Built for backcountry travelers and first responders, these shovels deploy instantaneously for emergency situations. Utilizing Black Diamond's trapezoidal, curved-shaft design, they provide rotation-free, fast activation with the squeeze of a spring pin. For integrated storage the shaft slides into the metal blade, which is made of exceptionally strong aluminum and designed to move large quantities of snow quickly as well as for creating smooth pit walls. The Deploy 3 incorporates all the features of the Deploy 7 but with a smaller volume blade. The ergonomic handle feels like a D-grip but packs like a T-grip.