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beyond_gravity
Dec 21, 2008, 4:46 AM
Post #1 of 11
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Registered: Jan 2, 2002
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So I got a pair of new Cobra's, and took them out for the first time today. I have to say, i'm a bit disappointed in them. The picks kept bouncing off the ice, and not going in cleanly. I thought this may be a case of me not snapping my wrist enough, but even when I was concentrating on this I couldn't get them to stick as well as I thought they should be. It was a bit difficult to release them.
Getting annoyed, I pulled out my 3rd tool (Aztar) and it stuck and released without issue.
Am I missing something here? granted, I was only on a WI 2/3, but I was still suprised that my Aztar's were performing better.
Is there some secret to making these things work?
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angry
Dec 21, 2008, 5:09 AM
Post #2 of 11
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Registered: Jul 22, 2003
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I've not yet swung the Cobra but I have climbed a couple pitches on the new Viper (orange) tools. I had a similar experience to yours.
I climbed a bit on them and got the hang of them and they really started feeling good. My first few pitches had the pick bouncing out all the time though.
I think that you are used to tool with a lot more weight in the head than your Cobras. My tools are really substantial in the head, those Vipers were pretty light. Once I learned how to swing them I actually liked them but it certainly wasn't the same swing I use on my tools.
Now it's time for my shot in the dark. Are your old tools Black Prophets?
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brownie710
Dec 21, 2008, 7:30 PM
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Registered: Aug 25, 2007
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angry wrote: Now it's time for my shot in the dark. Are your old tools Black Prophets?
awesome. my buddy and were climbing in the adk's saturday and two cool old school guys came up climbed the route next to us, both were rocking the Prohpets!
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flying_dutchman
Dec 22, 2008, 1:51 AM
Post #4 of 11
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Registered: Nov 20, 2002
Posts: 708
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BD tools seem to have a different swing then all the euro tools. My Reactors are more like a carpenter hammer requiring a arm & wrist swing while the other tools i've borrowed are all wrist action IMO.
Also, grade 2/3 ice is low angle and the Cobra's will probably bounce cause they're designed for the vertical stuff ~ steep pick angle
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tomcat
Dec 22, 2008, 1:12 PM
Post #5 of 11
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Registered: Sep 15, 2006
Posts: 325
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I'm swinging the new Cobras and have the original ones too.I found that the Titan pick works better for me than those vectors or whatver they come with.
With the vectors in either tool I get bounce out/back in hard ice,particularly going over a bulge.
Either pick works fine for me in plastic ice.
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sungam
Dec 22, 2008, 1:29 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Registered: Jun 24, 2004
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brownie710 wrote: angry wrote: Now it's time for my shot in the dark. Are your old tools Black Prophets? awesome. my buddy and were climbing in the adk's saturday and two cool old school guys came up climbed the route next to us, both were rocking the Prohpets! 
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DominicParent
Dec 22, 2008, 2:14 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Registered: Dec 11, 2006
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I have the new cobra and I was very happy to climb with. I have climb in grade 4 and 5 this weekend, and every time, I pick them easy.
Have a good winter
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southforkclimber
Dec 27, 2008, 4:21 AM
Post #8 of 11
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Registered: Jan 15, 2008
Posts: 13
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So does the carbon fiber really make up for the high price difference between the vipers and the cobras? I have been climbing my old style cobras for a couple years leashless, and need to upgrade. I'm trying to decide which way I should go. Is it really worth it? I was never really a fan with the old school vipers, I always like the way my cobras swung. Anyone have a comment?
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harpo_the_climber
Jan 3, 2009, 3:51 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Registered: Feb 26, 2005
Posts: 106
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Anyone use the new Cobras as an alpine axe? How do they work for that?
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tomtom
Jan 5, 2009, 9:06 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Registered: Jan 9, 2004
Posts: 366
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I've got the new Cobras and I thing they're great. I switched to the regular hammer heads to add a little weight. The swing should be a lot of wrist and a little elbow with the wrist near the ice on contact. The only times I have problems with bouncing is when I'm swinging at rock.
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bob_54b
Jan 27, 2009, 4:52 PM
Post #11 of 11
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Registered: May 18, 2006
Posts: 64
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I really like my cobs, but they really start performing when it gets steep: that's what they're made for. on lower angle stuff they're pretty average, but when you go to stick em on the steep, they really come through.
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