evo Size and Buying Guides - We have one of the largest selections of
avalanche probes on the web, a super
knowledgeable staff and expert guides to help you make an informed decision
'
Avalanche probes help you determine the exact location of an avalanche victim and measure the burial depth. If there is one piece of avalanche safety equipment that people tend to forget, it's the probe. All three pieces of avalanche safety gear are mandatory: transceiver, shovel, and probe. Without any one of these pieces recovery time in an avalanche rescue situation goes up dramatically.
Things to consider when choosing an avalanche probe:
Length
There are lots of different length probes. Consider snow depth when choosing your probe. 2 meters should be a minimum length, and longer than that is better. Somewhere between 240 and 300 centimeters is typically best. Longer probes provide more space between your hands which minimizes the chance of breaking the probe. Longer probes are also easier on your back. Longer probes tend to be made of a heavier gauge material and are therefore more durable.
Material
Aluminum or carbon? Both Aluminum and carbon are quality materials; carbon is lighter in weight but also tends to be more expensive.
Functionality
The probe you choose should be easy and fast to deploy and above all, you should be familiar with how to deploy it. Practice at home with gloves on before taking it into the backcountry.
A dedicated avalanche probe, not ski poles turned into probes, serves the best functionality. In an avalanche you don’t want to be trying to put ski poles together to act as a probe. It’s better to have a dedicated avalanche probe.
When probing remember to leave the probe in place after you have a “positive strike” then begin digging from the downhill side of the probe.
We recommend taking an avalanche course to familiarize yourself further with all you backcountry gear.
