The Swiss avalanche rescue expert Manuel Genswein and the Norwegian Ragnhild Eide tested the top models of avalanche shovels for their usability under real avalanche snow conditions during a field test for more efficient excavation and rescue of buried avalanche victims. Buried victims were dug out from a depth of two meters, which is an extreme endurance test for the shovelers as well as for the shovel material. First of all: The result is questionable or catastrophic for many models.
The first result: As plastic shovels broke off after a short time in almost all previous real-life tests, they were not tested at all in the test described here - under the supervision of the Austrian Alpine Association.
Another result of the study is that expensive shovels are not automatically good shovels. In the end, the shovels were categorized into three or four classes:
1. "The hellish" shovel is usually unusable before the first victim is dug out.
2. With "beach-suitable" shovels you can rescue one or two buried victims from hard avalanche snow, after which the shovel is irreparably broken.
3. "Mountain-suitable" shovels fulfill their purpose: you can dig with them in hard avalanche snow and they still work. They are neither heavier nor more expensive than other shovels. All models in this class are made of temperature-hardened T6 aluminum.
4. Perfect avalanche shovels do not yet exist, according to the testers!
Shovel blade: The upper edge of the shovel blade should be straight or almost straight so that you can press the shovel blade into the snow with your boot in hard avalanche snow.
Size of shovel blade: A lot of snow can be removed with large shovel blades, but the rescuer will tire more quickly.
Material: In the Genswein/Eides field test, only shovels that were made from the aforementioned 6061 aluminum and then underwent heat treatment (= hardening) were convincing.
Handle: Shovels require a telescopic handle for efficient digging. Round handle cross-sections offer little resistance when adjusting, but the individual handle parts twist, which takes time when mounting. Oval or trapezoidal handle cross-sections offer greater resistance, but it is quicker to find the locking position.
Handle: T- or D-shaped? Most test subjects preferred the D-shaped shovel handle, which is also easy for smaller hands to hold. The prerequisite is that the "D" is large enough so that you can work well with the shovel even when wearing gloves.
This is how the tested shovels were rated:
Black Diamond Transfer 7 - the shovel was excluded from the test because the sharp edge of the blade, which tapers towards the handle, repeatedly damaged the testers' ski boots.
Pieps Pro - the shovel broke before two people buried two meters below the surface could be dug out. The soft shovel blade could not withstand the forces of digging in the hard snow. | Suitable for beach use
Stubai - Shovel with a strong handle, but the blade was deformed. Some locking bolts on the handle came loose. Result: The shovel was no longer usable. | Suitable for the beach
Ortovox Grizzly - The sharp-cutting serrated front edge of the shovel blade was praised. The shovel could not compete with its namesake in terms of stability: The shovel blade broke where its angle changes towards the handle. | Suitable for the beach
Ortovox Alaska D - the shovel was popular and would have received a good test rating if it had been made of suitable material.
BCA Chugach Pro EXT - the large blade of this shovel showed little deformation, unlike the handle, which eventually broke.
Mammut Expert - The shovel blade was severely deformed and some of the weld seams cracked. | Suitable for the beach
G3 AviTech D-Grip - the shovel is made of 6061 aluminum and is T6 treated. Due to its small radius on the top of the blade, there was little deformation during block cutting. "Good, stable rescue tool" - with a slightly too small D-handle. | Suitable for mountain use
Voilé Telepro T6 - "?a good example of how an avalanche rescue tool should be: Stable and ergonomic
Voilé XLM Pro - like the Telepro, the shovel is made of 6061 T6 aluminum and withstood all tests without any problems. "A very good choice if you need a stable, fairly light and ergonomic shovel for touring. The weight is comparable to a heavy plastic shovel" | Suitable for mountain use
Voilé XLM - stable and extremely light. | Suitable for the mountains! What more could you want?
Source: Bergundsteigen.at Issue 04/08
Update | January 15, 2009 - Statements from the shovel manufacturers
After being asked by the testers, most of the less highly rated shovel manufacturers issued statements on the products in question or the entire test, some of which are very different: From emotional and incomprehensible, to factual responses, everything is included. Read for yourself!
(Unfortunately, the manufacturers' statements are currently not available on the BergundSteigen magazine website)
