Poster: A snowHead
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Hello All,
Just looking for some shovel recommendations as I need to get a new one. Requirements are metal, light, strong, reliable.
Any thoughts?
thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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No specific recommendations but a few tips:
1) Make sure whatever you get will fit in your rucksack, strapping to the outside is a pain and sooner or later it'll fall off.
2) Don't go too light, when you want it to work you really do not want it to break.
3) Beware of shovels with probes in the handle - I have one and getting the probe out is a pain, so I keep them separate now, so I may as well have bought he separately in the first place.
4) Don't go too big (even if (1) allows you to). A big blade sounds like its what you need but research has shown that a smaller blade is more effective in real life (apparently - I'll see if I can find a reference for this claim).
5) Don't bother with extended handles, when you are digging for a victim (or digging a pit to get all snow geeky) then a short handle is actually better in most scenarios.
Having read the links from jimmjimm I think I'll get the Voile before next season... very handy links, thanks.
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Thanks for the info. I didn't know about the smaller blade or handlle, very interesting. jimmjimm, thanks for the article and the recommendation.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Actually, the Canadian article does seem to warn against going too short... the advice to me on a short handle came from an AIARE instructor, and makes sense to me but I guess the research shows you can go too short. The point about D-handles is worth bearing in mind, they do seem more comfortable in use.
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Just an aside query, whats wrong with using, for example, an army surplus entrenching tool?
They're collapsable, small, light, metal bladed, and cheap as chips. Ok small blade width, but they're not going to fall apart on you, and you can dig fast with them, and seems to me thats what you want in an emergency...
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Richard_Sideways, are you sure they're light? I thought they weighed a fair bit!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Weight for a tri-fold all metal is about 3 pounds... might want to take the sharp edge off a bit if you're digging for a victim though...
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That would make it the heaviest available on that list, and there aren't many bigger than the Chugach anywhere
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Richard_Sideways wrote: |
Just an aside query, whats wrong with using, for example, an army surplus entrenching tool?
They're collapsable, small, light, metal bladed, and cheap as chips. Ok small blade width, but they're not going to fall apart on you, and you can dig fast with them, and seems to me thats what you want in an emergency... |
Hopefully apart from doing practice searches, most of us for real will only use our snow shovels for digging out cars and clearing driveways, so I would say that a shovel is the more practical option.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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richjp wrote: |
Richard_Sideways wrote: |
Just an aside query, whats wrong with using, for example, an army surplus entrenching tool?
They're collapsable, small, light, metal bladed, and cheap as chips. Ok small blade width, but they're not going to fall apart on you, and you can dig fast with them, and seems to me thats what you want in an emergency... |
Hopefully apart from doing practice searches, most of us for real will only use our snow shovels for digging out cars and clearing driveways, so I would say that a shovel is the more practical option. |
I cleared my drive with a alu bladed shovel. Bad idea. Scrapping on tarmac wrecked the blade:(
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Mosha Marc, suppose thats the difference between alu construction and steel. About a third of the price though...
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