Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

Every backcountry lap starts with the same three pieces of gear on every body in your group, a beacon, a shovel, and a probe. This guide runs through every beacon, shovel, and probe that Campman carries this season, organized by what each one does best, so you can build a kit that matches your terrain, your budget, and how you ride.

None of this replaces training. Pair any kit below with a companion rescue course such as AIARE 1, and practice with your touring partners every season before you need any of it for real.

Avalanche Beacons

A beacon is the tool that gets a search party close to a buried partner. Everyone in your group needs one, and checked at the trailhead before every tour.

Ortovox Diract Voice Avalanche Beacon

The Diract Voice is Ortovox's talking beacon. It calls out spoken directions during a search, so a rescuer can keep their eyes on the snow surface instead of a screen. Three antennas and Smart Antenna Technology switch automatically to the strongest signal, and a low temperature rechargeable battery holds up in deep cold. It flags up to four buried partners and includes a RECCO reflector built into the carrying harness as a backup.

Ortovox Focus Voice & Focus Pro Avalanche Beacons

The Focus Voice and Focus Pro share Ortovox's most advanced beacon hardware: three antennas, extended Smart Antenna range out to 90 meters, and the largest display on the market at 2.7 inches, plus patented interference protection that keeps the signal stable near electronics. The Focus Voice adds spoken directional guidance so a rescuer can keep their eyes on the snow instead of a screen, while the Focus Pro drops the voice feature in favor of pro level tools: a scrolling display of the four nearest signals, adjustable search strip widths down to 3 meters for tight multiple burial work, and a hybrid mode that layers in analog audio alongside the digital display. Both charge over USB-C.

Ortovox Focus Voice Avalanche Beacon

Ortovox Focus Pro Avalanche Beacon

Backcountry Access Tracker S, Tracker 3+, & Tracker 4 Avalanche Beacons

All three Trackers run a full three antenna search system with Big Picture mode and Signal Suppression for sorting out multiple burial scenarios, plus motion sensing auto revert that keeps a stationary beacon transmitting. The Tracker S is the smallest and lightest of the three at 5.5 oz, 8 % lighter and 11 % smaller than the previous generation, built for riders who prioritize minimal weight. The Tracker 3+ keeps a similarly slim, low profile housing at 5.8 oz with a real time display. The Tracker 4 is the toughest of the group, wrapped in a bombproof overmolded rubber housing with a large temperature resistant LED display and a single button interface built for high stress moments.

Tracker S

Tracker 3+

Tracker 4

Beacon Comparison

Avalanche Probes

A probe pinpoints a buried victim so digging starts in the right spot instead of the wrong one. Length matters most in deep snowpacks, and quick, tangle free deployment matters every time.

Black Diamond Quickdraw Pro Probe

Black Diamond's durable mid length probe for backcountry touring, built with thicker 7075 aluminum tubing and a stainless steel cable. The Quickdraw Pro Cable Lock Mechanism gives a fast, single pull deployment, and high contrast markings at 30, 90, and 200 cm assist both rescue and snow study.

Backcountry Access Stealth 330 & Stealth 270 Avalanche Probes

Both Stealth probes use BCA's Quick-Lock hardware for rapid, cable free assembly, a nesting top segment to keep packed size down, and laser etched depth markings for precise rescue and snow analysis measurements. The Stealth 330 extends to 330 cm for deep snowpacks, while the Stealth 270 trims that down to a lighter, more packable 270 cm for riders who prioritize weight over maximum reach.

Backcountry Access Stealth 330 Avalanche Probe

Backcountry Access Stealth 270 Avalanche Probe

Ortovox ALU 240, ALU 240 PFA, & ALU 240 Light Probes

All three ALU 240 probes extend to 240 cm and share Ortovox's color coded depth marker guide, which helps a searcher read a victim's depth at a glance. The standard ALU 240 is the no frills, entry level option built around a quick lock assembly system. The ALU 240 PFA adds a quick assembly strap that opens and locks the probe in a single motion straight out of its cover, with shorter segments for a smaller packed size. The ALU 240 Light combines that same quick assembly strap and quick lock system in Ortovox's lightest build at 235 grams.

Ortovox ALU 240 Probe

Ortovox ALU 240 PFA Probe

Ortovox ALU 240 Light Probe

Probe Comparison

Avalanche Shovels

A shovel is the powerhouse in every companion rescue. A bigger blade and a solid shaft move more snow per stroke, which is the entire game once a search turns into a dig.

Black Diamond Transfer & Transfer LT Shovels

Both Transfer shovels are UIAA certified and share Black Diamond's two piece telescoping shaft design. The standard Transfer runs a high volume 590 square centimeter blade with a smooth bottom for maximum snow displacement per stroke, extending to 79 cm for full digging clearance. The Transfer LT trims weight with an ultralight riveted 7075 aluminum blade and a removable shaft for smaller packability, making it the pick for hot laps and rando races where every ounce counts.

Black Diamond Transfer Shovel

Black Diamond Transfer LT Shovel

Mammut Alugator Ultra & Alugator Pro Light Shovels

Both Alugator shovels use a hardened anodized aluminum blade and a telescoping shaft with an automatic spring lock for quick deployment. The Alugator Ultra is Mammut's lightest shovel, built with a carbon shaft and an auto spring lock I beam design for lateral rigidity, plus a symmetrical T grip that optimizes force transfer. The Alugator Pro Light keeps the same blade material in a larger, more affordable build, with attachment holes for building snow anchors or rescue sleds.

Mammut Alugator Ultra Avalanche Shovel

Mammut Alugator Pro Light Avalanche Shovel

Ortovox Beast Shovel

A compact shovel that fits fully assembled into most touring packs, then lengthens quickly via an oval telescopic handle for real digging power. A sharpened bottom edge chops through hard snow, and non slip step grooves keep a boot planted mid dig.

Shovel Comparison

Beacon and Rescue Package Bundles

Backcountry Access Tracker S, Tracker 3+, & Tracker 4 Avalanche Rescue Packages

All three rescue packages bundle a BCA beacon with a Dozer 1T shovel for a complete companion rescue kit in one box, a fast way to outfit a new backcountry partner with everything they need on day one. The Tracker S package pairs BCA's lightest beacon with a Stealth 270 probe, built for riders who prioritize minimal weight above all else. The Tracker 3+ package pairs BCA's slim, low profile beacon with the same Stealth 270 probe, optimized for lightweight touring. The Tracker 4 package pairs BCA's toughest beacon with a Stealth 300 probe, built for riders who want the most durable setup available.

Tracker S Package

Tracker 3+ Package

Tracker 4 Package

FAQ

How long of a probe do I need?

240 cm probes cover most snowpacks and keep weight down. Deeper snowpacks, especially those with a history of debris deposition, call for a 270 to 330 cm probe.

Can I fit a shovel and probe inside a touring pack that does not have a dedicated avalanche compartment?

Yes, but a dedicated compartment keeps rescue gear separated from food, layers, and skins so nothing is buried at the bottom of your pack when seconds count.

What is the difference between the Ortovox Focus Voice and Focus Pro?

Both beacons share the same core hardware: three antennas, Smart Antenna range out to 90 meters, and the same large 2.7 inch display. The Focus Voice adds spoken directional guidance in multiple languages, so a rescuer can keep their eyes on the snow instead of a screen, which makes it the easier pick for beginners or mixed-experience groups. The Focus Pro drops the voice feature in favor of tools built for advanced users and professionals: a scrolling display of the four nearest signals for sorting out complex multiple burials, search strip widths adjustable down to 3 meters for close-range work, and a hybrid mode that layers in analog audio alongside the digital display. In short, choose the Focus Voice for ease of use and choose the Focus Pro for pro-level control over a complex search.

What is the difference between the BCA Tracker S, Tracker 3+, and Tracker 4?

Weight, size, and durability. All three run the same three antenna search system, Big Picture mode, and Signal Suppression for multiple burial scenarios. The Tracker S is the lightest and smallest of the three, built for riders who prioritize minimal weight above all else. The Tracker 3+ keeps a similarly slim, low profile housing with a real time display. The Tracker 4 trades a bit of size and weight for a bombproof overmolded rubber housing and a larger temperature resistant display, built for riders who want the most durable option.

Is a rescue package enough, or should I buy a beacon, shovel, and probe separately?

A rescue package covers the basics in one box. It bundles a beacon, shovel, and probe together and is usually the better value for a first kit. Buying pieces separately makes more sense once you want to mix and match, like pairing a tougher BCA beacon with a lighter Ortovox probe, or upgrading just one piece of gear you already own.

How often should I practice with my avalanche beacon?

At least once every season, before you need it for real. Run burial drills with your touring partners at the start of winter and anytime you add new gear to your kit. Search speed only comes from practice, and speed is what matters most in an actual rescue.

Will my beacon work with an older or different brand of beacon in my group?

Yes, with one exception. Every modern avalanche beacon, analog or digital, transmits on the same international standard frequency of 457 kHz, adopted in 1986, so any current beacon can detect any other regardless of brand. Beacons made before that standard was adopted run on an older 2.275 kHz frequency and are not compatible with modern gear, so if a partner is still carrying a beacon that old, it is well past time for an upgrade.

Does shovel size matter if I have a smaller ski pack?

Yes, check your pack's avalanche sleeve before you buy. Collapsed length varies a lot across this lineup, from the Ortovox Beast at 45 cm up to the Black Diamond Transfer at 61 cm and the Mammut Alugator Pro Light at 61 cm as well. A smaller sidecountry or resort pack with a tight avy sleeve may not comfortably swallow the bigger shovels on this list, so match the collapsed length against your pack's compartment rather than buying on blade size alone.

Does probe size matter if I have a smaller ski pack?

Yes, for the same reason as shovels. Collapsed length runs from 37.5 cm on the Ortovox ALU 240 Light up to 47 cm on the BCA Stealth 330. A longer probe packs down longer even when it is not deployed, so if your pack's avalanche sleeve is on the smaller side, a compact probe like the ALU 240 Light or ALU 240 PFA will fit more comfortably than a longer, pro-oriented probe like the Stealth 330.

Ready to Build Your Kit

Stop by Campman's warehouse to handle any of this gear in person, compare weights and sizes side by side, and talk through what fits your terrain with our team before your next tour.

About the Author

Derek Newman

Born in the Wasatch, Derek has had an affinity for mountain life since day one. He was on skis the year he learned to walk, and as a high school graduation present he gifted himself rock climbing lessons. Nearly two decades later, Derek spends most of his time climbing up and/or skiing down most of the mountains around Salt Lake City, and he’s traveled around the world multiple times for the sole purpose of peak exploration. When he isn’t a man about camp, he’s working in Campman’s content marketing crew writing up blogs about backcountry skiing or rock climbing as well as describing products that he’s used personally. He’s climbed in most climbing shoes, toured on most backcountry skis, and ridden the resort on skis, snowboards, and even some evac sleds.