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mtengaio
Jan 5, 2004, 4:54 PM
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What are some good ice tools to consider for a beginner?
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fabe
Jan 5, 2004, 5:43 PM
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I'd get some Charlet Moser Quarks!!! even if they cost quite a bit, they're worth it!!
I'd not recommend you to buy a cheap and less "extreme" tool, because after a few ice meters you'll get used to a curved pick...
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mtengaio
Jan 5, 2004, 5:47 PM
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Are those leashless style?
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fabe
Jan 5, 2004, 5:57 PM
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you can get them in both styles
I only tried the normal ones but you can also use them without leashes.
the ones with ergo grips cost even a bit more...
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brianthew
Jan 5, 2004, 6:01 PM
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Some would say the best tools are the $100/pair Black Prophets/Shrikes/etc with the bent handle. There is some truth to this, as you'll learn with these if ice climbing is for you or not, but you'll likely just go out and buy a new set of tools after your first season or so.
For beginners (and non-beginners) I'd suggest the Black Diamond Rage tools; they're not as extreme or specialized as the Quark (and cheaper, too!) but still have good clearence and a good swing. They also use the same pick as the Cobra; it ships with a T-rated pick but you can buy B-rated picks if you like.
No, they're not leashess (well, you could try; they have a rather large pinky catch).
If you're a beginner you might not want to dive into the world of specialized tools until you know what you're doing and what you want to climb.
But yeah, the Quark would work too, though it's a more suited to ice cragging than alpine, etc. Like I said, depends on your goals.
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the_pirate
Jan 5, 2004, 6:09 PM
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If you are a beginner, get whatever tools you can beg, borrow, or steal. In fact, you would be best server to climb with the worst tools possible. Your buddy's old axes with the dull picks and duct taped leashes. After you have climbed a few routes with crappy tools, you will have an excellent idea of what you want in a tool.
Other people can only recommend what works for them. Try out whatever you can get your hands on cheaply and you will learn what works, or doesn't work, for you.
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tradman
Jan 5, 2004, 6:15 PM
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Too right.
When you first start, your tools will take a battering as you bash the ice and rock looking for placements. You don't want to be wrecking an expensive pair of tools until you know what you want.
It's a good time of year to score cheap tools as folks upgrade for the new season and sell their old ones off for a song.
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mtengaio
Jan 5, 2004, 6:40 PM
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Great advice, think I'll shop around and see what I can find for cheap. Any suggestions where to look online?
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brianthew
Jan 5, 2004, 9:31 PM
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Try E-Bay. There's always people selling old tools and crampons there, often for great prices. You could probably find a pair of bent-shaft BD Shrikes there for less than $150 a pair. They're good beginner tools, and they can take the same picks that the Cobra can.
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fear
Jan 5, 2004, 9:37 PM
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In reply to: Great advice, think I'll shop around and see what I can find for cheap. Any suggestions where to look online?
http://www.neice.com
Good folks mostly....
And a new properly sharpened/modified pick makes the most difference. Esp. on fat easy ice. Make sure your tools are always sharp.
-Fear
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andypro
Jan 5, 2004, 10:11 PM
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In reply to: Great advice, think I'll shop around and see what I can find for cheap. Any suggestions where to look online?
www.killerdeals.com I'ts not jsut a name :wink:
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craggincragin
Jan 13, 2004, 3:47 PM
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In reply to: Some would say the best tools are the $100/pair Black Prophets/Shrikes/etc with the bent handle.
$100 a pair? :shock: I thought it was $100 per tool.
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adeptus
Jan 13, 2004, 9:35 PM
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Charlet Moser Aztars are good all around tools and they´re cheap too.
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brianthew
Jan 13, 2004, 9:53 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: Some would say the best tools are the $100/pair Black Prophets/Shrikes/etc with the bent handle. $100 a pair? :shock: I thought it was $100 per tool.
$100 a pair. I have seen such deals! You'll probably never find them new for that price, but used you will.
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craggincragin
Jan 13, 2004, 11:40 PM
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In reply to: In reply to: In reply to: Some would say the best tools are the $100/pair Black Prophets/Shrikes/etc with the bent handle. $100 a pair? :shock: I thought it was $100 per tool. $100 a pair. I have seen such deals! You'll probably never find them new for that price, but used you will.
Wow, that is incredible. Black Diamond has recently discontinued the Shrike, which explains the price drop, and the bent-shaft are selling like hot cakes.
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bbevans039
Jan 18, 2004, 1:56 PM
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I have Old Quasars , which are a replication of the Quark.. they are nice, but Trango makes good gear at a good price .. check out the capt hooks
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youmeanupthere
Jan 19, 2004, 3:33 PM
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I really dig the AZTARS. I purchased them this year and I am quite pleased. The are supposed to be great all arounders of which I am not sure having not done any alpine climbing with them but they do perform well on steep ice. I've been out on them on at least 12 occasions and have climbed up WI5 without a problem. Retail is $175 which includes the leashes and the freelock leashes are also quite nice. All of my more experienced partners have commented on how effortless it is for me to get in and out of my leashes.
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sinorock
Jan 20, 2004, 4:02 AM
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I have been using my Aztar for 10 days this season. I am quite happy with it. The only downside is that Aztar is on the lighter side. They are the lightest technical tools on the market.
When the ice gets hard and brittle in colder weather, the picks don't bite in so easily. I have to swing really hard for several tries. With the improvement of my climbing skill, I will upgrade them to something heavier and more aggresively curved, likely to be quark. Grivel tech wings are very heavy. When I swing them in the store, I feel like the tools pulling me forward. Pretty funny, eh?
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bishopclimber
Jan 20, 2004, 9:15 PM
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In reply to: I'd get some Charlet Moser Quarks!!! |
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bishopclimber
Jan 20, 2004, 9:24 PM
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In reply to: I have Old Quasars |
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mother_sheep
Jan 20, 2004, 9:26 PM
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In reply to: Charlet Moser Aztars are good all around tools and they´re cheap too.
Is $175.00 per tool cheap? Not for me.
Anyway, I was asking this same question a couple of months ago and the best advice that worked for me is to try out a bunch of tools and go with what feels good. I wouldn't buy a tool just because it's cheap. If I did, I'd end up with some heavy hunk o junk that would be hard to swing and even harder to stick. I tried out Simonds, CAMP, Trango and Charlet Moser tools. If I purchased a tool because it was cheap, I wouldn't climb as well, which would ultimately take away from the enjoyment for me anyway. Once you get a feel for the tool that feels best, you won't want to settle for less. I'm torn between the Aztars and the CAMP Awax. What's a girl gotta do to score a pro deal. If you have the answer, PM me if you have connections.
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youmeanupthere
Jan 21, 2004, 2:42 AM
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A brand new ice tool for $175 is cheap, relatively speaking. Pro forms are nice though.
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billburning
Jan 22, 2004, 8:48 AM
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Those tools are selling so cheap for a reason...the new tools on the market are FAR superior...I just got a pair of BD vipers and spent the last week in Ouray, they are freaking great. You can climb leashed or leashless and they plunge well too. Definitly a rockin overall tool. Anyway, don't waste your money on old style tools, you will only want to buy new ones next season.
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giano
Oct 13, 2005, 2:01 PM
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I climbed with various axes from grivel, charlet and bd but I'm climbing with camp awax since three years and I think it is the better tool! It has a very good head that give me a good feeling when I'm climbing. It has only a little problem regarding handle but camp has made a new hand-rest that improve comfort and make you able to climb leashless.
I suggest you to buy it!
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jimdavis
Oct 13, 2005, 9:15 PM
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In reply to: I have Old Quasars , which are a replication of the Quark.. they are nice, but Trango makes good gear at a good price .. check out the capt hooks
I have the Madame Hooks, currently with the straight shafts which basically makes them Captain Hooks...and I think they're great.
They're heavy enough to drive into hard ice well, they do well on the mixed stuff cause the pick is a little shorter than most, the rubber grip dampens vibations, and they're pretty reasonable price wise.
They are a tad heavy, but if you like lighter tools get the version without the hammers on them.
I'm not one for getting cheap gear at all...but these Trango tools are really nice, I perfer them to Quarks, Cobras, ect.
Oh the Aztars are a nice tool too, especially if you like light tools. I think with a nice sharp pick, they're probably be just about perfect for pure ice.
Check em out,
Jim
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