Kong Bonati/Climb Axe Ltd. Alipnlight

Review Date
November 28, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Craig(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Blaine

Price Paid:  $65.00 at the great adventure

Summary:
Love my axe. It's incredibly light. I always throw it in my pack if there is even the remotest possibility of crossing a snow field. It's only downsides are that it's not strong enough for any kind of ice climbing, which I don't do yet and the softer aluminum does wear fairly quickly. I do have to sharpen the pick regularly. I'd highly recommend it for people who primarily use an axe for, as a previous reviewer put it, "Just in case" situations.

Similar Products Used:
Old heavy SMC Axe.

Review Date
May 23, 2000

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: NateN(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from ann arbor mi

Summary:
An extremly light axe. Works well as a walking or "just in case" axe. Pick works well for self-arrest, spike needs to be sharpened a bit. Adze is only marginally useful for choping steps/holds. Head shows a lot of wear (used 2 yrs). Aluminium probably not tough enough for extended/technical use.

Similar Products Used:
REI mountain axe

Review Date
December 24, 1999

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Reviewed by: john(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from awol

Summary:
This is very light axe for it's length. I would give it a good rating of very low angle travel where the axe is carried quite a lot. Though kong says it's strong I can flex the pick by grabing each end in my hands and giving it a grunt. That makes me wonder. The aluminum head and spike would probably wear pretty fast against rock so I limit mine to a just-in-case or for short sections.

Similar Products Used:
Grivel Pamir