How to choose the RIGHT and best ice axe or ice tool

How to choose the right and best ice axe or ice tool for you? That is one question that many ice climbers ask themselves. Especially if you are a beginner ice climber and don't really know what features to be looking for. So, I have tried to answer that question and in this climbing vlog episode I will talk about what I believe make out the best ice axe, and help you choose the right ice axe or ice tool for you.

Just to make things clear from the beginning. An ice axe and an ice tool is the same. You just distinguish this based on what part of the world you come from. The term ice tool is often used in the UK, while the term ice axe is usually used in the US. Rest of world kind of use both terms. Well, anyway this piece of gear is absolutely essential ice climbing gear and alpine climbing gear - but all are not the same!

If you are interested in the differences between the technical ice climbing axe or ice climbing tool, and the general mountaineering ice axe, then consider watching this video.

► Ice climbing axe or mountaineering axe? What is the DIFFERENCE (2020) -    • Why are ice climbing axes and mountai...  

When answering the question on how to choose the right ice climbing axe for you, I will dive into different features such as the overall strength (T-rated vs. B-rated ice axes), the handle, the blade and pick, modularity of the ice axe or ice tool, the curvature or aggressiveness and the spike (which depends very much upon whether you also intend to practise alpinism and alpine climbing).

Some of the best ice axes or ice tools available on the market comes from some of the major climbing brands such as Petzl, Black Diamond and Grivel. For that reason I will compare four difference ice axes:

Black Diamond Fuel
Grivel Tech Machine
Petzl Nomic
Petzl Quark (2018)

This climbing vlog episode is not a rewiew of the four different ice axes, but more a comparison and show case of the different features that I would consider essential for steep ice climbing or alpinism and alpine climbing, and essential to choose the right ice climbing axe. Nor is it a direct head-to-head Black Diamond vs Petzl Nomic review or a Petzl Nomic vs Quark (2018), but the ice axes and ice tools are shown though, because of their distinct features.

So if you are looking for advice on how to choose the right ice climbing axe or best ice tool then watch this video.

The best ice axe or ice tool to me would be the combination of several of the ice axes and ice tools mentioned above. So in a ideal world the best ice axe or ice tool I could think of would be the blade and pick of the Grivel Tech Machine along with the big eye, the weight distribution and modular handle of the Black Diamond Fuel and the cool alpine climbing features of the Petzl Quark.

If you are looking for other gear advice videos such as how to choose the right climbing pack, then consider watching this video as well.

► How to choose the RIGHT climbing backpack (2020) -    • How to choose the BEST climbing backpack  

Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer! I am not affiliated with Black Diamond, Petzl or Grivel, so this is entirely my own thoughts based on my own experiences, so I can give you advice on how to choose the right ice climbing axe or ice climbing tool.

Music: View by Ametryo AND Ocean by Simon More

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Enjoy!

#alpinism #IceClimbing #IceAxes