On Avalanche Probes

There are some pieces of ski touring kit that I can’t think about, optimize, and tinker with enough–think backpacks, skis, boots, technical gear, etc. To balance this and keep myself from going totally crazy, I try not to overthink some pieces and commit to one or a couple of options. This category includes shovels and probes, bindings (mostly), helmets, and goggles. Occasionally, I break my rules and do things like ending up with 5 or 6 probes that I’m trying out, and somehow still not having quite the right thing. After some minor overthinking on probes, here are some thoughts and experiences to pass along:

• Carbon probes don’t seem to hold up to daily use… I had a few instances of carbon probes cracking or breaking, mostly in my pack or in transit while traveling rather than in use, where good technique can limit failures. BCA seems to make some durable carbon probes, but they are heavier than many aluminum options.
• On the same note, some aluminum probes haven’t held up as well as expected either. Over the past few years, I had two Voile aluminum probes split at the tube ends, similar to abused tent poles. My Mammut aluminum probe (240 short) has stood the test of time for 7-8 years, but the depth marks have long since worn off.
• Etched depth markings are non-negotiable. Most companies are doing this now, but I wouldn’t buy a probe without them. It’s a bummer to have a perfectly intact probe you can’t use to take a snow depth or record pit data.
• Race-style probes >> Race-style shovels. While I take some extra care not to bend it and it has a bit less penetrating power in super-firm debris, my Pieps carbon 240 race probe has held up really well, and I am confident in it for days when I’m looking to shed weight. It saves ~150g over my next lightest probe.
• BCA and Mammut seem to make the easiest probes to assemble. I had many instances of BD/Pieps not being tight enough and falling apart when I tried to pull them out of the snow. Not ideal in a stressful situation.

As far as images, let’s start with the broken probe.

Before my Voile probe splitting issues, I would’ve said the Voile aluminum 270 probe was the probe to buy. Looking through the available options, the Mammut 280 Speedlock comes in at 279g and, based on my experience, Mammut alu probes seem to hold up pretty well, though it doesn’t seem like they have updated their depth markings for better durability; probably less of an issue for recreationalists vs avalanche professionals doing lots of field observations and recording.

Now that I’ve opened this can of worms, I’m interested to hear what folks think the best thing going for probes is.

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