Contributions by Bojangles111a (3)

Another fine Black Diamond product. 100% effective at keeping snow out, even in very deep conditions and over long periods. They run small, so make sure you buy them large enough. I'm 6'1" with a size 11 foot, and it's tight getting a XL to fit over pants and snow boots.

For a piece of equipment that I hope never to use for real, I sure train with this a lot. It's function is smooth and reliable, and light weight to keep pack weight down. The real deciding factor for me was the longer warranty period that Ortovox offers, especially for a carbon probe.

Anyone familiar with Black Diamond knows they make a good product. This is no exception. Nice, sturdy feel, good sized blade, and fairly compact. Fully extended handle gives good leverage. My only complaint would be that the handle could slide further into the blade with a slightly different design, making it very compact without disassembly.