Nice axe, climbed WI5 with an Axar in the right hand, and a Grivel in the left...Good to place even in hard ice, to hook and to holster. In vertical ice I do smash my vingers and that hurts, but it could be. (lack of a good swing) I use the 4x4 pick, it is easy to place and to remove, You can make good strong placements with the Axar or easy soft hookings. I do not love the -free!- leash, it works fine and it's easy to handle, but its a little uncomfortable. But hey! you are not suppost to use them anyway...

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Grivel alp wing8

From snowy couloirs in the Sierra's to WI 5 in the Canadian Rockies, this tool has served me very well. It's probably not "the best" at any one thing, -for pure vertical ice, a tool like the Quark is probably a bit better, but the Axar works very well in a variety of conditions. I ditched the Safflock leashes that came with the tools and outfitted them with Black Diamond Android detachable leashes -much easier for placing screws on vertical terrain. Highly recommended.

I bought the hammer model to go with a CM Guide axe as a second tool for tech alpine terrain. The pick holds really well in a variety of icey goodness, and works well for hooking too. The straightness of the lower shaft does plunge reasonably well, but not amazingly. The angle of the lower handle took a bit of getting used to in relation to the hammer head for banging in pickets, but its far better than some tools. The leash works well, but I wasn;t useing it for hardcore waterice, so I wasn't hanging from it big time. The pommel is small, so the tool is easy to holster on a harness gearloop or on my hipbelt. Overall, I really liked this tool. Not too heavy, seems durable, swings well, comfy leash... all good.

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BD Shrike

i just started. it is awesome. great placment, felt great. best of all i used.

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BD rage. CM quark.

Fanatastic tools. The swing is pretty easy to get down, and the pick (after sufficient tuning) has good penetration. i like the low profile grip and straight lower shaft for alpine. However, as easy as the leashes are to loosen/tighten, they sould be more ergonomically designed, like some of the BDs or Yates leashes. They're not terribly comfortable to hang from. One other caveat- changing the picks on a pitch can be a real pain- one has to perfectly align the two holes for the bolts to go in. BD has a much easier system.

Customer Service

Don't know

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BD Cobra's, Prophets
Trango

A VERY well designed axe for all around climbing. Weight is distributed nicely to the axes head for better purchase. Teriffic shaft curve as is not to straight for leverage on waterfall or steep pitches but not to curved to smash you fingers and hands. The leash is awesome!!! Easy to put on and off with your teeth as to leave both hands free.Not to mention the shaft is a little wider than some so this axe is tough as nails to boot. Though Pricey they are worth every penny and is one AWESOME tool!

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Trango Captain Hooks, Chouinards

Have this and the Quasar. Axar is lighter, and because the grip is not as big as the Quasar, I am able to attach a snow picket to the handle to make an alpine axe. Big bonus when conservaing weight.
All around excellent ice/mixed tool.

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Quasar, and those good ole Luckys

charlet moser axar : very god tool, not quite as nice as the quasar,
but about what you would expect from a compromise between
apline and water ice. excellent price performance.

Similar Products Used:

lucky 007, charlet moser quasar