Safety, you’d better go prepared

These days most avalanche transceivers are digital, with three antennae, and extremely accurate. You don’t need the most expensive model, but one that’s reliable and updatable, with a marking function in case of multiple burials, a group test feature, and buttons you can use while wearing gloves. Ideally the screen should be visible with polarized sunglasses, and you should carry it in a sturdy chest harness with a long enough cord for you to be able to use it while searching. Very important: do not keep it near a cell phone, GPS, watch, GoPro, or any other device. During the search phase, keep it 50 cm away from any other electronic gadgets. Oh, and if the battery level is under 60%, that’s no good. It needs energy, especially in the search phase, so don’t take risks with flat batteries. Make sure your batteries are well charged. Remove them at the end of the season and put new ones in when the first snow arrives.

For tours, you’re better off with a robust probe than an ultralight race model. It needs to be long (at least 2.40 m), quick to assemble with a secure lock, have a metal or Kevlar cord and a cone-shaped tip to understand what exactly you’re touching.
There are also hi-tech models like the Pieps iProbe II, which communicates with your transceiver and signals with sounds and lights when you’re near a burial victim. These may be useful features, but the most important thing is to have a solid, reliable model and above all to practice using it, as figuring out what you’ve come across with the tip of a probe is harder than it sounds. 

Here too, don’t bother with a lightweight race model. Competitions are held in places where avalanches are unlikely, and in any cases there are dozens of rescuers on hand close to the athletes. A shovel needs to be reliable, robust, quick, and easy to assemble even while wearing gloves, with a sharp, wide blade for cutting compact snow. A hoe configuration is also handy. Another important aspect is the shaft; ideally it should be telescopic with a rigid shape and an ergonomic handle. A good shovel is also useful for digging caves, building kickers and testing the snow.

The real choice these days is between traditional canister models, and electric versions with fan. Basically, the former use compressed gas to inflate the airbag, while the latter use a fan charged by batteries or supercapacitor, which are often lighter, USB rechargeable, and reusable. So, which to go for? There are a few factors to consider, but electric packs are having a moment right now. On the plus side they can inflate multiple times (for training purposes, in case of a second avalanche, as a precautionary measure at dangerous sections) and can easily be taken on a plane. Regulations vary between Europe and the USA, but generally speaking the only limitations on electric models regard lithium ion batteries of up to 100 Wh, which in the US must be boarded in the cabin, and cannot be carried in the hold (international IATA regulations on the other hand do not impose restrictions). As for the canister system, in the US only empty canisters without an explosive charge can be transported by air, while IATA again imposes no restrictions, though it’s at the discretion of the airline whether to accept them, unlike with lithium ion batteries. You also need to consider how to refill or change the canister, which is relatively easy where compressed air is concerned (there are a number of retailers; scuba diving shops can also offer this service), and a little more complicated with other types of gas. Alpride canisters are single use, while Ortovox Avabag cartridges can be refilled at a store or by the manufacturer. The most recent electric models have solved the problem of reduced battery life in cold temperatures, and thanks to supercapacitors can be deployed multiple times.

For a few years now, the CE EN 12492 certification for mountaineering has no longer been enough; the CE EN 1077, used for ski helmets, is also required. This year, the trend of products featuring a third certification for cycling continues, allowing them to be used as a single helmet all year round: increasingly lightweight and well-ventilated, though with some weight limitations for purely mountaineering use.