Probe 320 Speed Lock

The Mammut Probe 320 Speed Lock is an aluminium avalanche probe that goes from a 45 cm bundle to 320 cm of reach with one hard pull on the cord. A click tells you the segments are locked, so the probe is rigid and ready before it touches the debris.

Who it's for

Anyone travelling in avalanche terrain, where every person in the party carries a transceiver, a shovel and a probe. The 320 is the long one: it suits riders heading into deep maritime snowpacks in New Zealand and Japan, big spring lines on the Main Range, and anyone who would rather have reach they do not need than run out of probe on a deep burial.

If you want the shortest, lightest option for resort-edge laps, the Probe 240 Speed Lock does the same job in a smaller package. For deep-snow touring, the 320 is the one we would put in your pack.

How it performs in a search

Your transceiver gets you close; the probe tells you exactly where and how deep. The Probe 320 Speed Lock gives you 320 cm of reach on a 12.75 mm aluminium shaft. The drop-shaped tip is made to slice through avalanche debris instead of skidding off it, which saves your arms on every strike.

Depth markings run around the full circumference of each segment, so you can read the burial depth from any angle and call it to whoever is digging. The lowest section is bright orange, a quick visual cue while you work a tight probing spiral.

Using it under pressure

Speed Lock is built for cold, gloved, shaking hands. Throw the segments out, pull the cord firmly until it clicks, and the probe is locked. The high-tensile cord holds every joint tight, and the handle clips onto the assembled probe so it stays out of your way.

The cover has an emergency plan printed on it, so the steps of a companion rescue are in your hand the moment the probe comes out of your pack.

Certification and standards

• UIAA standard 157 for avalanche rescue probes
• Extended length: 320 cm
• Collapsed length: 45 cm
• Diameter: 12.75 mm
• Weight: 365 g

Maintenance and checks

Before the season and before every tour, assemble the probe fully: it should lock with a clean click and stand straight. Run your fingers along the cord for fraying and check each joint for dents. After a day out, let it dry outside its cover before you store it, and practise assembling it with gloves on so it is automatic when it counts.