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Avalanche Shovels

An avalanche shovel is the third piece of every backcountry kit, alongside a transceiver and a probe. Once the probe strikes, digging is usually the longest part of a companion rescue. We stock aluminium-bladed avalanche shovels from Arva and Mammut, from the no-fuss Arva Access to the 395 g Mammut Alugator Ultra.

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  • Mammut Alugator Ultra avalanche shovel assembled, silver aluminium blade and shaft with an orange T-grip Skier in a blue jacket, helmet and orange goggles standing in snow on a sunny alpine ridge
    4% off

    Mammut

    Alugator Ultra

    $249.46 $259.95

    Ready to ship

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  • Arva Plume TS shovel assembled, black anodised blade, black and silver shaft and red T-grip Skier holding an Arva Plume TS shovel with its black blade fitted, snow behind

    Arva

    Plume TS Shovel

    $160.00

    Ready to ship

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  • Arva Access TS avalanche shovel with red aluminium blade, silver telescopic shaft and red T-grip, three-quarter view Rider on a snow slope holding the Arva Access TS shovel, red blade angled down, an avalanche probe in the foreground
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    Arva

    Access TS Shovel

    $139.95
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  • Arva Ski Trip avalanche shovel assembled, silver aluminium blade, silver shaft and blue T-grip Rider in snowy mountains holding an Arva Ski Trip shovel with the blade fitted

    Arva

    Ski Trip Shovel

    $150.00

    Ready to ship

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  • Arva Access avalanche shovel in red, assembled, three-quarter view of the blade, silver shaft and T-handle Arva Access shovel face-on, red aluminium blade with ACCESS printed down the silver shaft

    Arva

    Access Shovel

    $100.00

    Ready to ship

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The transceiver finds the buried person and the probe pinpoints them, but only digging gets them out, and it is usually the slowest part of the rescue. Hands, helmets and ski tails are far slower. Every member of the party should carry all three, and an AST 1 course teaches you to use them together.

One with a metal blade that you can assemble fast with gloves on and will always carry. Every shovel we stock has an aluminium blade. For the lightest kit, the Mammut Alugator Ultra is 395 g. For a full-size 2 mm blade with a telescopic shaft, look at the Arva Ski Trip or Access TS. On a tight budget, the Arva Access is $100.

For most people, yes. A longer shaft gives more leverage when you are moving heavy blocks of debris and makes it easier to throw snow clear. The Arva Plume TS extends to 76 cm and the Alugator Ultra to 75 cm. The fixed-shaft Arva Access is simpler and cheaper, with a 47 cm oval shaft.

It is not a substitute. Avalanche debris sets hard, and a blade needs to bite into it rather than skate over it. That is why the shovels on this page all have aluminium blades, and two of them, the Arva Ski Trip and the Mammut Alugator Ultra, meet the UIAA 156 avalanche shovel standard.

How to choose an avalanche shovel

• Blade material: set avalanche debris can be close to ice. Every shovel we stock has an aluminium blade, from 1 mm 7075 aluminium on the Alugator Ultra to 2 mm on the Arva Access, Access TS and Ski Trip.

How to choose an avalanche shovel

• Blade material: set avalanche debris can be close to ice. Every shovel we stock has an aluminium blade, from 1 mm 7075 aluminium on the Alugator Ultra to 2 mm on the Arva Access, Access TS and Ski Trip.

• Blade size: a bigger blade moves more snow per stroke but weighs more. The Arva Access blade is 23 x 24 cm, the Arva Plume TS 25 x 21 cm and the Mammut Alugator Ultra 24 x 22 cm.

• Telescopic or fixed shaft: a telescopic shaft gives a longer stroke and more leverage on heavy blocks. The Plume TS runs from 62 to 76 cm, the Alugator Ultra from 55 to 75 cm and the Access TS from 57 to 72 cm. The Access keeps it simple with a 47 cm oval shaft.

• Assembly with gloves on: Arva's PIN LOCK clicks the blade onto the shaft with a spring pin, and the Alugator Ultra's shaft locks with an automatic spring lock. Practise at home until it is automatic.

• Standards: the Arva Ski Trip Shovel and the Alugator Ultra both meet UIAA 156, the avalanche shovel standard.

The avalanche shovels we stock

• Arva Access ($100): fixed oval shaft, 2 mm reinforced blade, and 90% recycled aluminium in the blade.

• Arva Access TS ($111.05): the telescopic sibling with a 24 x 24 cm, 2 mm blade, and the shovel in Arva's Evo BT safety pack.

• Arva Ski Trip ($150): 2 mm anodised blade on a telescopic oval shaft, UIAA 156.

• Arva Plume TS ($160): a lighter 1.5 mm anodised blade that collapses to 45 cm for the pack.

• Mammut Alugator Ultra ($249.46): 395 g, ribbed 7075 blade with a sharpened edge, boot steps and a straight back for cutting snow-profile walls.

Avalanche shovels for Australian and New Zealand snow

The Main Range, the Bogong High Plains and Mount Feathertop all have avalanche terrain, and the danger is real in our short Jun–Sep season, not just overseas. A shovel only works if everyone in the party carries one, next to a transceiver and probe, and knows how to dig as a team. Do an AST 1 (Avalanche Skills Training) course before your first backcountry season. It covers trip planning, terrain and companion rescue, and practising your digging is part of it. Carry the shovel inside your snow backpack, in the avalanche pocket where you can reach it fast.

Why buy from Oz Backcountry

Free shipping Australia-wide over $150 (T&Cs apply), sent from our Helensvale warehouse on the Gold Coast. Stock is low on most models; the "In stock – ships immediately" filter shows what is ready today.

Related: Avalanche Kit & Safety Gear · Avalanche Beacons · Avalanche Probes · Avalanche Safety Packs · Snow Backpacks · Arva

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