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October, 2024

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Back Country Shovel

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TheDetectives
Posts: 634 - Karma: 1,472
Going out west a bunch this season, wonder what shovels ya'll use, or would recommend, money isn't an option, but something cheaper would be better
Oct 14 2013 8:26PM
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whackhouse
Posts: 736 - Karma: 939
I've got a collapsible shovel from a hardware store, and it honestly works fine
Oct 14 2013 10:21PM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
Any will work.
Oct 14 2013 10:35PM
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Bozite
Posts: 981 - Karma: 561
Backcountry access shovels have yet to fail me
Oct 14 2013 11:25PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Get one with a hoe mode.
Oct 15 2013 1:58AM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Buy one whit a metal blade, You will ser the difference. When My friend was burried under an avy my metal one was better then my friends plastic one. I really like the k2 that you can make a rescue board whit it, I'm gonna buy one this season because it can be really usefull
Oct 15 2013 3:11AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Metal is a must for avy shovels. I use a Black Diamond Deploy Shovel, its light, metal and its ready to use with the push of a pin. In a worst case scenario, you don't want to be messing around putting your shovel together, that's why I much prefer ones with a shaft that packs down.
Oct 15 2013 8:39AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
I'm a fan of my K2 rescue shovel. fairly light and decently priced. I'll admit that I've used it more for digging out my car than anything else but it works well
Oct 15 2013 9:34AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Pretty small blades on BD's shovels though.

A big blade, long shaft and D grip is what you want for maximum ease of use. It's really one of those times where you should just just buy a good one right from the start and it'll last 10+ years with no need to "upgrade".

Voile Telepro, Mammut Allugator, Ortovox Kodiak, BCA B-52 all fit the bill but there are others. Check out weights if you care.

More importantly, practise deep digging every year!
Oct 15 2013 10:28AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Didnt want to make a new thread sooo....

Im looking for a collapsable shovel not for avy rescue but more for backcountry building. Anything you guys would recommend?
Nov 11 2013 7:21PM
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Session
Posts: 5375 - Karma: 22,080
How did I miss this amazing post?
Nov 11 2013 8:02PM
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bieberhole69.
Posts: 654 - Karma: 1,387
k2 rescue shovel, has hoe mode
Nov 11 2013 8:52PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
god damnit I cant tell if you guys are useless or not.
Nov 11 2013 10:00PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,150
I've got this one as well, great shovel.
Nov 11 2013 10:13PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
So you're going to have a avy shovel and a jump building shovel? Seems redundant. A shovel, probe and beacons are a must if your are hitting the bc at all.

Check out the larger shovels listed that are metal and have a hoe mode.


Nov 11 2013 10:24PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
i could see why. maybe a larger bulkier shovel that takes longer to set up, but can move more snow at a time. and then a more portable one that you can get out quickly for avy stuff
Nov 11 2013 11:04PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
You dont want to be digging throught that much stuff in your pack come emergency time. Unless you are a weight junkie on dynafits, ultralights and are about the speedy up, I wouldnt worry too much about having a bulky shovel. Remember, one large shovel is still way smaller/lighter than two smaller ones.
Nov 11 2013 11:43PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Im not going to be on the west coast/in any avy danger any time soon. I just want something to build jumps and jibs with that is light and easily packable.
Nov 12 2013 11:45AM
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-SnowSnoli-
Posts: 756 - Karma: 1,703
I went to army surplus store and got a shovel from there like the ones they use for trenches. .though probably use my avy shovel more.
Nov 12 2013 12:26PM
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