Every person who goes beyond the resort boundary into Australian backcountry terrain needs three pieces of equipment — an avalanche beacon, a probe and a shovel. Not one of them. All three. And every person in the group needs their own set, knows how to use it under pressure, and has it on their body from the moment they leave the resort boundary.
This is not optional equipment for backcountry snowboarding. It is the minimum threshold for being in avalanche terrain responsibly. The gear in this collection keeps you and your partners alive if something goes wrong.
Avalanche beacons — worn inside your jacket, switched to transmit at all times in the backcountry. When a partner is buried, you switch to search and the beacon guides you to within one to two metres of the burial. Modern three-antenna digital beacons from Mammut, Ortovox and BCA are reliable, fast and accurate. Do not compromise on beacon quality — this is the device that determines whether a companion rescue succeeds.
Avalanche probes — once your beacon search has located the approximate burial position, the probe confirms the exact depth and location before you dig. A quality collapsible probe from Black Diamond or BCA extends to 240 to 320cm and assembles in seconds. Carry it in the dedicated avalanche gear pocket of your pack where it is immediately accessible.
Avalanche shovels — snow consolidates rapidly after an avalanche. Hand digging is inadequate. A proper aluminium-bladed collapsible shovel with a D-grip or T-grip handle is essential for speed in a companion rescue. Strategic shovelling — the V-conveyor method — extracts a buried person two to three times faster than random digging. This technique is covered in AST 1 training.
Carrying the gear and knowing how to use it are two different things. AST 1 avalanche safety training is the non-negotiable companion to this equipment. Find a course before you go independently into the backcountry.
We stock the full backcountry safety range at our Richmond store — beacons, probes, shovels, airbag packs and supporting gear from BCA, Mammut, Ortovox, Black Diamond and more. Come in for advice on building the right kit for your touring intentions and ability level.
