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Ice Rock Idol Ice Axe
  • Ice Rock Idol Ice Axe
  • Ice Rock Idol Ice Axe Head
  • Ice Rock Idol Ice Axe Pick

Idol

Rating

My vote: None ( 5.6 avg )

Description

The lightest ice axe in its class is the best option for ski touring, free ride and any mountaineering activity where the weight plays a key role. TITANIUM adze and tip in combination with CARBON-FIBER shaft ensure strong durability and light weight at the same time. Carbon-fiber shaft with unique geometry makes chopping footsteps an easy task. The shaft and steel pick satisfy EN Type B requirements.

Weight (g / oz)

Weight (g / oz)

In grams and ounces, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand.

Since the most common ice axe length is 50cm that is the main length that we reference.

When available, we list the weight for each length here.

188 g / 6.63 oz­
Best Use

Best Use

Ultralight Mountaineering

The lightest axes available, used most for ski mountaineering, adventure racing, and other "go light" ascents. 350 grams is usually the max weight. The decreased weight means they are axes are built for snow missions, not ice.

Mountaineering

This is the most common type of snow mountaineering axe. These axes are above 350 grams and are a great balance of weight and durability. There may be a grip and they will always have an adze head (and no matching hammer pair). These axes are great for snow and can handle chopping steps in ice, or other small ice scenarios.

Technical Mountaineering

These axes are for tougher conditions when the majority of climbing is on snow, but the axe needs to be able to handle a short ice wall. They generally have a bent shaft and T-rated (more technical) pick. Often these beefier axes will have a rubberized grip and they may have a matching adze and hammer version. They're basically the offspring of an ice axe and ice tool.

Ultralight Mountaineering
Length Options (cm)

Length Options (cm)

Measured in centimeters, the best length is based on your height and ape index (arm length). Holding the axe in your hand, the spike (sharp end) of the axe should arrive around your shin. At the max size, it should go to your ankle.

Two people of the same height could need a different sized axe, based on arm length (t-rex vs monkey). If in-between sizes, our bias is towards sizing shorter.

Rule of Thumb

  • Under 5'6" 50cm
  • 5'6" to 5'8" 50-55cm
  • 5'9" to 6'0" 50-60cm
  • 6'1" to 6'4" 55-65cm
  • Over 6'4" 60-70cm

Worth Considering

There are other resources online that suggest a longer axe is a plus and that you should measure below the ankle. We absolutely disagree. A longer axe means you'll be tempted to use it as a trekking pole (which will put you off balance), or you'll have to give your arm a huge workout just to lift it in and out of the snow. Ice axes are meant to be used on the uphill side, which is already much higher.

50 cm
Head Details

Head Details

This refers to the back of the ice axe head (opposite the pick).

For ice axes, adze's are (by far) the most common. An adze will allow you to break ice by chopping or shoveling in a specific area, and they also provide more room to hold on to the head than a hammer does. This grip helps for arresting too.

Hammers are usually only used as a pair with an adze on the other axe (hammer's are much more common in ice tools than ice axes). A hammer uses a more broad force to break ice bulges.

Adze­
Ice Rating

Ice Rating

The certified rating of the pick and the shaft. These ratings might not match each other.

There are only 2 possible shaft ratings:

B / Type 1 / CEN-B: Basic
T / Type 2 / CEN-T: Technical

Pick: B / Type 1
Shaft: B / Type 1
Materials

Materials

The materials, as stated by the manufacturer / brand, of the pick, head, shaft and grip.

Pick: Steel Alloy
­Shaft: Carbon-Fiber
­
Certification

Certifications

The main climbing gear certifications are CE and UIAA--and normally the UIAA creates the rules that the CE body also supports. When possible, we try to list all the certifications the product carries.

To sell a climbing product in Europe, the device must be CE certified. There are no official requirements to sell climbing gear in the US. The UIAA certification is a voluntary process.

For ice axes, there is a separate certification for the pick and the shaft.

Learn More

Rock and Ice Certifications Guide
EN
Warranty

Warranty

This isn't super common, but sometimes the manufacturers will state a specific warranty such as "3 years against manufacturer defects"

­
AVG RATING
5.52
( 5.5 avg )
Rating
5.04
( 5 avg )

Not bad. Needs a sliding handrest

Pros
Incredibly light
Cons
The handrest is bad
Familiarity
I’ve used it a few of times

This axe is good for general mountaineering when you're counting grams.  Great for glacier access to rock climbing and similar situations.  The only reason it is not perfect is that the finger/hand rest that comes as an accessory does not slide up and down the shaft.  It affixes with a bolt that

you tighten with a hex wrench.  You can adjust the position of the rest, but you have to do it with a hex wrench.  

Blue Ice and Grivel both have rests that can be easily and quickly adjusted without tools.  The designers should have made their hand rest like these.  

Rating
6
( 6 avg )

Not just light weight also nicely engineered with eye for details

Pros
190 G makes it the super light weight in its B rated class.
The carbon fiber gives isolation for your hands since it doesn't conduct the cold like a alloy would.
The adze and spike are made out of titanium so no need to sharpen these for a long time
The pick is Carbon steel that makes it easy sharpen when needed.
Cons
The adze and spike are titanium so very hard to sharpen.
Carbon fiber is know to be fragile so I keep begin afraid to damage the tool.
Familiarity
I’ve used it a bunch

Lovely made tool designed with a keen eye on details.

It so light you think it must some sort of toy. So no excuse to not bring it when going back country.

 

 

Lovely made tool designed with a keen eye on details.

It so light you think it must some sort of toy. So no excuse to not bring it when going back country.

 

 

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