The 10 Best Backcountry Avalanche Shovels of 2022-2023
By: Jordan Berde: Assistant Ski Buyer | October 27, 2022
“Beacon, shovel, probe!” is a mantra that any backcountry skier should have memorized. No one has any business going into avalanche terrain without those essentials. But, beyond that, things get murky. A spade is a spade, right? Well, sort of. In the world of avalanche shovels, you’re always dealing with conflicting priorities. You want your shovel to be big and durable enough so that if the worst-case scenario occurs, you can move a lot of snow quickly and effectively. But, your shovel also needs to be small and light enough to carry comfortably in your pack with your other gear. That means that there’s no one “best” shovel. Instead, there are shovels that are better suited to different snowpacks and styles of touring than others. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best avalanche shovels.
New This Year:
And this year, this category is better than ever before. Research has long shown that in group rescue scenarios, having the ability to set up your shovel in “hoe mode” is very helpful for working with others to move a lot of snow quickly. And this year, more shovels than ever before come with the option to be used as a traditional shovel or a hoe. On top of that, brands have figured out how to make their shovels lighter without compromising durability or capacity. So, if your avalanche shovel is a little old and worn out, there’s never been a better time to shop for an avalanche shovel.
Black Diamond Transfer
The Black Diamond Transfer Shovel is built to move snow quickly and dependably. With a light but super rigid trapezoidal aluminum shaft and a blade volume of 1.14 liters, this shovel is a workhorse that will stand the test of time.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 692 g | Extendable Handle | $54.95 |
BCA Dozer 1T
The BCA Dozer 1T Shovel is North America's best-selling avalanche shovel and for good reason. It comes in a perfect size, has a nice weight, and will last you a lifetime of use. This is a durable, simple, affordable shovel. It just plain works.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 595 g | Extendable handle | $59.95 |
Black Diamond Transfer LT
A superlight-but-not-super-wimpy shovel for fast and light touring pursuits, the Black Diamond Transfer LT Shovel is a new design crafted from 7075 aluminum with a unique riveted backup plate at the blade stress zone. At 405 grams, this is the lightest UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) certified shovel on the market. Oh, and it's chartreuse. Beautiful. If you’re trying to minimize fatigue without compromising safety, the Transfer LT is the shovel for you.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 405 g | Compact T handle | $99.95 |
Arva Access
The Arva Access Shovel toes the line between packability and performance. The long oval shaft and T-grip handle give you the strength and comfort you need when digging quickly and sturdy aluminum is lightweight and ready for action. This shovel barely takes up any space in your pack but still makes it easy to move a lot of snow fast.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 510 g | Pin lock mechanism | $49.95 |
BCA Dozer 2T
The BCA Dozer 2T Shovel is a mid-sized shovel for anyone serious about digging and snow safety. It's made of light and durable aluminum for easy travel and reliable use. It strikes a very nice balance between size and packability.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 680 g | Hoe mode | $64.95 |
Black Diamond Deploy
The Black Diamond Deploy Shovel features a rapid-deployment design that saves you the hassle (and time) of having to connect various shovel pieces together before being functional. Instead, simply slide out the handle to its extended length and dig! With a curved handle that nests within the anodized blade, the Black Diamond Deploy Shovel is simpler, faster, and takes up minimal space in your pack. This is a great shovel to help you shave seconds off your beacon recovery drills.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 700 g | Quick-deploy handle | $84.95 |
Black Diamond Evac 9
The Black Diamond Evac range of shovels is designed for heavy duty professional (read "Pro Patroller") use, with a two position "D" handle and large volume blades. The Black Diamond Evac 9 Shovel is the larger of the two models, with a blade volume of 3.5 liters. At 794 grams, this isn't a shovel you'll necessarily want to carry on an extended tour, but when the chips are down and the debris is starting to set, it's the tool you want.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 794 g | Large Blade | $109.95 |
Black Diamond Evac 7
The Black Diamond Evac 7 Shovel is the smaller of their burly "professional" series shovels, meant to move a bunch of snow in a hurry with total dependability. The compact "D" handle is comfy and protects your hands, and the handle can be oriented vertically to use the shovel as a hoe. Burly enough for the pros, this is the shovel you want in your friends' hands if you get buried. This shovel moves more snow faster than anything else on this list.
| Weight | Highlight Feature | Original Price |
| 807 g | D handle | $89.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Backcountry Guides:
- Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
- Backcountry Gear - Checklist
- Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
- Avalanche Beacons / Transceivers - How to Choose
- Avalanche Shovels - How to Choose
- Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
- Avalanche Airbags - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Skis - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Boots - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Bindings - How to Choose
- Dynafit (Tech) Bindings - Getting Started
- Backcountry Basics - How to Skin
- Climbing Skins - How to Choose
- Climbing Skins - Size Guide
- Climbing Skins - Weight Chart
- Climbing Skins - How to Cut/Trim
- Outerwear & Layers - How to Dress for the Backcountry
- Splitboarding - How to Get Started
Discover Our Favorite Gear:
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jordan Berde
Jordan (she/her) is the Assistant Ski Buyer at evo. Before working in this role, she worked at the evo Denver store for two years, where she began as a bootfitter and quickly moved into Store Lead and then Store Supervisor roles. Prior to evo, Jordan worked as a bootfitter at other shops, a mountain bike instructor for kiddos in Colorado, a ski patroller in Alaska, and a liftie in Taos. She's an avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer and recently summited Mt. Baker as a fundraiser for SheJumps, a non-profit committed to getting more women involved in the outdoors.She started sliding on snow later than most (in her late 20s), but now she’s the friend getting up at 4 am to make sure she can get a dawn patrol lap in before work! Jordan is passionate about diversity and inclusion and making outdoor activities more inclusive to all genders, races, and ability levels. When she's not skiing, Jordan is likely on her mountain bike exploring all that Colorado and Washington have to offer with her wife. Some say she never stops moving…