the mock burial drill.
Appreciate that DJHutch. Have had a similar post in mind for probes and this gives good incentive to get it underway. Stay tuned.
+3 on the probes, some are definitely easier that others to deploy, and difference in penetration, deflection and readability in the field is even greater, and very hard to asses in the shop or living rooom.
Alugator light fail. During some practice yesterday my daughter pulled out her Alugator light, and the shaft wouldn’t attach to the blade. Turns out the locking button* had rotated inside the shaft, so it wouldn’t pop out.
Not a huge deal for a camping chair or such, but for a time critical safety piece, this seems like a design fail.
I will have to take a closer look at our other shovel and see if arhat could happen there too, and what can de done to prevent it.
*online I see this button called a ‘spring leg snap button’.
Any other shovels where this can happen? In other words, the ‘spring leg snap button’ is not fixed in the shaft?
The other Alugator light had potentially for the same issue, the snap button could easily be pushed down in such a way as to jam inside the shaft. Since the bottom of the shaft is plugged, this can not be fixed without time and some tool to pry the bottom cap off,
I’m reviewing this post since my brother has a new shovel on his Christmas wishlist but I think I’m still going to get him a BD Deploy like mine. For me, the ease of use and rapid deployment of this shovel combined with its compact size make it a great shovel. No chance of fumbling around attaching handle to blade in a rescue scenario. While I would like to see BD add a telescoping component to the handle, I don’t think this is a deal breaker. It would be nice for digging pits and general snow removal activities, but digging through debris I’m still getting down on my knees and paddling the snow out to the sides and downhill.