Mountain Technology Alpine Ice Axe

The Alpine Ice Axe with it's slightly curved adze is perfect for cutting steps. The aggresively curved head gives you the best possible chance to penetrate even the hardest ice as well as providing reliable arresting. This Mountain Technology axe has a steel shaft and Nickel chrome head section for increased durability and it comes complete with Mountain Technology leash. The Alpine axe weighs in at just under 600 grams and is available in 50 or 55 centimetre shaft lengths.

Site	Price	Postage	Total
	£83.99	£4.50	£88.49

   User Reviews

General comments: This axe is the benchmark easy alpine axe and has been used by myself for a few alpine routes and in Scotland/Wales without any problems at all. For the purpose it's designed for, this axe is great. It's really an axe for use as a hybrid between a walking and technical climbing axe. The Alpine Axe can be swung as easily as it can be used for self-arresting or chopping steps. The shaft is T-rated so is fine as an anchor for buried axe-belays, essential for winter climbing. The adze is hugh and ideal for digging platforms for a buried axe or for step-cutting duties. It also has a grip on the shaft making it feel secure in the hand when swung, but doesn't obstruct when trying to plunge the axe, the straight shaft is perfect for plunging into even hard snow, thanks in part to the ferrule at the bottom, it's serrated and seems to plunge better than most. The pick of the axe seems quite "toothy" and bites into the snow and ice well, yet provides reasonably smooth Ice-axe braking. The axe came with a leash, though in the alps I took it off as it's not strictly necessary on an axe like this. Saying that, I did apprectiate it when I put it back on to climb some steep glacial ice. However, steep ice is not what this axe is designed for although it is perfectly usable for short pitches. The shaft is straight and so you end up with very bruised knuckles if you climb steep pitches, as I found out. Ow! All in all, this axe is great, probably as good in some ways as a Grivel Air Tech Evo, the slight extra weight helps when swinging the axe. Would perhaps prefer the interchangable pick offered by an axe like DMM raptor, but as an alpine axe its great. Highly reccommended as a first axe.

Pros: Straight shaft nice to plunge. Pick provides smooth ice-axe braking. Grip on shaft nice and well grippy. Not too heavy. Ideal length, 50cm or 60cm.

Cons: No changable pick. Leash not brilliant but does the job.

General comments: As far as general mountaineering axes are concerned this is by far one of the best on the market. Lightweight and well balanced, ideal for Alpine mountaineering and grade I/II Scottish. The shaft is T-rated so it can be used for a whole variety of axe belays. The drooped pick is ideal for self arrest and I have used mine a number of times to arrest slips. For a drooped pick it penetrates surprisingly well into ice too. The only problem with mountaineering axes in general is that if you damage or wear out the pick/adze its a whole new axe instead of a modular tool where you simply buy new picks. This however is not a criticism of the Mountain Technology Alpine axe in particular, just a generalised opinion.

Pros: A very important plus for me is that Mountain Technology make a hammer version of this axe to go with the adze version so you can have a really effective set of axes for up to grade III climbing. The shaft spike is hardy and robust for plunging and the shaft would probably hold a double decker bus such as the robust construction. Adze is wide and slightly curved and is excellent for cutting steps. Pick is usable on ice too, which for a general mountaineering axe is a bonus.

Cons: Leashes like the majority on the market aren't great. To get out of in a hurry is an art form, which,mid epic, is not what you need. The nickel coating on the pick began to wear away after a time on mine and sometimes I have to rub it down with oil and wire wool to remove a bit of corrosion. Small price to pay though.

General comments: Classic retro mountaineering axe with a forged one piece head, i've used this as my winter waking axe but has taken me up Grade IIIs and I've seen them used on Norwiegen Steep Ice! Tough work all the same. I had a Grival Eagle before which i hated as it was a bit radical. The MtnTech has been great. Solid 'T' rated shaft, Adze is best for steep cutting on the market, decent rubber grip, forged head is good to hold, with mitts the adze is comfortable to hold, self arresting is great thanks to the slightly agressive pick. My axe is actually the 'Techinical' axe which is the same as the Alpine axe but with a solid Adze, designed for sloshly scottish snow, where as the alpine version has a hole to cut down weight. Not much thou. Overall I know this axe will last me many years as it just inspires cnfidence. I use a DMM leash with mine but even still I hope to never drop it as they aren't made anymore so get one now while there is still some about. Also quite nice to think it was made in Glencoe. :)

Pros: Super strong, One piece forged head with great pick and stunning adze, Retro look, Nice simple design, Well made, unlike some of mtn other gear, emmm. Hand grip is quite effective for an old axe Made in Scotland

Cons: Heavy when compared to new fancy axes. - Not by much but. Leashes really are gash Not made any more :(

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