Get Outdoors - Women: Ice Tools

Ice axes and tools are designed for a variety of uses. At one end of the spectrum are ice tools for high angle technical waterfall ice while at the other are general mountaineering axes meant for walking, glacier crossing and snow climbing. Axes suitable for technical alpine climbing often have a blend of characteristics from both ends of the spectrum. While some versatility can be found, it is important to know how you are most likely to use your tools and choose design features appropriate to the terrain.

Waterfall Ice Tools

A typical waterfall ice tool is fairly short (usually 50 centimeters), and often has a bent shaft to improve reach and placement in featured ice, reduce fatigue on wrists, reduce knuckle bashing and keep hands warmer by aiding circulation. It has a drooped pick that aids in hooking and stays in place in steep ice. Interchangeable pick and adze/hammer units allow you to buy replacements and use specialized components. These tools often come in a variety of adze shapes and styles.

Women shopping for ice tools should look for a tool that is light in weight while still having sufficient "heft" in the head to make placements feel easy and secure. The feeling of secure placement can be somewhat subjective, and it may take some experience and experimentation to find out what tool feels easiest to place. It?s often a good idea to rent or borrow ice tools until you can get a feel for what works best for you. Climbers with smaller hands will find that a smaller shaft can make a big difference in reducing hand fatigue. Generally, there is a trend toward lighter tools with slender shafts, which is great for women.

A thin pick has great advantages. In general a thin pick will perform better because it shatters and displaces the ice less than larger picks. This performance feature compromises strength and durability, and thin picks will break more readily, so you will need to buy more of them. However, smaller climbers tend to climb more delicately to compensate for less brute strength, so they may be easier on thin picks. Pick durability also depends on where you climb, the amount of rock you encounter, your appetite for mixed routes, your aim, your temper, and other factors.

Mountaineering Axes

Mountaineering axes are longer, with straight shafts. For use self-belaying on steeper snow slopes and for occasional use as an ice climbing tool, geta 60 centimeter axe. If you intend to use it primarily as a walking stick or balance aid on low angle slopes or easy glacier crossings, go for 70 centimeters. The pick on a mountaineering axe is gently curved to help it dig into snow when self-arresting. The shape also is easier on your hand when walking. The pick is thicker, and generally not interchangeable. The adze is flatter, slightly curved, and broad for effective step chopping.

For general mountaineering, and especially for ski mountaineering, light weight is important because of the time spent carrying the axe. The less often you use the axe, or the less technical the use will be, the more important weight is relative to performance. The choice of axe depends on a realistic assessment your use and your technical needs, in order to get the right balance between weight and technical performance.

Technical Alpine Axes

These axes combine features of general mountaineering axes with features of waterfall ice tools. Typically, a technical axe might have a straight shaft and a thin pick with some droop in it. Again, get the lightest axe with the performance characteristics that you require for the type of routes you will be doing. Favor performance over light weight for truly technical routes.