 Poster: A snowHead
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Advice required on snow shovels and Probes (Of the avalanche type!)!!
I'm looking for kit that I can use for Winter walking and climbing (hopefully just for digging shelters and snow holes and the likes!)
but also will be fine carrying for skiing off pist (When I can afford to go again)
I've seen the BCA SR3 avalanche probe that I quite like the look of, has anyone used this? or 'know a man who has'?
Main other option is a Black Diamond offering (Can't remember the name)
On the shovel front I don't want anything too big and combersome, but likewise don't want to end up digging in anger with a plastic tea-spoon!
Again, I like the look of the Black Diamond offering of the Deploy 3. But I also Like the feature with the Mammut ones where you can use the as anchors when climbing.
So, What does anyone have to say?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've got a Deploy 7, which is nice but hoofing big and has to go in the main compartment of most of my packs. Probe wise I'd say you want something around 250cm long I use a BD Super Tour which is 265cm IIRC.
The Deploy shovels do have holes cut in them so you can turn it into a deadman as well.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Fwiw, I have a plastic othovox shovel which is crap, it's plastic so won't get thro avalanche debris and I have trouble with the handle, I should ditch it, I did buy a replacement which is great but too big for my small bag so stays in the car! The received wisdom on shovels at the moment is get one with;
A metal blade with a serrated bottom edge.
A flat top to the blade to enable a boot to assist the digging.
A proper handle ie D shaped.
On probes. They seem much of a muchness apart from weight, and length. Carbon saves a few grams but is expensive, 2.4m seems the norm maybe longer for use in N America.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Yea will deffinately be a metal shovel! I think from what I can tether, the deploy 3 is the smaller version of the 7?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Crazy Climber, yeah AFAIK the Deploy 3 is the smaller version of the 7.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just a thought but what about an entrenching tool? Could fit the bill and can pick them up for about a tenner from Army Surplus or online.
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Some wise words on shovels:
http://www.wildsnow.com/2733/bca-shovels-denali-mckinley/
A longer handle is a great help when digging but more awkward to assemble and carry. When in Sweden, I saw plenty of locals carrying huge great yard shovels on the outsides of their packs. It looked most awkward but they seemed to cope.
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Cheers for the link, Had a quick scan through it and all looks interesting! Will have a better read through it later!
Richard Sideways I don't know how much experience you have with an entrenching tool, but from the use I've had of them, compared with a snow shovel, they are pretty heavy and have quite a small blade. I agree though, they do fold up nice and small, and the shape of the blade and the serrations would probably make cutting blocks a walking in the park! They can also be used in a 'pickaxe mode' which I can see being advantageous.
However, I think the comparative blade size and weight would rule it out for me personally.
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