The category of ice tools covers a vast spectrum of pursuits, not all related to climbing.

Walking Axes

Walking axes enable everyone that walks in summer to experience the rewarding delights of a winter day spent in the hills - all you need is a degree of fitness, good hill knowledge and sense and proper training in the use of the axe. Our range of walking axes is provided by Mont Blanc Massif based Grivel. Axes in this category have gently angled, minimally toothed picks and a variety of shaft lengths. Some have a grip around the base of the shaft, but this is not neccessary as you will spend 99.99% of your time holding the axe by the head. 

One important consideration is the axe leash. Most winter walkers will not need anything more than a wrist loop that slides up and down the shaft of the axe, or a piece of webbing that attaches to the top of the axe and links this to the wrist - most of our axes come with the latter.

Weight becomes more of an issue where Alpine work is concerned, and here the Grivel Munro axes really come into their own, being around 400g each. They are ideal for winter walkers and trekkers in Britain and the Alps. For mountaineering, we recommend the Grivel Brenva. It has a strong shaft and light curvature. It is also well worth looking at the lightweight and excellent Grivel Air Tech Evolution, if only to cast admiring glances. If you have any doubt over which size to order in any of the walking axes, please don't hesitate to get in touch by phone or email.

At this point it is worth mentioning B and T ratings on axe shafts. B rated means a weaker shaft that is not recommended for direct belays in climbing situations, however, it is worth bearing in mind that it is more likely that the snow will give way before the axe breaks. T rated shafts will take full climbing fall shocks, if the snow holds of course! Our axes will state whether their shafts are B or T rated.

Technical Axes

Since the days of the first MacInnes' Terradactyls, technical ice tools have proliferated into a vast range of implements, of increasingly radical design.

Extreme water ice climbing in the Western Alps and the United States has meant that the development of equipment for this form of mountaineering has become highly specialised. There have been many designs that have come and gone, but those that have stood the test of the rigours of climbing top grade routes and some very promising newcomers are well covered in our range.

High grade Alpinism and climbs of more sustained difficulty have meant that more emphasis has been put on light weight and streamlined gear, too.

Scottish winter routing has shown something of a resurgence over the past few seasons and with the increased number of people operating at the highest level, and improvements in protection, developments have been fast and furious, to help you torque up the most strenuous of cracks and find purchase in the smallest pieces of turf.

Currently leading the way in the realms of matching design with function are DMM, Petzl Charlet and Black Diamond.

DMM

At the moment, excitingly, the Welsh-based DMM are leading the way in terms of ice axe technology. The Rebel is a revolutionary cutting edge technical tool, and users say it really does the business on the both mixed and ice. Using i-beam technology for low weight, high strength and awesome balance this tool can be used leashless or with the excellent Rebel clipper leashes for an absolute dream of an axe. The Fly remains our most popular all-round tool that is as at home on Scottish mixed, Welsh water-ice or Alpine North Faces.

Petzl Charlet

The Quark has proven itself time and again in terms of performance. It is an awesome pure water ice axe that is still very at home on technical mixed routes. It is highly recommended by all who use it.

Black Diamond

Challenging Petzl Charlet's Quark and DMM's Rebel in terms of handling, balance and penetration on ice the leashless Black Diamond Reactor is an an attractive and awesome performer on ice and comes to you at a great price. The staff like the balance and handling in particular.

Grivel

Grivel provide us with the X Monster. For leashless performance on ice at a price that's nice (less expensive than the BD Reactor but doesn't feel quite so sweet) the X Monster is well worth a look for your La Grave / Cogne trips.

Stubai

We also stock the Hornet Axe and Hammer from Stubai. These technical ice tools offer an entry into the winter climbing world at a very very special offer price.