Technical ice axes on sale, cheap.

I have no affiliation with the company and am just posting this here to help people save some money in case they were looking for some.

These are technical ice tools, but I have used them many times in the past and actually prefer them to the "mountaineering axe". They are short, thus not a lot of good as a hiking axe unless you're on steep terrain, but they will dig into the ice much better for when you need the stability or an extra hand.

I have never seen axes this cheap, especially with the leashes included (on the Venom's, usually another $15) and have used a spare set of the Bulldogs for years, they are good baseline axes and are very sturdy.


The Bulldogs

The Venoms

Me have bulldogs.

Me likey.

Wow, what a great deal!!

I now own a third ice tool! (sweet deal)

Good deal!

Have read about lots of folks usin them for one thing or another...just ordered a VENOM. sounds nasty

One more thing to carry, oh boy

Hopefully won't ever need it

okay, if I was going to get into more technical winter stuff and some ice, should I buy a couple of these, probably yes right, but which 2 - a hammer and a ax ? I've a standard straight ice ax currently. thanks

Thanks!! I was figuring that I should have one...

Chip said:

okay, if I was going to get into more technical winter stuff and some ice, should I buy a couple of these, probably yes right, but which 2 - a hammer and a ax ? I've a standard straight ice ax currently. thanks

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Technical axes are different from hiking axes.

They are shorter (typ 40-55cm) and these have reverse curved picks (for placment in ice) rather than the rounded pick typically found on a hiking axe. The shorter tools are specialist steep ice (>~70deg) climbing tools--intended for use above one's head.

A mountaineering axe is somewhere between a hiking and a technical axe. Typ 70cm with a straight shaft. Good for up to ~70deg ice and snow.

These "hammers" are more properly north wall hammers (technical axes with the adz replaced with a hammer head). An ice hammer is about the size of a regular hammer, but has a pick instead of a claw.

I have no experience with these tools and cannot coment on how good they are. Balance, vibration contol (when setting in hard ice), pick style, shaft shape (straight vs bent) etc are important for technical axes.

Doug

Chip said:

okay, if I was going to get into more technical winter stuff and some ice, should I buy a couple of these, probably yes right, but which 2 - a hammer and a ax ? I've a standard straight ice ax currently. thanks

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I bought one of each. I have not used the hammer much in the past, only to hammer bad ice from a bulge to get to the good ice underneath.

The adz is handy for clearing snow for steps or to get to the good ice underneath the garbage on top.

There isn't much of a weight difference between the two.

I ordered one of each of the Bulldogs, and the mid weight Capilene zip so I'd get free shipping ! Thanks for the info Lawn Sale !

Chip said:

I ordered one of each of the Bulldogs, and the mid weight Capilene zip so I'd get free shipping ! Thanks for the info Lawn Sale !

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Me two! I wanted to be just like Chip!

I'm glad I was able to help people out. Now the axes will be like the VFTT REI UL45's, we'll be able to tell one another apart from the general hiking crowd just by what we're wearing.

Except Metsky that is, that chicken hat is a dead giveaway.

NH_Mtn_Hiker said:

Me two! I wanted to be just like Chip!

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Great Minds, my friend, Great Minds...

Thanks for the post. I ordered a few for myself.

Just a head up guys.

I have had my bulldogs for about a year now. They have seen less than 20 pitches of vertical ice, and no mixed.

This weekend I went ice climbing with a buddy, we shared my axes. On our second climb of the day my buddy swung, and the axe head sheered off. Not the blade, but the head of the axe itself. There was no torsional forces put on the head on that particular swing.

Kind of made me nervous because I had just completed my first lead the pitch before! So, word to the wise, we may be getting what we pay for. I'm going to email omega and see what they have to say. I'll post up some pictures tomorrow night probably.

(The Venom and the Bulldogs share the same type of head)

cheers.

-percious

Wow, I have never heard of that before. I've been using the Bulldogs for the last 3 years with no issues, they are still being used today. My brother has had them for the last 5 years, and he bought them used from a friend for $75.

I'd be very interested to hear what they have to say about it.

After another day out hitting the ice with my BD Raven and a borrowed tool, I had decided that I needed to finally get a pair of tools and do so on the cheap.

Thankfully, this weekend I was told about this thread and after doing a little bit of reseqarch and poking around on the web, I have ordered a pair of the Vemons. I can hardly wait to use 'em! Thanks for sharing this info, LS.

I can't find the weight on these. I thought one of the 40 cm adzes might be just the ticket for non-technical climbs where I don't want to bring a full axe and self-arrest is not a concern. Anyone have the numbers?

erd said:

I can't find the weight on these. I thought one of the 40 cm adzes might be just the ticket for non-technical climbs where I don't want to bring a full axe and self-arrest is not a concern. Anyone have the numbers?

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Not a good idea, IMO.

If you want a lighter axe, buy a lightweight axe. A technical axe is not the best tool for a non-technical climb--a mountaineering or hiking axe is a better choice. (And technical axes have to be made heavy enough to withstand constant bashing into ice and rock. A heavy head also helps the pick set properly in hard water ice.)

Doug

Thanks, Doug. I appreciate the expert opinion. Sometimes something as simple as a Black Diamond Whippet is helpful, if it's just trying to get a purchase on an iced-in ledge. I've thought about the ULA Helix, but it's so darn expensive. I'll probably just stick with my Raven, which permits the full repertoire from serious self arrest to just a little assist getting up a crack that's covered with glare ice.

Ted.