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Would you like to go glacier hiking, to discover ice climbing or to go ski mountaineering? All these activities require specific equipment. The new discipline in vogue, Dry Tooling, also requires very specific ice axes and blades.
Indeed, evolving on a glacier terrain will require you to equip yourself witha good pair of crampons and one or two ice axes. In addition, you will need to purchase a few useful accessories such as ice screws or a rescue kit,
The choice of your ice axe will depend on your mountaineering activities.
An ice axe is designed for use in different types of glacier terrain. Each one obviously has its own preferred area. Their versatility means that they can also be used for complementary purposes, which are necessarily encountered during mountain outings.
The ice axe often has a head known as a "breakdown", perfect for cutting steps or cleaning snow. For ice climbing or dry climbing, it is advisable to use a "hammer" head. It is used to plant pitons.
For a non-technical snow and ice run where you want to use the axe as a walking stick and carve a few steps in hard snow, opt for a straight or slightly curved axe with slightly rounded teeth. The right size ? arm outstretched, the tip should reach the ankle.
Leading models : Swift by Black Diamond, Alpina by Camp
Opt for a "light ice axe", made of aluminium or light alloys. It can be used as a rescue axe. Petzl's lightweight ice axes are ideal.
Leading models: Raven by Black Diamond, Ride by Petzl
For more technical snow or ice climbing, choose an "all-terrain mountaineering axe". This will allow you to practice all the classic and ice techniques: ice axe, ice axe, anchor axe, pole or traction. A fairly heavy and robust ice axe. Its head has very sharp teeth, a thin blade and a wide tip. Its shaft is slightly curved and often has a gripping and insulating coating on the lower part of the shaft. The size of the axe is smaller than that of a hiking axe.
Leading models: Sum'Tec by Petzl, Viper by Black Diamond, venom by Black Diamond
For ice climbing or steep slope enthusiasts, you need a "technical ice axe". This axe has a very curved shaft that allows for optimal striking, effective anchoring and unanchoring. The blades are often interchangeable to adapt to different ice conditions. It is used in pairs. With new blades, you can also use it to practice dry tooling.
Leading models: Petzl's Nomic, Black Diamond's Cobra or Camp's X dream
Different criteria should be taken into consideration in order to select the most suitable crampons.
10 or 12 spikes
Apart from a few 10-point crampons, 12-point crampons are the norm in snowy and glacial terrain.
The 12-point crampon requires more technical front points. These crampons are equipped with holding points for the descent and vertical points.
Mono points
For ice climbing or dry tooling, there are "mono point" crampons with 10 lateral points and 1 frontal point.
The mono point will be much more precise in planting. It allows a movement similar to climbing. It splits the ice less with a better penetration of the tooth.
To find all types of crampons the Camp brand of crampons offers a wide choice!
Strap system The most versatile system, which allows you to attach your crampons to all types of shoes.
Automatic system The automatic system consists of a front steel wire and a heel strap. This system requires shoes with a front and rear overhang.
Semi-automatic system combines the heel piece of the automatic system with the front part of a strap system. It allows you to attach shoes without a front overhang, but with a rear overhang.
Glacier hiking: Vasak by Petzl, Contact by Black Diamond, Stalker by Camp
Ski mountaineering: Petzl Leopard, Petzl Irvis, Black Diamond Neve Pro, Camp Skimo
Technical mountaineering: Petzl's Sarken, Salewa's Alpinist, Black Diamond's Sabretooth
Ice climbing: Petzl's lynx, Black Diamond's cyborg, Camp's alpinist tech
In addition to ice axes and crampons, discover in this category Ice axes/crampons the necessary equipment for glacier climbing such as: ice screws, ice hooks or protections for your ice axes and crampons. These accessories are available at the climbing and mountaineering brand Mammut
Indeed alpinstore offers a wide selection of ice screws as well as accessories to store and preserve your equipment. You will find crampon bags, ice axe bags, ice axe tip protectors and spare blades for your ice axes.
With Alpinstore you will have the right equipment for your ascents!