MSR®’s Lightweight Probes Provide Fast and Ultra-Stiff Performance

MSR (Mountain Safety Research®), the Seattle-based manufacturer of high-performance outdoor equipment, today announced the addition of some of the market’s stiffest aluminum probes to its collection of snow safety tools.

Engineered to rapidly deploy and reduce deflection for greater probing accuracy and efficiency with minimal weight, MSR probes are built with an innovative variable-diameter construction. The probes’ lower section features a 13 mm diameter and thicker wall to maximize stiffness, while the probes’ upper 11 mm diameter is smaller to minimize weight.

“The backcountry is a rapidly growing market. This radical innovation brings MSR’s precision engineering and reliability to backcountry users,” said Chris Parkhurst, vice president of MSR. “The lower section is the most critical in driving the probe in a straight line. Once the snow captures the probe, the upper narrow diameter probe section can trade ultra-stiffness for lightweight packability. That seamless transition between the upper and lower shafts is what makes MSR probes uniquely lightweight and powerfully stiff.”

MSR has a long and rich history designing and manufacturing innovative, dependable snow gear and safety tools since 1969, and first introduced lightweight, four-section MSR Avalanche Probes in 1981.

Today’s new probes offer smart features including a magnetic closure stuff sack for easy access, a one-hand locking mechanism to ensure fast deployment in burial situations, and innovative graphics that ensure users can always check the snow’s depth. Every 5 cm, numbers are printed at 90-degree increments to ensure constant access to depth information. 

Striker™ CX 320

The Striker CX 320 probe is built for ski patrollers, snow science professionals and backcountry travelers who require a 320 cm-length probe for professional applications and deep conditions but want the weight-savings of carbon fiber uppers to lighten the all-day pack.

Unique features:

• 320 cm in length
• Ultralight carbon fiber uppers
• 7000-series aluminum lowers
• Superior-strength, lightweight pull cord

Striker™ 320

The Striker probe’s full aluminum construction and 320 cm length makes it an essential tool for guides, climbers and industry professionals. It’s built for those who demand a strong, reliable and durable probe for search and rescue applications, crevasse probing and expeditions.

Unique features:

• 320 cm in length
• Full 7000-series aluminum construction
• Corrosion-resistant, stainless steel cable

Striker™ 240

The Striker 240 probe adds a new level of reliability to the touring gear of skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers in the backcountry. The 240 cm-long pole features some of the stiffest aluminum construction available, fast deployment, and a positive-locking assembly for reliable performance.

Unique features:

• 240 cm in length
• Full 7000-series aluminum construction
• Corrosion-resistant, stainless steel cable
• Compact, packable

The new MSR probes debut this month at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City and are available for testing at the All Mountain Demo on January 21 at Solitude Mountain Resort. They will be available at retail stores in August 2014.

About MSR® (Mountain Safety Research®)

Seattle-based MSR has been engineering standard-setting high-performance outdoor equipment since 1969. A commitment to quality manufacturing and innovation ensures customers are outfitted with the finest, most reliable gear available for outdoor adventures. MSR product lines include: stoves, fuel, cookware, water treatment and hydration systems, shelters, snowshoes, snow tools, and backcountry poles. The majority of MSR products are made in the company’s Seattle, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland manufacturing facilities. For more information, visit www.msrgear.com.