Ice Axe Setups for Snow Hiking, Mountaineering, and Alpine Climbing: Customizing Gear for Your Trip
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You don’t really know when you are going to need your equipment to perform in a certain way. You don’t know when you are going to slip and need to self-arrest. You don’t know when the climbing will shift from feeling secure while walking “in balance” with your axe to feeling insecure, begging you to swing the axe instead. You don’t know when the snow is hiding rocks that need to be navigated.
Because you often don’t know what you will be asking your gear to do for you until you need to do it, it gets rather important to set it up so that you tilt the odds in your favor when it comes to getting the most out of equipment. So, in the video we cover some of the basic, low-cost and low-effort, options you have for modifying your axe to meet the needs of your environment and terrain. You’d rather have it setup as you need ahead of time, right?
For insulation options, as described in the video, you can find Primaloft by the yard and Closed Cell Foam options at cheap prices.
Trigger and pommel options will depend upon the make of your axe. You can find these accessories, here:
For grip tape, I mentioned that I use 3M TB400 Gripping Material.
The best leashes, when it comes to strength to weight ratio, are the Blue Ice Solo. You can also find the dual leash Blue Ice Hydra with a spinning connector for technical climbing with two tools.
And, finally, when it comes to the modular picks, adzes, and hammers, those are specific for the type of axe or tool you are using. My favorite local resource to find the original manufacturer’s versions as well as the best third-party replacements (like the armored steel options from Krukonogi) is Colorado’s own Rock and Resole. Of course, you can also go to the website of your manufacturer and look for snow and ice accessories.
These little changes can go a long way to making your outings more comfortable and safer. When you’re not worrying about your gear, you can focus more on your climbing.