Dont be fooled

By dea3120817 Ranked #716 - Avalanche Safety September 30, 2009

Just took a brand new example of this supposedly bombproof shovel to New Zealand to do my Avi safety management level one....
We encountered a fairly bombproof spring snowpack for most of the week. Initially , I thought the shovel had a little too much movement bw blade and handle which will only serve to weaken the connection over time. Otherwise it seemed okay... however to my disgust the thing (blade) bent like a noodle during a simulated rescue exercise which inturn gave me zero confidence in the thing for dealing with a real burial.
I observed several BD shovels attacking the same snowpack and all seemed to survive with little or no deformation... wish i had have gone with one of those or better still a Voile pro! Sorry Ortovox blade strength just aint up to it!!!!

View Details: Ortovox Alaska D Avalanche Shovel

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