Review Grivel Compact Black Ice Axe
- Grivel Rambos
- Grivel Light Wing
- Grivel Alp Wing
- Petzl Charlet Aztar
- Petzl Charlet Quark
- Black Diamond Viper
- Black Diamond Cobra
- The hole on the axe doesn't fit a normal sized carabiner
- Very sharp pick with a great set of teeth.
- A square shaped and good sized hammer that just works well in corners
- Small enough to fit inside a pack and very light.
- $50 used
The Grivel Compact Black Ice axe is really just a backup tool for the most part. However those who have broken picks or dropped tools can really appreciate the idea of having a third ice tool. Another use for this piece is for extra stability and assistance on steep alpine climbs which are not too technical in nature. The tool comes in two lengths: 32 & 452 grams and 38 cm & 480 grams. I have the 38 centimeter version.
My experiences with this tool have been on steep alpine climbs, swinging into ice or plunging or even at shoulder height into snow for the most part. I have carried it on some ice climbs inside my pack as well but luckily never had to resort to using it there. The pick is extremely sharp and has a great set of teeth which go all the way to the shaft. The teeth near the shaft would be useful on steep ice or for grasping or hooking rock features and bushes on mixed terrain. Since the axe is so light it doesn't exactly swing so naturally for me. It takes a little getting used to but it's not a big deal at all. When first using it I would swing too hard and with the wrong arc. I'd say this tool would allow *me* to climb up to WI 3 pitches if necessary. I'd rather rappel if anything more difficult was encountered. However your mileage and skill may vary. A negative spot is the hole in the axe which is just too small to fit a carabiner. Maybe anything larger would compromise strength, but if not then it seems like having that would actually remove anything negative I would have to say about this product. However since it doesn't, racking it on your belt while you rappell or somewhere else with a carabiner for convenience doesn't seem like an option. Some might shun the idea, however I would also use this to cross small glaciers and moats (not always as my first choice). One thing that I have to mention is that it does not come with a leash. I view this as a good thing so that I can put whatever leash I want and spare me the costs. I chose store bought slings as my leash. In a nutshell, what makes this third tool desirable to me is it's simplistic design.
Some example routes I have done with this tool are Talchako Mountain - Northeast Ridge 60 degrees, Princess Mountain - Northeast Buttress 55 degrees.
The ice tool:
