Home › Forums › The Gear Room › Flat-ish shovel blades
- This topic has 8 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 8 months ago by
Scooby2.
- AuthorPosts
- December 27, 2018 at 5:30 am #825949SnurferParticipant
Despite understanding the purpose of a curved shovel blade, it doesn’t make them any less annoying to pack. I’ve had the same Voile shovel for years and for the intended purpose its great. Small, durable, etc.
But when its in my pack, it takes up a lot of room due to the curve of the blade. More specifically the the curve plus the protrusion where the handle attaches.
Its protruding into the pack making exchanging other gear in and out a PITA or its facing my back and risking a serious impact injury (I don’t carry that way).
Anyways, just wondering if anyone has found something that packs sort of flat. BTW I’ve looked at Prival, but honestly I wouldn’t want someone trying to save my life with such a small blade and assume others would feel the same.
Shark Snowsurf Chuna
Voile V-Tail 170 BC
Voile One Ninety Five
Spark R&D ArcDecember 27, 2018 at 6:37 am #825951permnationParticipantG3 SpadeTech packs flat and can go vertical or horizontal in most packs, the blade that is. Strip the paint and you save a little over an ounce.
December 27, 2018 at 6:50 am #825952permnationParticipantThat Prival stuff is new to me and really lightweight shovel. I bought a SnowClaw (it lays flat) to carry in the car and have put together a super light “bro, i hope you don’t get buried” kind of kit, just to see what it would weigh. The SnowClaw and a Komperdell Carbon 260cm probe is 347g/12.25 oz. I might see what they say at Silverton during Spring unguided.
December 27, 2018 at 7:12 am #825955permnationParticipantAlso, the old BD shovels that can use an ice axe for a handle have a flat profile but still have a long neck. The G3 is neckless, both of their models.
December 27, 2018 at 7:20 am #825956SnurferParticipantThanks for the reply! The spadetech looks like it will solve the issue I’m dealing with. That snowclaw is good deal for a backup.
The prival shovel concept is cool, but if you notice in the photos its tiny.
Hope your season is providing, happy turns!
Shark Snowsurf Chuna
Voile V-Tail 170 BC
Voile One Ninety Five
Spark R&D ArcDecember 27, 2018 at 10:49 am #825961Scooby2ParticipantHey Snurfer,
If you were into the voile telepro with the extending handle, the Ortovox Kodiak is an upgrade in the more capable shovel category. It doesn’t have the angled neck like the voile which makes a lump in your pack. at 1.7 lbs it is a hair lighter than the telepro, but there are lighter shovels out there. I like the rubber grip that keeps your hands from getting cold and makes an easy grip.December 27, 2018 at 11:58 am #825965permnationParticipantThe prival shovel concept is cool, but if you notice in the photos its tiny.
I just looked at their website again. I missed the photos of carrying the blade in a case on your boot. Indeed, that thing is tiny, almost half the surface area of the G3 spade.
Happy season to you, also.
December 27, 2018 at 12:49 pm #825967SnurferParticipantThanks Scooby! I have the Voile XLM. Cool that the ortovox shovels can can be converted into other tools. I really like the pro, as a replacement for the XLM. Def between that and the G3 (e.g. best price wins)
Hope you’ve been able to get out during the stretch since Thanksgiving. Much improved over our last season.
Shark Snowsurf Chuna
Voile V-Tail 170 BC
Voile One Ninety Five
Spark R&D ArcDecember 27, 2018 at 1:16 pm #825970Scooby2Participantyeah this year really feels like a gift to have even what we do by end of December.
- AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.