Tech Machine 2018
Description
From all day ice to alpine mixed lines to single pitch pillars, you need a tool that can handle any type of terrain with great all around performance. The Tech Machine's geometry offers great swings from steep cauliflower ice to calf destroying lower angle romps. An aggressive pick angle with a long first tooth allows secure hooking on edges and hot forging gives great durability while torquing in cracks on mixed terrain. The Tech Machine features a dual density handle with multiple grip options, allowing you to shake out when pumped or choke up to get an extended reach. It's Cyclops eye on the head of the axe allows for easy racking on ice clippers, carabiners or other racking methods.
Retail price
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Weight (g / oz) Weight (g / oz)In grams and ounces, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer/brand. The weight is the packaged weight. If there are differences in weight (due to optional accessories) we'll note them here. | 635 g / 22.40 oz |
| Length (cm) | 49 cm |
| Head Details | No adze or hammer (pair: Tech Machine Adze
Tech Machine Hammer
) 2 Screw adjustment |
| Ice Rating | Shaft: T / Type 2 |
| Picks | Other Picks Available: Ice Plus Blade Dry Plus |
Pommel & GripPommel & GripUpper PommelFixed: An upper pommel that is fixed in place (it cannot move up/down the shaft nor can it be taken off). Adjustable: An upper pommel that can move up and down the shaft. Removable & Adjustable: An upper pommel that is completely removable and also adjustable. Removeable: An upper pommel that is either on or off (it cannot move up/down the shaft). None: If there is no upper pommel that comes standard (there may or may not be options to buy separately). Lower PommelFixed: A lower pommel that is fixed in place (the angle cannot be changed nor can it be taken off). Adjustable: A lower pommel that can change angle or location on the tool. Removable: When the lower pommel can be removed but not adjusted. None: If there is no lower pommel that comes standard (there may or may not be options to buy separately). | Upper Pommel: Fixed Lower Pommel: Fixed Grip Size: Adjustable |
| Materials | Head: Chromolly Steel Grip: Rubber + Nylon |
CertificationCertificationsThe 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. Learn MoreRock and Ice Certifications Guide |
CE, UIAA |
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After three months of use the Tech Machines are holding up brilliantly. I’ve loved climbing with them and my old Nomics have gone into retirement. There are the usual scuffs and scratches but no damage as such. The picks have as always proved bomb proof and required the minimum of touching up with a file. The multilayer handle is holding up equally well. One improvement I’d like to see is the metal of the spike extended to stand proud of the lower finger rest slightly so that when the tool is resting on rock or ice the plastic is protected – if this metal was serrated it would also add a bit of grip/stability too.
The absolutely brilliant new Tech Machine Ice Axes from Grivel are, well, brilliant. We've passed them round 5 different testers so far this season and everyone has come back with a resoundingly positive response. These axes work, and they work well.
The secret of the Tech Machine’s success is ... well, if I knew, it wouldn’t be a secret. My best guess is that the excellent performance involves the harmonious combination of the pick, which tapers from a meaty 5mm down to a whisker-thin 2.7mm at the tip (for the ice pick, the thinnest on the market), to the curved shaft and grip. The sum of the parts is easy to swing, clears ice bulges and doesn’t kick itself off rock holds. In its class, the tool feels similar to the Petzl Nomic (1 pound 5 ounces without head weights) and the BD Fusion (1 pound 7 ounces). The aluminum-headed Tech Machine is 1 pound 7 ounces and has a large Cyclops eye that is easy to clip or rack.
When testing this tool side by side with other high-end ice models at the 2014 Bozeman Ice Festival, one tester noticed the brilliant design immediately when the Tech Machine stuck faster and removed easier than any other tool. “I could always rely on this for a sturdy placement, and I never had to struggle to remove it, even with wonderfully deep sticks,” she said. That’s thanks to a thoughtful structure that combines a flatter (read: less curved) pick head with a curved shaft and the real kicker: a handle that’s angled farther backward, meaning the wrist is naturally cocked back when holding the tool. What this does is put more leverage into every swing and into every time you lift the tool up to remove it. The less aggressive pick shape also helped to make extracting the ice tool faster and easier. “Putting the increased angle in the handle itself and not the shaft or pick is brilliant, as you get more leverage and swinging action with every move in or out of the ice.” Chromolly steel throughout the tool means it’s strong and durable, and a pointer finger rest provided a lot more precision for finding existing pick holes on delicate ice. The slight curve in the handle also made it more ergonomic and comfortable to hold.