Access 240 Probe

Arva Access 240 is Arva's best-selling avalanche probe: 2.40 m long when deployed, assembled from six 40 cm sections of 11 mm, 7001 T6 aluminium tube threaded on a light polyamide cord. A pull handle makes it easy to deploy and tension, and the Flash Lock system locks it with a quick knot. At 190 g it is light to carry in a touring pack.

Who it's for

Every skier, splitboarder and snowshoer heading into avalanche terrain, from the Main Range in Kosciuszko National Park to a New Zealand club field. A probe is one third of the kit every person in the party carries, alongside a transceiver and a shovel. The transceiver gets you to the spot; the probe confirms where and how deep the person is, so you dig in the right place first.

How it performs in a search

• 2.40 m deployed length from six 40 cm sections
• 11 mm 7001 T6 aluminium tubes, strong and durable
• Printed depth markings along the sections indicate snow depth
• Ultra-lightweight polyamide tension cord; 190 g in total

Using it under pressure

Speed matters when someone is buried. The pull handle makes it easy to deploy and tension the probe, and the cone inserts at the end of each section make the tubes easy to assemble. Lock it with the Flash Lock, a quick and effective knot that locks the probe once deployed. When you get a strike, leave the probe in place as a marker and start shovelling. The pouch has step-by-step avalanche rescue instructions printed on it, there when you need a prompt.

Looking after it

Practise deploying it with gloves on before the season so the pull, tension and lock are second nature. Dry the probe and pouch after every trip before packing them away. We stock the Access 240 because it does the job without fuss at a weight that never gives anyone an excuse to leave it at home.