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Picking the Best Ice Axe

Assisting in ascending steeper snow is another one of the foundational jobs of a mountain axe and thus a category we weighted very heavily. Photo: Ian Nicholson and Graham Zimmerman use their axes in mid-dagger position while traversing a steep slope while attempting to climb a new route in the Kichatna Range AK.

Ice Climbing 13 hours ago

Picking the Best Ice Axe

by Ian Nicholson

Showing 1-15 of 27 results

Picking the Best Ice Axe

Ice Climbing 13 hours ago

Picking the Best Ice Axe

What's the best ice axe for mountaineering? We looked nearly 17 of the best and most popular products and compared...

How to Choose the Right Ice Axe

Ice Axes 13 hours ago

How to Choose the Right Ice Axe

How do you choose an ice axe? Here are some key factors to consider when buying an ice axe for mountaineering....

Petzl Laser Sonic

Ice Climbing Nov 17, 2013

Petzl Laser Sonic

The Petzl Laser Sonic ice screw is unique for two reasons. First, it features a rotating hanger that allows you to...

Petzl Gully

Ice Axes 13 hours ago

Petzl Gully

This summertime alpine and moderate water ice slayer can't be touched for its performance to weight ratio. While not...

Black Diamond Swift

Ice Axes 13 hours ago

Black Diamond Swift

Our Top Pick and reviewer favorite, the "T" rated axe is ideal for challenging glacier routes and steep snow climbs...

Petzl Ride

Ice Axes 13 hours ago

Petzl Ride

Our favorite all-around weight-focused model, it's highly versatile, and won't let you down.

Black Diamond Raven Pro

Ice Axes Mar 22, 2019

Black Diamond Raven Pro

A classic ice axe, it's an attractively priced model that provides for basic mountaineering objectives.

Black Diamond Raven Ultra

Ice Axes Mar 22, 2019

Black Diamond Raven Ultra

While it's incredibly comfortable to carry for extended periods of time, the Raven Ultra is no longer the lightweight...

Petzl Summit Evo

Editors' Choice

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

Petzl Summit Evo

While other models may perform better at specific tasks, this is the model we would choose if we could only have one...

Black Diamond Raven

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

Black Diamond Raven

This popular ice axe excels in general mountaineering routes and is incredibly friendly on your wallet. It's the...

CAMP Corsa

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

CAMP Corsa

With its 100 percent aluminum head, it's one of the lightest rated ice axes, and proved more versatile than we...

Petzl Glacier Literide

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

Petzl Glacier Literide

Surprisingly versatile considering its low weight, it truly blurs the line between a more general-purpose...

Petzl Summit

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

Petzl Summit

The Summit offers top-notch performance across the board, bringing to light an excellent option for the majority of...

Petzl Glacier

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

Petzl Glacier

Fantastic and wallet-friendly, it's lightweight, self-arrests smoothly, and climbs steep snow with ease.

CAMP Corsa Nanotech

Ice Axes Mar 21, 2019

CAMP Corsa Nanotech

A super unique ice axe that is the third lightest in our review on one of the overall lightest weight CEN-B rated axes...

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