Swift Ice Axe Review

This of course has numerous advantages whether backing up a seated belay using as a standing ice axe belay or beefing up an existing picket anchor by placing your axe vertically in front of the deadman saxon s cross technique.

Swift ice axe review.

The black diamond swift takes the classic mountaneering piolet into the 21st century. This ice axe is designed for climbing ice. A modern evolution of a classic mountaineering piolet style axe. The petzl summit ice axe is our editors choice for the best ice axe.

It is lightweight comfortable to carry and use and performs well during self arrests and in steep terrain. The burliest of our piolets and our only t rated piolet the swift is the ultimate in classic mountaineering tools. Black diamond s swift ice axe takes the classic piolet to the next level to help you achieve your mountaineering objectives. One piece hot forged stainless steel head construction ergonomic shaft and technical profile for performance in technical snow sections and the.

No model is as much of a blend between a traditional ice axe and an ice tool than the petzl sum tec and that s a good thing. With an adjustable pommel and a t rating the black diamond swift takes mountaineering piolets into the 21st century. It s a classic ice axe with a modern design that makes it great all around gear for classic mountaineering and alpine climbing. What really sets the swift apart.

In this special edition i review the black diamond raven ice axe and take it to the cliffs near my side to see how well it fairs in sandy coastal bluffs. It features a one piece forged stainless steel head and a t rated curved shaft. The sum tec is the brainchild of the late ueli steck along. The swift s burly oversized spike made it one of the easier models to plug vertically into the snow.

The flicklock pommel can easily be moved or removed if you wish.