This is a great screw. I have only one complaint that has been echoed many places: the hanger really only accepts one carabiner. BD should change this so it can accept two. My ideal rack would contain mostly BD screws, and some of the Grivel 360's, which have an innnovative hanger that allows them to be placed in corners.

Second to the best screw I know (Grivel 360º) Pro: Sharp and stay sharp screw that is easy to rack and drive in ONCE started Cons: The hanger design mandate clearing of the surrounding ice in convoluted and chandelier ice Must get get leveler oriented in order to start the screw Must get the leveler oriented to the direction of fall Only one biner space on the eye All for all good supplementary screw, for the Grivel

Customer Service

one of the best around

Similar Products Used:

Grivel 360 OP

The first rule of ice screws is to always purchase them with a handle to screw them into the ice. What else to look for in an ice screw: Ease of placement, speed of placement and how well they rack. The Black Diamond Express Ice Screws set well and could be started within a couple of turns. Once set these screws where also fast to place. Flip open the tiny suicide knob and start twisting. Once the screw is in, flip the knob back down. Clip and go. Black Diamonds engineers must have had racking in mind when designing these beauties. They nestle together wonderfully on a single biner taking a minimal amount of space. At $40 per screws I find these the best value. I summary give these screws an A for placement, an A for racking, and an A for price. I highly suggest Black Diamonds Express Ice Screws.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

Grivel 360 Ultimate Ice Screw

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BD Express are the best I’ve used! BD Tubular 2nd best. Slick when maintained and kept sharp. I like having several short Express and Tubular screws ready on my rack ready for really steep, continuous sections of ice so I can get pro in quickly without getting pumped. At home after climbing, I clean, inspect (checking especially to see if any screws have a dull tooth from bottoming out on rock - if so, judiciously use of a file can resharpen the affected tooth/teeth), and ligthly oil with WD-40 each screw before packing them in sections of mountain bike inner tube.The inner tube keeps them from dulling each other and from damaging ropes, slings, packs, etc.. Tied into a bundle, they''re ready for storage or to be tossed into a pack for the approach to the next climb. If rappeling''s involved, I''ll carry a 22cm Express screw for ease of placing V-thread anchors..

Customer Service

Outstanding.

Similar Products Used:

Smiley’s and Omega Pacific tubular screws (pretty good when brand new)(have also tried the little add-‘em-on-yourself crank handles, but they don’t fold out of the way, make the screws a bit odd to ra

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When you''re serious about your ice climbing, then you''re serious about your ice protection. Look around the next time your at Ouray or Banff, the BD Express screw is best on the market. It''s simply the fastest available. Sure, other screws have cranks but those screws don''t rack as easily on your harness - which means they''re harder to handle with gloves on. Four lengths to choose from, all the same price. You can''t go wrong with these ones.

Customer Service

outstanding

Similar Products Used:

Smiley, Charlet and Grivel screws