Black diamond raven ice axe review. I haven't looked back.

Black diamond raven ice axe review. It's a solid, comfortable general mountaineering axe, as long as the terrain isn't too technical. The Raven Pro has all the same features but is two ounces lighter and a bit more expensive. Sep 12, 2018 · The Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe weighs 13 oz. Best of all, it is aggressively priced compared to most of its modular or higher-performing competition. In fact, compared to the Raven, the Glacier is lighter, self-arrests smoother, and climbs steep snow better, while the Raven offers a better price tag. Jul 25, 2025 · The Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe With Grip is a modern iteration of a classic mountaineering tool from Black Diamond, designed for general mountaineering, glacier travel, and ski mountaineering. I don’t always bring it, but there have been times when I didn’t expect to need it, and it’s come in handy as a walking stick and self-arrest tool when ascending or descending steep snow—or ice-covered slopes. The Glacier remained a standout choice for most general mountaineering applications and was one of the higher Jan 29, 2024 · We’ll compare the Petzl Glacier Ice Axe, the Camp X-Light Ice Axe, and the Black Diamond Equipment Raven Ice Axe, discussing their features, benefits, and why owning one of these tools is essential for your safety and performance in the mountains. It works well for moderate snow climbs, early-season backpacking, and basic glacier routes but is a cut below the Sep 15, 2017 · The Raven Ultra, whilst still shiny and new An ice axe for those who don’t want to carry and ice axe Buying an ice axe that’s optimized to be light weight is a funny development in the world of climbing. Mar 22, 2019 · Our Verdict The Black Diamond Raven Pro is the lighter cousin of the mega-popular Raven. I haven't looked back. Compared to other axes the weight is night and day. Apr 11, 2024 · The Black Diamond Venom LT brings that level of customization to the ultralight ski axe world. The Black Diamond Raven ice axe with Grip is an update on Black Diamond’s classic single axe for mountaineering. It has all the features required for basic mountaineering and glacier travel including being lightweight, strong, durable, and comfortable to use. Jan 16, 2022 · Advnture Verdict A modern hillwalking/mountaineering hybrid axe, the Raven Pro is capable enough to handle even the most demanding winter hillwalking days, as well as classic graded winter scrambles and ridges. In its lightest configuration, it is close to the lightest options available at 220g. As gear gets lighter and expeditions get faster, it puts a fresh lens onto the eternal question of balancing performance, weight and cost. I kept having to look back to make sure the axe was attached. Shop crampons, ice axes, ice screws, pick axes & more ice tools today. Feb 23, 2021 · Black Diamond's revised Raven Pro features a number of updates over the previous version. Jan 28, 2022 · With products in our fleet ranging in price, there's a significant difference between the products we tested. Mar 21, 2019 · The Petzl Glacier is a fantastic ice axe for an excellent price and was nearly the winner of our OutdoorGearLab Best Buy award. With the benefit of the aluminium shaft, it cuts down on the weight without sacrificing the strength of the axe. Ice axes have a rich history and play a crucial role in mountaineering and glacier travel. The Raven Pro, along with the rest of the Raven family, are among the most comfortable ice axes to carry. In The Field: I had been looking for a dependable mountaineering ice axe and decided on the gold standard Black Diamond Raven. We feel the Black Diamond Raven is the best axe you can buy for the money. Feb 2, 2022 · I use a Black Diamond Raven Ice axe in winter when climbing mountains. Feb 17, 2025 · Other than its price, the Black Diamond Raven Pro - a classic ice axe with some welcome updates - has just two minor downsides. . Oct 9, 2014 · It is a fantastic lightweight axe with a stainless steel pick that actually works in ice, and an adze that is very effective in chopping steps. Nov 10, 2021 · Lucy Wallace tests the Black Diamond Raven with Grip on the hill as part of her review of the best walking axes for 2021. While the Chouinard was a classic, the Raven with Grip feels much more refined and efficient. The holes in the middle of the head and adze give lots of options for creating snow belays too. Jul 25, 2025 · Compared to my previous ice axe, a vintage Chouinard, the Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe With Grip offers a significant improvement in terms of weight, grip comfort, and overall performance. The only downside while riding is the axe is very sharp, so while attached to your backcountry pack make sure you have Mar 16, 2025 · The original Black Diamond Raven Pro, with a straight shaft and classically curved stainless steel head, has been my personal ice axe of choice for the last nine years. Explore Black Diamond's ice & alpine climbing equipment for your next mountain adventure. Sitting in Black Diamond's line-up between the mountaineering-oriented Swift and the more sedate Raven, the Raven Pro is well suited to snowy Mar 21, 2019 · The Black Diamond Venom is a modular ice axe that is geared towards steep snow climbs, moderate water ice, and complex glacier routes. Feb 14, 2015 · Read our review of the Black Diamond Raven Pro, a very lightweight ice axe with a sleek design that's good for hillwalking. It has a straight shaft and head with a very sharp triangular point at the tip. It's gained a kinked shaft and lost a bit of weight, and together with some smaller refinements these changes add up to make a better, more ergonomic axe. lnnkig tobp hdr gdppzl sqx wavrlmu jshoily rcutl fmbf hrzai