Ortovox Aluminum 280 Probe Silver, 280cm

The Ortovox Aluminum 280 Probe tensions itself the moment it leaves its case, so there's no separate assembly step between pulling it out and putting it to use. A steel cable and quick-release strap hold the tension, and a thumb press on the system cap is all it takes to release it again. The rubberized handle stays grippy and ice-free in cold conditions, and a wider probe tip pushes through snow with less resistance on the way down. What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I stopped watching the depth markings once I saw the orange segment come up, and that's the moment I knew exactly how much snow was left to move. The high-contrast scale made the dig plan obvious instead of a guess."