Do you carry a shovel? Which one?

Do you carry a shovel when climbing snow routes? Which shovel do you prefer? Are there any you recommend against?

I'm in the market for a new shovel and am not sure which one to get yet. I am highly considering the Voile Mini Shovel. I like to go light and rarely use one. I also feel I can, in the long run, move more snow faster with a small shovel before tiring out as one does with a large shovel. I do fear the Mini is too small though, as I have never seen one in person or spoken to anyone who has one. The Backcountry Access B1 is my other option and have heard good things about it. I have seen the "claws" and they are super light and compact, but being plastic, I would never carry it.

What do you suggest?

If you're just looking to dig out sleeping platforms go lighter. A ski partner has been using an Arva Plume the last season and it's held up fine digging pits and the like. That's only 14 ounces, has a real aluminum blade and carbon shaft. Blade size is similar enough to my G3 avitech.

For actual avalanche burial recovery I would still stick with a D handle, but the T works just fine when you're not stressed.

Plume 14oz
Voile mini 24oz
Avitech 27.2oz

Seth Jones wrote:Any shovel from a reputable manufacturer is going to do the job...

+1

After examining several shovels from quality suppliers, I just went with the one that was discounted the most. Ended up with an Ortovox Beast and I'm happy with it.

I carry a shovel year round. You never know when you need to bury someone out there.

I have a metal BD shovel. I was taught a metal shovel is better and more durable than a plastic one. I've dug out some kickers with friends plastic shovels and haven't hand too much trouble. I've also dug through avy debris and been happy with my metal shovel.

I've had to dig my subaru out of some snow banks after some horse play... I was happy to have the metal shovel until I tagged the car under the snow. Then I wish I had a plastic one. The horse didn't fair much better either with the metal blade... lotta blood and stitches digging it out after the subaru...

Make sure you get a D handle. I would just go on backcountry.com and sort by cheapest price. Whatever fits your qualifications and is cheapest is the way to go; so many are similar weights etc.

One thing to note: make sure it works well with your pack. Most do, but I've seen some funky size packs and/or shovels not work well together.

AFAIK this is the lightest metal-bladed shovel on the market: skimo.co/arva-ultra-shovel. Only 10oz (but only an 8.5" x 8.5" blade).

If you really want to save weight you could consider this 6oz model: skimo.co/merelli-carbon-shovel. But its main purpose is to comply with skimo race rules, not to do any actual digging.

Grivel makes a metal blade that mates with an axe. Its my D-1 of choice

Ortovox beast is a machine-real quality when you need to dig out a friend. It's on the heavy side in my opinion, but I've used it enough and been around enough shovels that it's grown on me. Might not be in the weight range you're looking for though

Voile Telepro (sturdy, long handle, comfy D grip) when I'm more likely to move snow and I'm not worried much about weight. This also gets work digging out the car.

Arva Plume (not the tiny rando race one which is too small imo) when weight and size is a concern.