If you re getting your first ice axe for a high altitude adventure you do need to think about the type of outdoor activity your.
Lightest t rated ice axe.
These axes are great for snow and can handle chopping steps in ice or other small ice scenarios.
For climbing frozen waterfalls or dry tooling a t rated axe is mandatory.
A t rated axe is ideal for vertical assents but they can be heavy to carry for long assents.
However if you want the lightest option for self arrest in moderately steep terrain combined with snow anchor options and securing a traverse the camp usa corsa is the best lightweight ice axe.
For general mountaineering you can get by with a b rated tool but for technical alpine routes a t rated tool is highly recommended.
It features an aluminum shaft and an aluminum head.
It s also the central piece of gear in rei s origin story.
Despite its lightweight it is a fully functional uiaa certified b ice ax capable of being used for self rescue glissading and strong enough to be used as a belay anchor.
The camp corsa is a super lightweight ice axe it weighs merely 7 ounces.
Of all the tools a mountaineer carries the ice axe is perhaps the most iconic.
The strength of the head shaft interface when being pulled perpendicularly as if it was a vertically placed anchor or standing ice axe belay a cen b has to withstand 2 5kn and a cen t has to withstand 4kn.
Ultra light ice axe for technical mountaineering and steep skiing ultra light at only 280 g the gully ice axe is designed for technical mountaineering and steep skiing.
These axes are for tougher conditions when the majority of climbing is on snow but the axe needs to be able to handle a short ice wall.
The petzl glacier literide is a compact and lightweight ice axe for ski mountaineering and glacier travel.
Other options for a lightweight ice axe are.
The shaft is optionally equipped with a sliding leash which allows you to secure the ice axe to your wrist or climbing harness.
A cen b rated axe has to withstand 2 5kn and a cen t has to endure 3 5kn.
Its tapered banana shaped pick and the trigrest handrest adjustable without a tool ensure the performance required on technical sections.
At the bottom of the shaft there is also a spike for penetrating ice and snow while.
