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Beacon- check. Probe- check. Shovel- check. Compact and lightweight, the G3 SpadeTECH Elle Shovel is the one for you if you’re a sidecountry skier who makes sure to take all the correct equipment with you each time you head out, and you’re tired of fighting to get your pack zipped because your shovel is too big!
Details: G3 SpadeTech Elle Shovel
- Compact Size- The SpadeTECH Elle Shovel was designed for female skiers, who usually have smaller packs. The size allows you to fit it inside your smaller pack, and not have fight with your zipper to ensure that it closes.
- T Handle- Easy to grip, the handle was ergonomically designed so that it’s easier to hold.
- Reduced Blade Size- Aimed at being a more efficient shoveler as opposed to just using brute force.
- Handle and blade detach. This seems like such a simple feature, yet I can think of a few shovels that don’t have it, which is an even bigger pain for fitting the shovel into your pack!
- Material- Durable yet lightweight aluminum. Never ever ever would I purchase a plastic shovel- I don’t care how durable the manufacturer says it is. Plastic snaps. G3 has it right by making their shovels out of aluminum.
Bottom Line: G3 SpadeTech Elle Shovel
If you’re an occasional backcountry or sidecountry female user who is tired of trying to jam that huge shovel into your daypack, this is a perfect solution. It’s lightweight, durable, easy to assemble and comfortable to shovel with- a great choice for lots of female skiers out there! You’ll actually be able to close your daypack with this one, as opposed to having your shovel blade sticking out the top. It’d also function fantastically as a mountaineering shovel- great for digging out a tent platform.
However, if you’re an avid backcountry user, conducting snow studies and practicing avalanche burial and recovery scenarios on a regular basis, I’d say that opting for G3s AviTech shovel is a better choice if you’re only going to own 1 shovel. Its larger blade makes for more efficient shoveling and a better platform for snow studies. While it’s bigger that the SpadeTECH Elle, I’d say that size difference is a bonus. The pack I carry for most all tours, day or week long, is big enough to accommodate a large shovel. Compression tests in facet-y snow are more difficult with the SpadeTech Elle shovel, since the blade’s surface area doesn’t cover the entire area of the column you’d be isolating. If you have proper shovel technique, you’re going to move more snow with a larger blade than a smaller one for rescues. That being said, sometimes it’s nice to have that smaller shovel for sidecountry days. Having options never hurt anyone, and I’ll definitely take my SpadeTECH Elle on those days. Big backcountry days, I’ll still reach for a larger shovel.
So, be sure to assess your shovel needs- if you’re an occasional user, or looking for a versatile shovel that you can use in the backcountry and also as a mountaineering shovel, the SpadeTECH Elle shovel is definitely the way to go. Lighter, fits in your pack, and, as a bonus, the graphics match the G3 Alpinist Elle Climbing Skins. Who says you can’t kick backcountry a@$ and look good at the same time? If you’re a heavy backcountry user looking to conduct regular snow assessments and recovery scenarios, look more towards the G3 AviTECH shovel.
Buy Now
Are you diggin’ it? Pick up a G3 SpadeTech Elle Shovel today!
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