Gear Review

Black Diamond Deploy 3

1. Curved, trapezoidal shaft
2. Aluminum blade
3. A powerfull digger
4. 1 lb 4 oz (Deploy 3)

Black Diamond's Deploy-series backcountry shovels offer convincing evidence that all shovels are not created equal.

Thanks to a stiff aluminum blade and an innovative telescoping shaft that is both curved and trapezoidal, the Deploy provides potent digging performance. When you're not moving snow, the Deploy folds into a nice, compact shape that fits easily inside your pack.

The Deploy ships in two versions: the Deploy 3, which is the smaller, lighter model, and the Deploy 7. At one pound, four ounces, the Deploy 3's weight compares favorably with most of today's compact snow shovels.

The name 'Deploy' comes from the shovel's ability to unfold instantly, making it ready in an emergency with zero delay time.

Both models have telescoping shafts that allow the shovel to fold down into a surprisingly tidy package. Aside from its aluminum blade, the major feature of the Deploy is its shaft.

Black Diamond uses a trapezoidal (rather than round) shaft, which eliminates any twisting of the handle-blade interface. Consequently, the Deploy feels rock-solid in your hand, with no lost energy due to wiggle or play. Also enhancing performance is the curve built into the shaft, which helps put your muscles into a mechanically stronger position while digging.

Together, these performance advantages are readily apparent: pick up a Deploy and start hammering away at hard, consolidated snow. The Deploy makes you feel stronger, and lets you dig harder and faster with less effort.

I should note that the similarly-designed Black Diamond Transfer shovel has received a "skull and crossbones" rating in a shovel comparison test in the American Avalanche Association's Avalance Review journal (Feb 2009). If it's not obvious, that's not a good rating. With all due respect to the AAA, let me note that their test results are a little misleading.

The testers were using their ski boots to stomp on the back of the blade to chop blocks in very hard snow. Because the back of the Deploy and Transfer's blades is both rounded and sharp, this caused a lot of damage to the boots (as well as the shovel). The blade, however, did not fail, nor did the shaft. It's not clear to me how that particular test is relevant to digging out a burried avalanche victim.

In my own field use, the Deploy has performed admirably; I've had no complaints, and I do think the shovel's egonomics are well above average. As skiers and backcountry professionals grow more acquainted with this tough little shovel, I expect it will gain acceptance. I've certainly not heard any other reports of Black Diamond shovels failing.

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