GearFlogger

Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Flicklock probe

When Cartman got an anal probe do you think the aliens used crappy old aluminum technology? Hell no, they used carbon fiber. And if I know my anal probes, which I do, it was a Black Diamond QuickDraw Carbon Fiber Probe 230, the choice of anal-probing aliens across the galaxy.

Also useful for avalanche search the CF230 is a beauty: 7.5 feet of hi-tech glossy goodness weighing in at a meager 8.4oz. Probes don't get any faster to deploy: grab the plastic coated wire loop, whip it out and pull. The six sections snap into place with a cool auto-locking bushing thingy at the end and wah-lah, you're good to probe.

The sections are marked with 5cm rings for snow pack analysis. They are also shorter than normal, the longest (sharp end) being only 17.5in for easy packability. The handle section has a sandpaper-like grip, and the included bright safety yellow bag has a velcro lid instead of a drawstring for easy access. Performance is solid and reliable; the aluminum tip pierces nasty debris as good as any probe out there, and the no-slip strip will save your grip as you make your grid. And don't let a real emergency be your debut: go find a beacon park and practice.

$58.46 (on sales from $64.95) at Backcountry

Black Diamond Transfer 3 shovel

Shovel: friend or enemy? Choose wisely, and it will be your boon backcountry companion. Choose poorly and your mouth will have the permanent taste of ass, even as your back pains you. Black Diamond's Transfer shovels come in peace. And pieces, for excellent packability.

The Transfer 3 scoops .3 gallons, the Transfer 7 scoops .7. The 3 is perfect for both big mountains and backcountry light. It's 23oz and it breaks down as shown. Note you can't push the handle all the way through the blade like you can on Black Diamond's other shovel, the Deploy. The shaft is trapezoidal (latin for "not round") so it doesn't rotate as you try to lock the pins. The T handle has an cutaway in back that makes it mitten-friendly much like a D. The anchor rigging holes are too small for a carabiner but will take webbing and cord just fine.

The handle extends to 33in on the 3 and 34in on the 7, saving your back. Last time up Denali I took a short-handled shovel and paid the price: I can still taste the ass, and everything I eat tastes like... well, you get the point. For avalanche work the flat bottom makes a clean cut, and the aluminum blade is tough enough for reliably chopping through debris. The smaller volume blade is your friend here: you're going to be moving a lot of snow fast and endurance is important. Do the math: 1 meter deep = 1 ton of snow. So grab a Transfer and a copy of Strategic Shoveling and go practice.

$44.95 at REI

U-Dig-It Folding Hand Shovel

Think of the U-Dig-It as the very little brother to the military entrenching tool. While the full e-tool can be used to dig, saw, chop and kill your enemy, the U-Dig-It is more specifically designed for light-duty camp chores like fire pits and cat holes.

For just under six ounces you get the stainless-steel tool and a nylon carrying case. Just flip it open and trench away. It's fairly sturdy as long as you don't try to use it for hacking out roots and such.

That's pretty much it.

$17.95 at REI

Leatherman Skeletool

Some marketing exec at Leatherman is sitting around one Saturday morning, probably stoned, watching Masters of the Universe and eating his third El Capitan-sized bowl of Crunchberries. "Skeletor," he thinks after watching the evil villain be defeated by yet another dumb do-gooder trick, "is a Skeletool!" Hmm, he thinks, I could use that...

Luckily the product engineers are sober and able to convert, and come up with what is hands-down the best backcountry multitool available. It's light at 4.9oz, and it's efficient, with just what you need: blade, needlenose/regular pliers, wire cutters, four double-sided bits (Phillips #1 and #2, flathead 3/16 in. and 1/4 in.), removable pocket clip and wiregate 'biner clip that doubles as a bottle-opener. A separate $20 bit kit gives you a chromosome's worth more double bits (42 total) including Pozi #1 and #2.

The feature set is impeccable, the quality typical Leatherman high-bar, and the usability great with an adjustable. The fine blade is a versatile drop-point with a thumb-hole for one-hand opening. The CX version costs a worthwhile $20 more over the full stainless version and adds four things: a scratch-resistant coating (nice), a 154CM blade (very nice), a piece of carbon fiber in the handle (um, OK, subtract 1 gram in weight - no, I'm not kidding) and a serrated bottom half of the blade (best for cutting cord and webbing). Kudos to Leatherman, this is the perfect backcountry companion.

$79.95 at REI

Benchmade Model 100SH20 river/rescue/dive knife

Benchmade continues their fine made-in-the-USA knifemaking tradition with the Model 100SH20 water knife. It's a fixed blade design with a super corrosion-resistant steel blade, high-visibility yellow handle (also available in black for your stealthy types) and a versatile Kydex sheath.

The 3.23" partially-serrated blade is a modified sheepsfoot design, meaning the spine (not sharp) side drops down to meet the blade instead of the other way around. This minimizes the point, which is appropriate for a slicing blade used primarily in situations where it is desirable to minimize the risk of accidentally sticking yourself or the other poor schmuck.

The Model 100 has a perfect neutral balance and a solid in-hand feel without being heavy. The thumb-locked reversible sheath is nicely designed and supports multiple carry options. We've profiled Benchmade's ERT-1 rescue tool designed for dry land head-ass inversion situations. If you're worried about the same posture occurring in a 100% humidity environment the 100SH20 won't let you down.

$125.00 at Amazon

Benchmade ERT-1 rescue tool

Benchmade is one of my favorite knife manufacturers. They make their products to withstand just about any kind of abuse, which is why they are so popular among military and law enforcement. They also make some nice gear for outdoors and rescue use.

Most outdoor adventures start in a vehicle, and the ERT-1 emergency rescue tool will provide you with some peace of mind when your vehicular approach involves only three points of contact. In the event of head-ass inversion the ERT-1 can help in three ways: first, punch the submersible LED light to get some visibility; second, flip out the liner-locking rescue hook to safely sever your seat belt; third, use the spring-loaded glass breaker to GTFO.

Obviously this is all applicable not only to your own situation but to any accident you might stumble upon. So be a hero and duct-tape the ERT-1 in its included holster to your Jesus-bar, so it's at hand when you need it regardless of your head-ass posture.

$40.00 at Benchmade

Backcountry Access Tour Shovel & Probe

Steer excrement getting too deep? This lightweight shovel with a six foot probe that stores inside the handle will get you out. The handle has an oval cross-section so it's pretty strong, and the aluminum blade is better than plastic for the hard snow that sets up so quickly after an avalanche.

I brought this up Denali and though it stood up well to the abuse it was too small and too short to be comfortable for building snow walls and digging out tent platforms. That's not its intended use, however, and it's a great piece of just-in-case gear for backcountry travel. For expedition use get something bigger with a D-handle and extendable shaft.

$56 (on sale from $80) at Backcountry.com

Kershaw carabiner knife

So your climbing buddy is getting on your nerves and you're thinking about releasing him on his own recognizance, "Touching the Void" style. This three ounce tool is here to help. The high-quality Kershaw blade is a half-serrated liner locker, useful for everything from cutting cord to spreading peanut butter.

It has a bottle opener, flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers, and the carabiner gate features a twist-lock. The blade can be flicked open one-handed, useful in many situations, and the tension is adjustable.

I'm not sure what the weight limit on the carabiner itself is; I use it only for clipping into the daisy-chain on my pack shoulder straps to keep it within reach.

$60 ($50 for members) at National Geographic