Ortovox Kodiac Shovel - This thing ROCKS!

[CoyoteGirl]

You ever come across stucks like this and just cringe?

Cringe no more!?! Or, well, maybe cringe alot less!

I gave this shovel a thorough work out this past weekend and it was impressive the amount of snow it moves compared to any other regular shovel I have ever seen. I would get one full side of a sled dug out before the other side was 1/2 way through. AND it works really well from the side of a sled to dig out under the belly pan and skis.

I don't forsee me ever going back to a regular style shovel, ever. But incase I do want that, this one is versatile and can get assembled in a claw or regular fashion.

Kodiak CLICK HERE

There is a sled down there...

 

[mountainhorse]

That is such a cool feature... I've never seen this feature before outside of an Army field shovel... and we know how those work for sleds. Looks like I'll be getting a new shovel to replace my old one that is about worn out.

 

[Demo250]

I have the Grizzly II which is basically the exact same thing from the looks of it.

Best. Shovel. Ever.

With the Kodiak it looks like switching to the L position requires removing the handle and putting it into the second hole with the yellow collar? If so, I think I might actually like the Grizzly II a little bit more. It unlocks and swivels right into the L position. Same thing to go back to traditional shovel style, push button and swivel.

Like so:
In bag-

Folded up -

L Position -

Regular Position -

 

[Ske-Bum]

Hell I was stuck like that just today. Pretty much a normal deal when I'm riding.

However it is a nice looking shovel.

 

[hippiekiller]

Im sorry, but $$ pieces of tin like that make me cringe...try stomping those so-called avy shovels with a ski boot a couple of times or slamming it into rock hard debris....I sincerely hope that when you have to hack a loved one out of ice rubble they perform just as well...

 

[hippiekiller]

Some good reading...




http://www.avalanche.ca/adx/aspx/ad...74&Filename=Manuel+Genswein+shovel+review.pdf

 

[CoyoteGirl]

With the Kodiak it looks like switching to the L position requires removing the handle and putting it into the second hole with the yellow collar?

There were some problems with the Grizzly freezing and not unfolding properly last year. FWIW That is one reason why I went with this one, then I know that any failure is probably user failure...

Im sorry, but $$ pieces of tin like that make me cringe...try stomping those so-called avy shovels with a ski boot a couple of times or slamming it into rock hard debris....I sincerely hope that when you have to hack a loved one out of ice rubble they perform just as well...

We hit a very hard ice layer last weekend while shovelling and I encountered no bending or breaking with this shovel. I even mis-swung (word?) (try to visualize full on axe swing scenario) a few times and caught various sled parts (spindle, ski, tunnel) and didn't cause any damage.

But, thank you for the word of caution. I'll be putting this shovel to another ice test soon to see for myself just what the shovel can withstand. With this shovel, for reference, I don't see myself putting a boot to it (definitely not a ski boot!). I see using the claw configuration more and being able to hack/axe my way through.

And for another reference so you don't think I'm just a silly little girl who doesn't understand avy debree and such... I've been part of 2 unburials. Digging, clawing, praying etc etc. And part of why I liked this shovel is seeing just how much snow you can move in a very short timeframe. Time is of the essence, but yes... you need a shovel that will withstand the elements.

 

[snoboy]

Im sorry, but $$ pieces of tin like that make me cringe...try stomping those so-called avy shovels with a ski boot a couple of times or slamming it into rock hard debris....I sincerely hope that when you have to hack a loved one out of ice rubble they perform just as well...

The Kodiak is not a piece of tin. The Kodiak is an Ortovox product which means it is designed first as an avalanche rescue shovel not a light weight snowmobile dig-out shovel. You can stomp the $hit out of it with a ski boot, you can swing it like an ARMY E-tool into avy debris over and over and over again. MVR (on the forum) who is an avalanche awareness and rescue skills instructor for ASAP uses the Kodiak shovel, that shovel sees more use than most shovels on the hill and still works like new. Modsledr was kind enough to let me use his Kodiak during a drill and I was very impressed with not only the design but the quality. I must say that my initial reaction was to make it straight and dig conventionally but Modsledr told me to use it in the 90 deg. position and pull the snow. I used it as directed and it was much faster and less fatiguing. The Kodiak shovel is on my list as is the Ortovox Carbon Pro PFA probe both extremely high quality avalanche rescue tools.

 

[Demo250]

There were some problems with the Grizzly freezing and not unfolding properly last year. FWIW That is one reason why I went with this one, then I know that any failure is probably user failure...

Ah yeah, true. I have experienced that once. It has never happened when unfolding it, but once after about a 20 minute digging session it had some ice built up around the locking mechanism and didn't want to release with the button. Was easy to fix though, I just used my keys to poke the lock out of the locking hole. It also seems the locking mechanism likes some lubrication after a while or the button may continue to be sticky. I recently spayed some Jig-A-Loo down there (silicone based lube and water repellent) and it is back to working like day one again.

Oh and I also have experienced a hard ice layer like you described. Deep in a creek (a creek that was still wet) and we had to dig down one side to get the sled out. Let's just say the edge was almost pure ice.... lol. I am confident in the strength of the Ortovox shovels as it took some heavy abuse that day. Not saying it is unbreakable... but from my experience it is FARRR from being a "piece of tin."

 

[modsledr]

Im sorry, but $$ pieces of tin like that make me cringe...try stomping those so-called avy shovels with a ski boot a couple of times or slamming it into rock hard debris....I sincerely hope that when you have to hack a loved one out of ice rubble they perform just as well...

Thanks for posting the link to the shovel testing...very informative.

BUT...before condemning a product, maybe a little research on your part might be wise. Most of the characteristics they recommend in a shovel are found in the Ortovox Kodiak (yes, the Grizzly had it's shortcomings, but that is the typical evolution of a product....and no, I dont work for Ortovox, or represent them in any way).

Some SAR friends who live in E.WA and ride an area accessed by a road that avy slides cross, have cleared 100+ yards of avy debris to clear the road with no failures of the Kodiak (it should be telling that SAR/Rescue people carry this shovel).

 

[backcountryislife]

I've owned & used a lot of different shovels, but have yet to have ski boots bend my shovels in the hundreds of jumps I've built. Mostly because neither I, nor anyone else I know of that sleds wears ski boots. I really have no intent to start wearing them any time soon either. (you don't really ski, do you "hippiekiller"? That's a pretty hippie sport from what I've heard... )

That's a good review, but it's pretty biased toward a particular type of user & I don't feel that it is indicative of our patterns of use.

Btw... My main shovel IS the T6 that they show as a winner, had a couple of them for YEARS, great shovel. They will also deform like most others after enough digging, I tossed one last year.

Also, the transfer 7 that they call HELLISH is one of the recommended shovels on www.avalanche1.com (website of Mike Duffy, avalanche instructor) I've also owned one & found it to be a very strong shovel.

 

[Kordero]

Innovative design. I like it!

I also see several additional uses for it. 1) If you gotta hike up a hill to help a stuck buddy use the shovel to help claw your way up. If anyone has booted up a hill with a snowboard you know what I'm talking about. 2) Done helping your buddy? Sit down on the shovel and slide!

 

[Comp 670]

I can see that the feature that turns the handle 90* would have helped ALOT with the Avy I was involved with. We had to dig our friend out who was 4-6 ft(depending on what part of his body) under the snow against a tree. Having the handle at 90* would have allowed us to move snow MUCH faster. We got him out with only seconds to spare according to the medics who showed up.Moveing the snow quicker would have helped alot.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Im sorry, but $$ pieces of tin like that make me cringe...try stomping those so-called avy shovels with a ski boot a couple of times or slamming it into rock hard debris....I sincerely hope that when you have to hack a loved one out of ice rubble they perform just as well...

We don't wear ski boots. Those are for puzzies

 

[CoyoteGirl]

Sit down on the shovel and slide!

I'm going to try this!

This past weekend we had probably a dozen of full on chinese speaking stucks ... and generally just 2 or 3 girls there at the time to help out. This shovel again impressed! Moving lots of snow fast is it's middle name. I had a few mis-swings yet again landing on the tunnel of various sleds (sorry!) and still no dents or damage to the shovel. I'm thinking that it is not a cheap piece of tin.... and I'm thinking that if I have to shovel either my sled out of it's bad chinese parking job or worse..... dig a buddy out... this is the shovel for me!

 

[snowryder]

There were some problems with the Grizzly freezing and not unfolding properly last year. FWIW That is one reason why I went with this one, then I know that any failure is probably user failure...

I have the Grizzly 2 and love it. Considering who I usually ride with it gets a work out. I had some freezing problems at first but now lube it up with Wd-40 a few times a season and have not had any problems since.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

LOL I've heard about some of your recent rides and the stucks involved...

2 weeks ago was the WA Ladies Ride and we happened upon a solo sledder/skier out on a goat trail with 2' of fresh snow on it, he was stuck and the trail ahead of him was blown in. We set out to stomp/dig out a trail, 2 people in front of me stomping, me with the Kodiac cutting a swath and 12 others behind us shovelling and stomping. This shovel is IMPRESSIVE with the amounts of snow it moves. The other thing I found in this situation is you use your ab muscles more to move the snow than just your arms = less tiring. We cut a swath of about 200'?? Here's a picture showing part of our path, it continues on around both corners in front and behind us....

 

[snowww1]

You're not supposed to jump on the shovel with ski boots on. It is not a technique that is taught in avalanche classes by anyone that I know.

I do agree that many of the shovels on the market are not very strong. I see them fail in class. Look for a shovel with a tempered aluminum blade, extendable shaft and a large blade. Many riders prefer t-handles since they take up less room in the pack. Many of the shovels that fold (where shaft stays attached) take up too much room in your pack. I prefer packs where the shovel is stored within the pack, so it doesn't ice up or fall out. The shovel shafts that go well into the blade are usually the strongest design.

Remember that if someone is buried a meter down, you'll need to move 1500-2000 pounds of snow to uncover them. Many riders carry too small of a shovel to do this efficiently.

Mike Duffy
www.avalanche1.com
Avalanche education for mountain riders.

 

[snoboy]

chinese speaking stucks ...??? Is this a Chinese speaking stuck?

 

[Snow Duck]

chinese speaking stucks ...??? Is this a Chinese speaking stuck?

nope this one