Equipment List

GEAR NEEDED FOR FIELD SESSIONS:

  • Skis, splitboard, or snowboard AND snowshoes (NOTE: No snowshoes for Level 2 and Level 3)
  • Boots
  • Ski Poles (also required for snowboarders)
  • Avalanche Transceiver – 457 kHz only
  • Shovel
  • Avalanche probe
  • Skins for skis or splitboards
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip Balm with SPF
  • Ski pants or bibs
  • Ski jacket or shell
  • Warm gloves and/or mittens
  • Warm hat
  • Neck gaiter or scarf
  • Water bottle or thermos
  • Lunch/snack food
  • Warm Layers (extra insulation for non-moving time in the pits)
  • Backpack with a decent method for attaching skis/board

OPTIONAL: If you are uncertain what to purchase of the following items - wait for the course and you will gain a better idea of what will work well.

  • Inclinometer
  • Compass (preferably with inclinometer included) e.g. Suunto MC-2, Brunton
  • Fieldbook and pencil (NOTE: fieldbook is provided for level 3 courses and available for purchase on Level 2 courses)
  • Snow saw - Required for Level 3 courses
  • Magnifying lens/loupe
  • Crystal card
  • Folding ruler (marked in centimeters)
  • Digital camera
    • If you have an iPhone, check out this iPhone app - Avalanche Safety Tools
  • Half pad
  • Goggles
  • Lightweight thermos

GEAR NEEDED FOR CLASSROOM SESSIONS:

  • Pencil (mechanical pencil is recommended for field sessions)
  • Straight edge (ruler, triangle, book edge ...)

Links to good avalanche gear that we recommend for avalanche professionals.

  • COMPASS/INCLINOMETER
  • Brunton Elite 15TDCL Mirrored Compass
    This model has a longer baseplate for better sighting of slopes and use on maps. ~$70
  • Suunto MC-2D/L Mirrored Compass
    Essentially the same as the Brunton 15TDCL. ~$70
  • Brunton 26DNL-CL Mirrored Compas
    More affordable model that has an inclinometer. Make sure that you get the model of this that has the CL suffix, otherwise it will not have an inclinometer. ~$35
  • MONOCULAR/SCOPE
  • MACROSCOPE 25 with Pouch
    This is the link to the scope that many avalanche instructors, and avalanche professionals, use. It is heavy and EXPENSIVE, but if you actually want to see the snow crystals with a good field of view with excellent clarity and magnification this is the best choice we know of. ~$140 (You will find it at Amazon for the same price, so support Kelly Elder, a snow researcher who adds to our industry on a regular basis. Also a 1% for the Planet Member).
  • Carson MA-30 Magni Scope Pocket Microscope
    Here is a far less durable version, that has a limited field of view, but good magnification. $45-$48
  • CRYSTAL CARD
  • BCA LEXAN Crystal Card
    This card has a dark background, is durable, and will not melt crystals as fast as an aluminum card. It also has snow symbols and slope gages on the back. ~$10
  • SNOW RESEARCH TOOLS
  • Snowmetrics