Quick Assembly system 

“Patented Flash Assembly” for reliable assembly that’s quick as a flash. With over 100,000 PFA probes sold, the system has established itself in every area of application in the last 10 years.

Ortovox have optimised the finer details for even quicker and more efficient handling: The quick-assembly strap, which is attached to the outside of the probe cover, makes immediate opening and assembly possible in one motion.

The PFA system also ensures it locks into place smoothly. 

Quick Release Cover

The quick-assembly strap makes immediate Opening and Assembly possible In One Motion, without first having to take the probe out of its cover.

Stability 

To probe effectively, the probe must be stable and rigid enough to remain straight during use.

Only then can you probe precicely and efficiently without errors occuring. The greater the probe’s diameter, the stiffer, but at the same time heavier it is, asuming its made of the same material.

Length

The length of an avalanche probe is important: Lengths 240 cm are typical, and this is sufficient for the average avalanche burial depth. But a probe must be compact and easy to stow. Ortovox Probes consist of 6 to 7 probe elements and are atleast 240 cm long in total. Thanks to the individual shorter segments, each probe can be stowed in a Ski backpack with a small total pack size.

Visual Guide System

The intuitive visual guide system provides you with quick and clear information about the victim‘s depth at all times. You can perfectly Adapt your shovelling strategy and save important time thanks to the clear 1m marker, Contrasting Depth Scale and Colourful End Segments. The bottommost segments in neon orange indicate when you are approaching the victim.

Probe Tip

A voluminous probe tip i.e. Significantly Larger probe tip diameter compared to the probe elements, ensures improved penetration this reduces friction while probing. A pointed probe tip also penetrates hard avalanche snow more easily.  

Materials 

The basics and foundation of a good probe is the material it’s made from. It must be light but at the same time stable. Ortovox uses high-end 7075 Aluminium T6, which provides an optimum ratio of weight to ridgity.

Carbon is the material Ortovox use for lightweight probes, Carbon is ridid, extremtly lightweight and will not ice over quickly thanks to its low heat conduction.

For those users who find reliability and a high degree of precision in leading them to the victim more important than weight, Ortovox offer probes made of steel.

Find out more in our Ortovox Probes Materials Glossary.

Tensioning System

Steel or Aramid is used for the tensioning system in the Ortovox probes. 

As steel does not stretch, it is one of the most reliable tensioning systems. 

Ortovox use Aramid for probe segments made from aluminium/carbon. 

Aramid fibers are lighter yet provide high rigidity and stability with limited stretching, making them ideal for use in tensioning systems.

CARBON 240 SUPERLIGHT

7075 Alu T6