Black Diamond Raven Ultra Review

Likes
This is the lightest ice axe tested with a steel head. The only lighter axes were the Petzl Snow Walker and the CAMP Corsa, which have less durable aluminum heads. It is more versatile than many of the other ultralight models. The adze moved firm snow and ice with astonishing ease, especially for such a light axe, and was the best performer in the ultralight category. The adze dug T-slots and chopped steps sensationally and performed similar to the Petzl Snow Racer and far better than the CAMP Corsa. The holes in the middle of the head and in the adze made for great snow anchor building options. The newly designed pick made the Raven Ultra slightly above average in steeper snow and ice situations. It far out performed the CAMP Corsa and handled nearly as well as the Petzl Snow Racer. The holes in the head of the Raven Ultra where some of the easiest and best to clip; they fit nearly any size carabiner. Along with the rest of Black Diamond Raven family, I loved the comfort of the head for holding in any position. It was the most comfortable axe tested.

Dislikes
Unlike many other "semi-spikeless" models, the Raven Ultra has an angled steel spike, which is actually integrated into the bottom of the aluminum shaft. This does a lot more than similar models, which just have a diagonally cut bottom. I did notice that after a season of heavy use the steel spike was worn to half its original height. However, it was much more durable that an aluminum shaft axe without this feature. Also, during tests I regularly felt this axe "slipped back" while walking in cane position as I charged my way up steeper terrain.

Best Application
This is one of the best options for ski mountaineers who need more toughness than the CAMP Corsa offers. It excels for basic snow climbers and early season backpackers who want more than a typical ultralight ice axe with an aluminum head. Any climber looking for a general mountaineering axe should consider to the Raven Ultra.

Value
The Raven Ultra is more versatile, durable and $10 less than the CAMP Corsa. In general the two have slightly different audiences and we thought the $10 price difference wasn't that big a deal and people would choose between the two out of functionality. So if you want weight savings without giving up a steel head, the Raven Ultra is the way to go.