Honestly, the reason a lot of backcountry people carry shorter probes is that one or two less segments is lighter, but you've always got the question in the back of your mind . . . what if it goes big and my probe's not long enough to reach the victim? For only a few grams more (290, to be exact), you can step up to a full 300 centimeters of probing goodness with the BCA Stealth 300 Carbon Avalanche Probe. It just might be worth it.