avalanche safety kit

Avalanche gear will not prevent you from becoming involved in an avalanche. Common sense, coupled with backcountry safety education, is your best defense.

However, avalanche gear does provide the highest chance for survival should an accident occur. Be aware that this gear is only as good as your knowledge and skill in using it.

This article covers the key pieces of avalanche safety gear. For more information on recognizing avalanche conditions, see the following REI Expert Advice articles:

Many REI stores also offer avalanche safety classes. Check the event page of your local store for class information.

Essential Safety Gear

Avalanche transceiver

To improve your safety in avalanche territory, these 3 items—and the knowledge and skill to use them effectively—are absolutely essential:

Avalanche transceiver: This device must be worn by everyone in the group. The victim's buried beacon sends electronic signals that are picked up by searching beacons, leading them to the victim to be dug out.

For shopping help, see the REI Expert Advice article, How to Choose an Avalanche Transceiver.

Snow shovel: A compactible, lightweight shovel is essential for testing snow conditions and quickly digging out victims. It is also a critical tool for making snow shelters.

Probe: This collapsible aluminum pole, similar to a tent pole, is made specifically for probing by itself or during the pinpoint search with an avalanche transceiver. Alternatively, some ski poles can be screwed together to form longer poles for probing.

Frequent practice with these items, especially the avalanche transceiver, is critical to using them effectively to find a buried companion. When minutes count and stress levels are high, you do not want to be wasting time trying to remember how to use them.

Shop REI's selection of avalanche safety gear.

Additional Safety Gear

Black Diamond AvaLung: This breathing apparatus is designed to allow an avalanche victim to pull available oxygen from the surrounding snowpack and continue to breathe much longer than someone without this device.

airbag-pack

Airbag pack: This innovative ABS airbag system (one style is shown fully inflated at right) can significantly increase your odds of survival if caught in an avalanche. Airbags are designed to keep the wearer on or near the surface of the snow.

RECCO detectors: These passive transponders are embedded by some manufacturers into ski products such as jackets, pants, boots or helmets. They complement but do NOT replace the use of avalanche transceivers. RECCO detector units are used by many ski patrols and search and rescue organizations.

Snowpack Analysis Gear

Snow saw: This is important for snow stability tests and handy for making snow shelters.

Snow crystal card: This plastic–coated card shows the various forms of snow crystals and their characteristics, including how well (or poorly) they bond together.

Slope meter: This small device is used to determine the angle of a slope for avalanche probability; can be attached to a ski pole.

Shop REI's selection of avalanche safety gear.

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