The Himalyan is a great general purpose axe; much more durable and capable (heavier) than it's little brother the Shuksan (REI Mountain II) when pounding pickets or the occasional use as a technical tool. It doesn't grip like an actual ice tool and it's too heavy if it spends more time on your pack than on the ice/snow; it's a nice compromise if you only want/need one axe.

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This axe is heavy and expensive. However, it is extremely solid. I hear tat SMC finally got rid of the annoying bump on the head design, good for them. This is a good axe, but save your money and by the REI Mountain Axe they are identical, wish I'd known that a while back. This axe isn't really worth the $100+ pricetag, but it is a solid performer for genral mountaineering and heavy enough to stick on more vertical terrain.

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black diamond alpamayo, grivel's,charlet moser vanoise