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May, 2025

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Shovel w/ Hoe mode

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OregonDead
Posts: 7072 - Karma: 26,618
I want one of those super cool Avy shovels with hoe mode. Anyone tried one that they liked? What's good NS?
7 years ago
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jca
Posts: 4180 - Karma: 6,366
I use the K2 rescue shovel. Being able to hoe makes it way faster to dig out burials if you have at least 1 other person digging but if youre by yourself the normal shovel assembly is a lot better for cutting and clearing blocks of the hard refrozen debris.

Definitely not a must have feature but it's pretty handy and hoeing moves a seriously surprising amount of snow.
7 years ago
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snowpocalypse
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 3,526
Love mine. I will never go back. I have the Ortovox and got the BCA for my sled. Both use a hoe mode and work great for pits and fast removal of snow.
7 years ago
1 0
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Hoe Mode is whats up. So much better at excavating snow away from a burial.

I have an Arva spade with hoemode. its killer. Never going back to #Nohoemode again
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7072 - Karma: 26,618
So I need to make up my mind here.
In addition to the suggested K2 rescue shovel ...
Ortovox pro alu III
BCA RS EXT
Mammut Alugator Guide

are all in my price range look nice and have the hoe feature. Any others to check out?
7 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
OregonDeadSo I need to make up my mind here.
In addition to the suggested K2 rescue shovel ...
Ortovox pro alu III
BCA RS EXT
Mammut Alugator Guide

are all in my price range look nice and have the hoe feature. Any others to check out?


I like the BCA the best of those...

I use the arva V1 and its pretty similar.
7 years ago
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jKutcher
Posts: 3936 - Karma: 4,260
I have the Black Diamond Evac 7. Absolutely love it. Hoe mode, comfortable D handle, and moves a lot of snow fast.
7 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8017 - Karma: 26,915
I can't say hoe mode out loud without laughing
7 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7072 - Karma: 26,618
CaseyI can't say hoe mode out loud without laughing


Seems like another bonus for the hoe mode. Cracks me up and I like to keep the mood light.
Ended up ordering the Ortovox and I should get it tomorrow. I'll report back once I've had the chance to play with it.
7 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
jKutcherI have the Black Diamond Evac 7. Absolutely love it. Hoe mode, comfortable D handle, and moves a lot of snow fast.


My buddy borrowed my Arva spade and lost it like a derp by putting it on the outside of his pack for some reason.



Bought me one of these to make up for it. I used it yesterday to dig a pit in some ultra compressed windslab and it was awesome. Highly recommend.
7 years ago
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
jKutcherI have the Black Diamond Evac 7. Absolutely love it. Hoe mode, comfortable D handle, and moves a lot of snow fast.


Seconded. Great shovel. I do have some trouble fitting it in some of my packs though. At that point, I just go for my Mammut Alugator Light(no how mode, basically a good Skimo shovel)
7 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Just found out about the sawzaw blade attachment for the handle on the Evac 7. Gamechanger.
7 years ago
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
DingoSeanJust found out about the sawzaw blade attachment for the handle on the Evac 7. Gamechanger.


Wait, what? Any info?
7 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
ATLskierWait, what? Any info?


All the info you need is here. you just pull out the base of the handle and you can insert any sawzall blade. I'm going to get a foot long pruning blade or something. no more need to bring my snowsaw


http://www.earnyourturns.com/23004/first-look-black-diamonds-evac-backcountry-snow-shovel/
7 years ago
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
DingoSeanAll the info you need is here. you just pull out the base of the handle and you can insert any sawzall blade. I'm going to get a foot long pruning blade or something. no more need to bring my snowsaw


http://www.earnyourturns.com/23004/first-look-black-diamonds-evac-backcountry-snow-shovel/


Fuck yeah that's awesome. I can't believe they don't have that as a prominent feature in their product description. Thanks for sharing that. I'll def have to get one now, although I do love my BD saw too(way too expensive though)
7 years ago
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,582
Chiming in here, I also have the K2 shovel and love it, but had the epoxy separate while in hoe mode. Thank god it was while digging a snow cave and not a rescue, and the shovel was still useable, abeit with half a handle missing. The epoxy also separated on my K2 lockjaw poles as well, so I don't trust their glue anymore. That being said it's nothing a little Jbweld can't fix!
7 years ago
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
ATLskierFuck yeah that's awesome. I can't believe they don't have that as a prominent feature in their product description. Thanks for sharing that. I'll def have to get one now, although I do love my BD saw too(way too expensive though)


I like my saw too, but cmon... now it has a d handle and added range! And I can optimize the teeth for the likely snow consolidation!
7 years ago
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
DingoSeanI like my saw too, but cmon... now it has a d handle and added range! And I can optimize the teeth for the likely snow consolidation!


True but my BD snowsaw is super long when extended and connected to a pole. I'll def get a saw blade though
7 years ago
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