Lightest T Rated Ice Axe

For general mountaineering you can get by with a b rated tool but for technical alpine routes a t rated tool is highly recommended.

Lightest t rated ice axe.

For climbing frozen waterfalls or dry tooling a t rated axe is mandatory. If you re getting your first ice axe for a high altitude adventure you do need to think about the type of outdoor activity your. Other options for a lightweight ice axe are. The camp corsa is a super lightweight ice axe it weighs merely 7 ounces.

Its tapered banana shaped pick and the trigrest handrest adjustable without a tool ensure the performance required on technical sections. They generally have a bent shaft and t rated more technical pick. The strength of the head shaft interface when being pulled perpendicularly as if it was a vertically placed anchor or standing ice axe belay a cen b has to withstand 2 5kn and a cen t has to withstand 4kn. However if you want the lightest option for self arrest in moderately steep terrain combined with snow anchor options and securing a traverse the camp usa corsa is the best lightweight ice axe.

Despite its lightweight it is a fully functional uiaa certified b ice ax capable of being used for self rescue glissading and strong enough to be used as a belay anchor. A t rated axe is ideal for vertical assents but they can be heavy to carry for long assents. The petzl glacier literide is a compact and lightweight ice axe for ski mountaineering and glacier travel. The camp usa corsa ice axe is quite possibly the lightest weight ice ax in the world weighing just 8 8 oz 250 grams in a size 60 cm length.

It features an aluminum shaft and an aluminum head. At the bottom of the shaft there is also a spike for penetrating ice and snow while. These axes are for tougher conditions when the majority of climbing is on snow but the axe needs to be able to handle a short ice wall. The shaft is optionally equipped with a sliding leash which allows you to secure the ice axe to your wrist or climbing harness.

A cen b rated axe has to withstand 2 5kn and a cen t has to endure 3 5kn. Of all the tools a mountaineer carries the ice axe is perhaps the most iconic. Our founders lloyd and mary anderson formed the co op after struggling to find a quality ice axe anywhere in the u s.