MSR Operator™ Backcountry & Basecamp Shovel

When you need to move snow fast, whether that's digging a rescue beacon search pit, constructing a basecamp, or excavating a snow pit for avalanche assessment, the MSR Operator is built to perform without slowing you down.

The blade is crafted from 6061-T6 hard-anodized aluminium with a TIG-welded blade and shaft interface and a neckless design, which means the connection point that typically fails on lesser shovels under hard use simply isn't there to fail. The flat chopping face delivers a solid, stable strike, and the serrated leading edge chews through consolidated snow and ice that a standard blade would bounce off. The flat back doubles as a smooth snow pit wall shaver or a stable platform for a camp stove, adding utility beyond pure digging.

Deployment is fast and tool-free, with a two-section non-rotational telescoping shaft and a quick lockpin that gets you digging without fumbling. The shaft's upper section fits into the blade for compact packing, and the handle options, a low-profile T-handle or a utilitarian D-handle, let you choose the grip that works best with your gloves and digging style. At under 1 lb 8 oz, it's a serious professional-grade backcountry shovel that carries like a lightweight one.

• Weight: 1 lb 8 oz (0.67 kg) D-handle / 1 lb 7 oz (0.66 kg) T-handle
• Extended length: 34.6 in (88 cm) D-handle / 33 in (84 cm) T-handle
• 6061-T6 hard-anodized aluminium construction
• TIG-welded blade and shaft interface, neckless blade design
• Serrated leading edge with flat chopping face
• Two-section non-rotational telescoping shaft with fast lockpin
• Available in D-handle and T-handle configurations
• Colour: Red