In addition to your general equipment, an avalanche emergency kit is mandatory for every ski tour, high altitude ski tour, snowshoeing and splitboard tours. Part of this equipment should be the avalanche shovel, because this is in addition to the avalanche transceiver and the avalanche probe for the successful search and rescue of buried victims absolutely necessary. Shovels are available in different sizes, materials and also with various additional functions. They can be easily stowed in avalanche protection backpacks.
In addition to your general equipment, an avalanche emergency kit is mandatory for every ski tour, high altitude ski tour, snowshoeing and splitboard tours. Part of this equipment should be the... learn more »
In addition to your general equipment, an avalanche emergency kit is mandatory for every ski tour, high altitude ski tour, snowshoeing and splitboard tours. Part of this equipment should be the avalanche shovel, because this is in addition to the avalanche transceiver and the avalanche probe for the successful search and rescue of buried victims absolutely necessary. Shovels are available in different sizes, materials and also with various additional functions. They can be easily stowed in avalanche protection backpacks.
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Which avalanche shovel for which application?
Due to the many manufacturers, there is also a large selection of avalanche shovels. From ultra-light to those with an integrated ice axe. For each tourers and mountain professionals can find the right model.
Ultralight shovels usually have a weight of less than 600 grams and are equipped very minimalist - so mostly a pure shovel. Often, these are only used for training serious cases and used by competitors in actually avalanche-safe conditions in the area of groomed slopes. The low weight here is mostly for performance and freedom of movement.
The standardized avalanche shovels offer considerably more comfort when shoveling, higher efficiency due to a different shape and useful additional features, such as conversion to angled mode (clearing / chopping function). This allows the use in almost all situations and areas and can be recommended without reservation for all tourers and hikers.
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What features are important in an avalanche shovel?
Just like avalanche backpacks and probes, an avalanche shovel offers you properties that are specially adapted to the area of use:
Material
A good shovel is made of light but strong and unbreakable material: Aluminum. An even better shovel is made of carbon or a mixture. However, the assessment is subjective. Avalanche shovels made of plastic we would not recommend you, because the material can break and suffers from weather conditions.
Weight
As with the complete equipment, the weight of the shovel also plays a major role in the purchase. Average aluminum shovels are in the range of 600 to 700 grams. If the shovel is to be larger, more robust, and have many extras, expect to pay around 800 to 900 grams. Carbon shovels with less than 600 grams already belong in the ultralight range and are used more for exercises and competitions.
Pack size & length of the avalanche shovel
It is practical that just about any avalanche protection equipment can be compactly stowed. Especially with a large shovel this is extremely useful, so that still probes, thermometers and other equipment in the avalanche pressure set finds place. As a rule, the shovel blade and shovel handle are foldable or separable without tools. So you come despite great efficiency to a small pack size.
For effort-saving and efficient shoveling, you should choose the right length for you. Sounds easier said than done, doesn't it? In this case, not really: shovels with an extendable telescopic handle can be adjusted to your body size and optimal leverage. Common shovel lengths range from 80 to 90 centimeters, which are good for everyone.
Shovel handle & grip
A telescopic handle on many shovels allows them to be extended. It is important that the assembly can be done quickly, safely and easily with gloves. After all, time is of the essence when it comes to life and death in an avalanche. The handle must hold extremely stable - even during intensive, powerful use. Likewise, make sure that the shovel handle never has a round cross-section, but is oval, triangular or rectangular with rounded edges. This results in it being stable in the hand. At best, your shovel will have anti-slip surfaces or rubber linings on the shovel handle.
The handle usually has a T or D handle shape. Both are good to handle and allow you to grip around. Experience shows that the D-handle, which is usually a little heavier, is easier to hold and makes more force available.
There are also special shapes such as the Y-handle (modified or asymmetrical T-handle) or the snake-like bent C-handle, which allow a very flexible grip and/or conversion to a shovel with clearing function or chipping shovel (also clearing shovel or chipping function) and improve the general handling. If several people are shoveling in one place, then these functions allow for acceleration or higher working speed.
Size of the shovel blade
How much snow a shovel can ultimately move depends, of course, on the size of the shovel blade. As a rule, the blade area has a size of about 22 x 28 centimeters up to about 25 x 30 centimeters. These dimensions fit into the shovel compartment of ski backpacks and accommodate a snow volume of about 2.5 liters to 3.0 liters.
Due to the many manufacturers, there is also a large selection of avalanche shovels. From ultra-light to those with an integrated ice axe. For each tourers and mountain professionals can find the right model.
Ultralight shovels usually have a weight of less than 600 grams and are equipped very minimalist - so mostly a pure shovel. Often, these are only used for training serious cases and used by competitors in actually avalanche-safe conditions in the area of groomed slopes. The low weight here is mostly for performance and freedom of movement.
The standardized avalanche shovels offer considerably more comfort when shoveling, higher efficiency due to a different shape and useful additional features, such as conversion to angled mode (clearing / chopping function). This allows the use in almost all situations and areas and can be recommended without reservation for all tourers and hikers.
" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen="">
What features are important in an avalanche shovel?
Just like avalanche backpacks and probes, an avalanche shovel offers you properties that are specially adapted to the area of use:
Material
A good shovel is made of light but strong and unbreakable material: Aluminum. An even better shovel is made of carbon or a mixture. However, the assessment is subjective. Avalanche shovels made of plastic we would not recommend you, because the material can break and suffers from weather conditions.
Weight
As with the complete equipment, the weight of the shovel also plays a major role in the purchase. Average aluminum shovels are in the range of 600 to 700 grams. If the shovel is to be larger, more robust, and have many extras, expect to pay around 800 to 900 grams. Carbon shovels with less than 600 grams already belong in the ultralight range and are used more for exercises and competitions.
Pack size & length of the avalanche shovel
It is practical that just about any avalanche protection equipment can be compactly stowed. Especially with a large shovel this is extremely useful, so that still probes, thermometers and other equipment in the avalanche pressure set finds place. As a rule, the shovel blade and shovel handle are foldable or separable without tools. So you come despite great efficiency to a small pack size.
For effort-saving and efficient shoveling, you should choose the right length for you. Sounds easier said than done, doesn't it? In this case, not really: shovels with an extendable telescopic handle can be adjusted to your body size and optimal leverage. Common shovel lengths range from 80 to 90 centimeters, which are good for everyone.
Shovel handle & grip
A telescopic handle on many shovels allows them to be extended. It is important that the assembly can be done quickly, safely and easily with gloves. After all, time is of the essence when it comes to life and death in an avalanche. The handle must hold extremely stable - even during intensive, powerful use. Likewise, make sure that the shovel handle never has a round cross-section, but is oval, triangular or rectangular with rounded edges. This results in it being stable in the hand. At best, your shovel will have anti-slip surfaces or rubber linings on the shovel handle.
The handle usually has a T or D handle shape. Both are good to handle and allow you to grip around. Experience shows that the D-handle, which is usually a little heavier, is easier to hold and makes more force available.
There are also special shapes such as the Y-handle (modified or asymmetrical T-handle) or the snake-like bent C-handle, which allow a very flexible grip and/or conversion to a shovel with clearing function or chipping shovel (also clearing shovel or chipping function) and improve the general handling. If several people are shoveling in one place, then these functions allow for acceleration or higher working speed.
Size of the shovel blade
How much snow a shovel can ultimately move depends, of course, on the size of the shovel blade. As a rule, the blade area has a size of about 22 x 28 centimeters up to about 25 x 30 centimeters. These dimensions fit into the shovel compartment of ski backpacks and accommodate a snow volume of about 2.5 liters to 3.0 liters.
