Avy shovels

Posted by: 300winmag

Avy shovels - 01/30/07 11:49 AM

What brands/models of collapsable shovels do you guys use?

I have a BCA Traverse shovel for these reasons:
It's light

It has a somewhat smaller blade (Better, I feel, for handling heavy "cement snow" and digging inside snow caves and Quinzees)

It has a metal blade for "cement snow" caused by avalanches. I don't think plastic can pierce avy snow well enough.

Eric
Posted by: TomD

Re: Avy shovels - 01/30/07 11:54 AM

I have a Voile Mini. There's a good article on TTips about why plastic shovels are a bad idea.
Posted by: midnightsun03

Re: Avy shovels - 01/30/07 01:12 PM

I think I just ordered the Traverse EXT through my rescue group. Haven't put hands on yet. Weight was a consideration (the Chugach Pro is a better shovel, but much heavier), as was the fact that I could get a nice discount through a pro deal. Seems to me I see more Voile shovels on the slopes though (could be a pro deal that the ski patrol gets?). Definitely metal blade - you don't need a plastic blade to break on you, that's for sure.

MNS
Posted by: crackers

Re: Avy shovels - 01/31/07 08:55 AM

I use the big Voile with the D handle. I'm a bigger guy, and I want to be able to move a lot of snow in a hurry, so I got something that fits me.

Plastic blades are junk.
Posted by: midnightsun03

Re: Avy shovels - 02/02/07 10:53 AM

Correction, I got the BCA Companion Shovel (the red one halfway down the page) with the D handle but without the probe as shown on the website (a 6 foot probe is too short for our team requirements). It is super lightweight, especially when compared to the Chugach Pro purchased by several of our other members. The version I got also does not have an extensible handle, so it is pretty short. I had quitea few folks drooling over the weight of the Companion. Weather conditions being what they are I'm sure I'll get a chance to try it out here soon.

MNS
Posted by: 300winmag

Re: Avy shovels - 02/02/07 07:20 PM

OOO! OOO!
I like the extras built in to that shovel. Probably would have bought it if REI had it in the store. I do prefer D handles. But I'm no longer a Nordic patroller so I'll not have as much use for a avy shovel as you S&R folks.

Thanks , Eric
Posted by: hikerduane

Re: Avy shovels - 02/02/07 09:44 PM

I picked up a Black Diamond Transfer 3. Price was around what I wanted to spend and weight was a tiny bit more than I wanted to tote but it had a long handle for my old bad back. Can't have it all. A nice feature is the rectangular handle, it can't rotate, so when it telescopes out the clicker thingie clicks in easily. It doesn't have a D handle but the handle is kinda ergonomically designed to fit you gloved hand so your hand doesn't have to fit around the shaft where it meets the handle. It is flattened out some. I haven't used it yet, I may not go out snow camping anymore this year as I drove too many miles last year so I may vegetate this year some. Next piece of winter gear is an ice axe, but then, all these years that I have gone out I haven't really needed one.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Avy shovels - 02/03/07 09:50 PM

Voile TelePro.

I also have a LifeLink polycarbonate shovel which has been relegated to digging out the car if need be. Not only is it not good for avalanche debris, but it can't even handle consolidated or ice-layered snow well without chipping or bouncing.
Posted by: Chongo

Re: Avy shovels - 05/05/07 11:53 PM

Voile TelePro.

Metal blade, D handle, Orange (T6) scoop.

Not particularly light (about 30 oz, I think).
Doesn't break.
Posted by: davidson

Re: Avy shovels - 05/06/07 05:00 PM

For quite awhile, I've used the Voile XLM shovel---small metal blade, short handle, 16 oz., but strong---I've carved out many a snowcave with it. My new avy shovel is the somewhat heavier (23 oz.) BD Deploy 7 but the larger blade and handle, unique handle storage, and greater efficiency makes it the Avy blade I turn to. Stay away from plastic bladed avy shovels. (well, everyone here seems to know that but here's some reason's why, anyway----
http://www.telemarktips.com/TeleNews69.html
Posted by: obi96

Re: Avy shovels - 02/25/08 07:29 PM

Remember, it's not the size of your shovel that matters as much as the size of your buddys shovel digging you out.