As far as ice hooks go, this is probably the best one out there. It's angle assists in driving it deeper into the ice. I would probably never trust any ice hook for protection. In my opinion, it's only real use is as a rest piece for when you're really pumped. I keep it attached to my belay loop and off to the side while doing tough leads. If I need to hang and relax, it's right there! Although I feel this is the best product of it's kind, I didn't give it 5 stars due to the overall usefulness of this product. I feel it is only useful for resting. It is useless as pro.

Customer Service

The people at Black Diamond have always been great with me. Whether it be questions about gear or a warranty item (I've only had one item to date - a busted pulley) they have always taken care of me well.

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Pika, Ushba