Gear Review

Black Diamond Deploy

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

Black Diamond's Deploy-series backcountry shovels offer convincing proof 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.

Curved for Mechanical Advantage

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.

For all its advances, the Deploy doesn't really seem to have caught fire yet, but give it time. As skiers and backcountry professionals grow more acquainted with this tough little shovel, I think you'll find more and more people switching over to it.