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wallwombat
Jul 28, 2006, 4:57 AM
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Registered: Jun 17, 2003
Posts: 727
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G'day. I'm looking to get me a good general mountaineering axe and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I'm looking for something that would be suitable for classic routes in say, New Zealand, Peru, Bolivia, the Alps, etc.
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skinner
Jul 28, 2006, 6:09 AM
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Registered: Nov 1, 2004
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This is a pretty general question, which is hard to offer an opinion w/o knowing what grade of routes you are planning on climbing. A lot of it really comes down to personal preference, but for a single light glacier axe I *personally* really like the Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe
It's so light in fact, you hardly know you are carrying it.
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salamanizer
Jul 28, 2006, 7:32 AM
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Registered: Jul 3, 2004
Posts: 879
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^^^^
What he said...
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locoduck
Jul 28, 2006, 11:17 PM
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Registered: Dec 21, 2005
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The Raven Pro is a great axe when wieght is your only worry. I have one, and like it enough, but if i had to do it again I'd look at the Grivel Air Tech (i think that's the one), and Petzl's offerings. I find the adze on the Raven Pro to be too small, and its curled profile very frustrating in hard snow/ice. It tends to get hung up more frequently than I like. If you're chopping alot of belay stances, and clearing crud frequently, you will save more energy chopping with a better adze than with the pure weight savings of the Raven (pro).
Good luck in the hills!
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rocketsocks
Jul 29, 2006, 5:39 AM
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Registered: Feb 11, 2006
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I've seen a lot of people with the Raven and Raven Pro, I don't think you would go wrong with either choice. They are indeed very light weight, yet fairly sturdy and reliable.
Personally I prefer the Air-Tech Racing axe, because it has a forged Chrome-Moly head. I haven't seen any ice that I was afraid my axe couldn't catch in, and I like having that extra level of comfort. Though I'm pretty much a noob at alpine mountaineering, so take my opinions with as much salt as you like.
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west_coast_climber
Jul 30, 2006, 12:48 AM
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Registered: Oct 29, 2004
Posts: 41
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ditto. the raven, and its newer forms like the raven pro, are great all-round axes. i especially like how he top of the head is flattened out, instead of being a knife-edge like on some other brand's axes. as a result, it's easy on the hands after hours of plunging. just my 2 cents.
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stagg54
Jul 30, 2006, 1:15 AM
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Registered: Apr 28, 2005
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I have a Raven Pro and I like it. You won't go wrong. Its super light and sturdy. I also really like the way the head is shaped. It's real easy on your hands.
However if I had it to do over again I would get a Grivel Airtech.
Why?
There's not that much weight difference. The grivel seems sturdier. The main reason - the adze. I don't like the diamond shaped hole that the Raven has. It makes it a pain to dig snow anchors. When you clean the loose snow out, it just falls through the hole. Also the shape of the adze causes it to get hung up more when digging. Also the the adze on the raven pro is not very wide.
Just some points to consider.
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