translate:/Global/SiteRating: 3 | Winter kit | 500-999g

The Blue Star is a well-proven classic ice axe that has been voted Best Buy in past Trail reviews and has provided a popular low-priced option for many years. The design is fairly standard with a straight shaft. The new ‘Light’ version does not have a rubber grip or leash fitted, but on closer inspection the details stack up very ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Stubai Blue Star 2009

£49.00

The Stubai Blue Star is a well-proven classic ice axe that has been voted ‘Best Buy’ in past Trail reviews and has provided a popular low-priced option for many years. The design is fairly standard with a straight shaft. It has a very substantial rubber grip and comes with a slide-adjusted leash. The head has a wide adze for hacking ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Stubai Blue Star

£52.00

This ice axe is a well-proven classic that has been voted Best Buy in past Trail reviews and has provided a popular, low-priced option for many years. The design is fairly standard with a straight shaft, a rubber grip, leash and head. On closer inspection the details stack up very well too. Firstly this is rated as technical axe, making ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Stubai Hornet

£55.00

This ice axe weighs 624g (50cm); precurved shaft to allow easier placement when ice-climbing; adjustable wrist loop with padding; head designed for ice-climbing; shaft rated as technical so it can be used for rope belaying; rubber grip adds comfort. But too short for walking; technical head not comfortable in the hands; precurved shaft not ideal for walking.

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Camp Magix 2009

£65.00

The Camp Magix is an interesting crampon with 10 points, of which two are normal curved front points and the remaining eight vertical ones are rotated at 45º. This set-up is designed to reduce snow-balling. The flex is fairly relaxed and the spikes are not too long, a combination which makes for an easy-to-walk-in crampon. Fitting is via toe and ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Petzl Charlet Cosmique

£75.00

This ice axe This is a really tough workhorse that a regular mountaineer could rely on for many years. It has a technical grading, so it is strong enough to be used for belays. The balance is excellent and the head is well-designed for hacking steps or ice axe braking. You also get a far more serious spike for crossing ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Camp Alpax

£95.00

This is a technical ice axe, so it can be used for belaying when climbing steep slopes with a rope. The head can be changed if needed too and a matching hammer version is available. The shaft is precurved, which helps with placements of the pick when climbing, but this is also useful when placing the shaft while walking. The ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Black Diamond Venom

£100.00

This ice axe is 530g (50cm), which is a low weight for the features; interchangeable pick; ergonomic head grip; rubberised shaft grip; leash provided with padded wrist loop; precurved shaft for easier placement in snow slopes; beautifully finished; very well-balanced; superb all-round mountaineering axe; technical rating so it can be used for rope belays. But very high price tag.

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Black Diamond Venom hammer/adze

£100.00

This is a low-weight ice axe that can be used as a pair with a hammer or adze head for steeper snow and ice-climbing. You get an interchangeable pick as well as an ergonomic head grip. The shaft is rubberised towards the spike for a better grip. There is a leash provided too with padded wrist loop and easy adjustment. ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Grivel Air Tech Evolution 2009

£100.00

The Grivel Air Tech Evolution is a beautifully constructed general ice axe. The cast head is a work of art and is armed with a sculpted adze that will cut steps with ease, and a pick that has a full set of aggressive teeth. The shaft has a clearance bend, a recessed rubber grip and is tipped by a well-shaped ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Camp Alpax 2009

£105.00

The Camp Alpax is classed as a technical ice axe, so it can be used for belaying when climbing steep slopes with a rope. The head can be changed if needed too, and a matching hammer version is available. The shaft is precurved, which helps with placements of the pick when climbing; but this is also useful when placing the ...

LFTO.com rating
Owners' rating

Grivel Matrix Tech

£120.00

The Matrix Tech ice axe is designed for ice-climbers and mountaineers. It is an ideal choice for climbers who want easy handling and a dedicated design. The shaft is contoured for easier grip, thanks to the rubber shaft and hand support moulding on the end of the shaft. The shaft has a double angulated shape that opens up space for ...