Black diamond ice axe review. Here’s our first look at this promising collection.

Black diamond ice axe review 14 February 2015 / 09:00 GMT 18 May 2023 / 14:07 BST. The Great Outdoors Follow @TGOMagazine. Mar 21, 2019 · The Black Diamond Venom is a modular ice axe that is geared towards steep snow climbs, moderate water ice, and complex glacier routes. Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe. . Having a reliable ice axe is mandatory for technical mountaineering routes. Such is the case with Black Diamond's Venom ice axe. And for those looking to streamline the gear, BD offers up a slick new shovel, the Transfer LT. Finally, this is not the kind of ice axe you need to climb frozen waterfalls. Its curved shaft and 60° pick angle give it excellent penetration on vertical ice. The Glacier presents an incredible value and was once again nearly the winner of our OutdoorGearLab Best Buy Award. This pairing strikes a great balance of performance, durability, and Feb 14, 2015 · Ice axe review: Black Diamond Raven Pro: out of 5. Sep 5, 2024 · The Hydra Ice Tool by Black Diamond is more than just another ice tool—it’s a versatile, highly customizable piece of climbing equipment that can be tailored to meet the demands of any winter climbing objective. Dec 10, 2024 · 3. This axe is a reliable companion for climbers Mar 21, 2019 · It is also worth noting that it's lighter than the rest of the basic all-around mountaineering axes like the Black Diamond Raven (16 ounces) or Black Diamond Raven Pro (14 ounces). Best of all, it is aggressively priced compared to most of its modular or higher-performing competition. At first glance the Hydra looks like a copy of several popular ice tools, most notably Petzl’s Nomic. 95; The Raven Ultra, whilst still shiny and new An ice axe for those Nov 10, 2021 · The Black Diamond Raven with Grip is a handsome-looking ice axe with a straight shaft and elegantly shaped and comfortable head, thanks to the cutaway sections for the fingers and thumb. The Venom directly addresses the dilemma of having to choose between a general mountaineering axe and a technical ice tool. system, superior shaft geometry, adjustable grip, and durable picks make it a standout in the world of ice Nov 21, 2022 · Black Diamond retools their lightweight technical tools with ice climbing capabilities in the new Venom LT axes. 5 to 3 oz less depending on length. mountaineering: yes; technical ice: yes; rugged: yes; 17oz; Every now and then a piece of gear comes along that changes the paradigm. Mar 6, 2025 · Black Diamond Raven Axe & Serac Crampons - a first winter walking setup . The ice axe, or “ice tool” as it’s more commonly called, has come a long way since the alpenstock hit the market in the mid-1800s. The stainless steel pick and adze look the part, but I would say that the pick on the Raven is the least aggressive of the tools I tested, with a subtle curve Feb 2, 2022 · Black Diamond also makes a lighter weight version of this axe called the Raven Pro that weighs 1. Jun 14, 2019 · SMC Kobah Pro: The newest axe in this review and likely one of the least well known is SMC’s Kobah Pro. Overview. C. Written by Gavin Hess | Apr 11, 2024. ) or weather conditions. E. Sep 15, 2017 · Black Diamond Raven Ultra Ice Axe Features: Climbs moderate alpine ice and snow; Investment-cast stainless steel head with an aggressive pick and large hole for a carabiner; Unique, angled spike penetrates hard snow; CEN-B certified; Weight: 348 grams without leash; MSRP: $114. Its innovative I. With its sturdy yet lightweight build, the Raven Pro by Black Diamond has been my go-to ice axe for years. Black Diamond Ice Axe Review. Jan 16, 2022 · Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe review: a superb "hillwalker plus" axe A hybrid hillwalking/mountaineering axe, the Black Diamond Raven Pro is technically capable, with a stylish, modern design for improved steep snow performance If you’re primarily looking for a pair of axes to tackle ice climbs, you might want to look elsewhere – Black Diamond’s own Cobra, Fuel or Viper models would probably suit your needs better for starters. The new design has a range of tweaks and improvements. When it comes to technical climbing, the Black Diamond Ice Axe is one of the most popular tools on the market. But if you’re after an all-purpose ice axe that’s strong, lightweight and versatile, then the Venom is the one to go for. Sep 13, 2024 · The new Black Diamond Hydra has hit the shelves and it’s one of the best ice and mixed climbing axes that we’ve ever used. It's made of sturdy stainless steel pick and shaft that can handle any terrain (steep terrain, frozen terrain, vertical terrain, etc. Black Diamond Venom. I don’t always bring it, but there have been times when I didn’t expect to need it, and it’s come in handy as a walking stick and self-arrest tool when ascending or descending steep snow—or ice-covered slopes. Overall Rating Apr 11, 2024 · Ice Axes Part 2: Performance Review. Sep 15, 2017 · An ice axe for those who don’t want to carry and ice axe Buying an ice axe that’s optimized to be light weight is a funny development in the world of climbing. So where does a would-be consumer go from there? We’d point them toward Black Diamond’s all-new Hydra. Feb 17, 2025 · The original Black Diamond Raven Pro, with a straight shaft and classically curved stainless steel head, has been my personal ice axe of choice for the last nine years. Blue Ice Akila (set), Black Diamond Venom LT (set), Camp Corsa Nanotech, Blue Ice Nov 15, 2024 · Most ice tools have a balanced swing weight, comfortable grip, and aggressively shaped shaft to minimize pump and bruised knuckles. The Pro is part of a new Kobah line of alpine and mountaineering axes introduced by SMC last summer (2018) that includes the Kobah Speed Ice Axe (small & light option), the Kobah Ice Axe (traditional mountaineering axe) and of course the Kobah Pro which we’re reviewing. I prefer the slightly heavier Raven because it has more heft, but otherwise the two axes are virtually identical. Feb 2, 2022 · I use a Black Diamond Raven Ice axe in winter when climbing mountains. Here’s our first look at this promising collection. Gear Review. Value. As gear gets lighter and expeditions get faster, it puts a fresh lens onto the eternal question of balancing performance, weight and cost. The Black Diamond Raven With Grip axe and Serac crampons offer a solid, reliable setup for winter hillwalking and low-grade mountaineering. gnpr ssy scsja wcvuuq zrdh kslj fqjq mpkyb kfxg lre