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Ice Rock Spark Hammer Ice Tool
  • Ice Rock Spark Hammer Ice Tool
  • Ice Rock Spark Pick
  • Ice Rock Spark Pick
  • Ice Rock Spark Pick

Spark Hammer

Rating

My vote: None ( 3.9 avg )

Description

- The lightest ice axe in its class.
- Designed together with leading Russian ice climbers.

SPARK’s design was developed in partnership with our leading athletes from the Russian ice-climbing team. Thanks to this close collaboration plus the best materials, every element of SPARK serves the goal to become your most reliable tool of choice during difficult ice, mixed and dry-tooling routes.

The rubberised handle grip negates heat loss from the user's hand.

The carbon shaft of variable cross-section is much lighter than its aluminium analogues, making the SPARK, at 405g, the lightest ice axe in its class. The use of carbon material has many advantages, and beyond the obvious property of its weight to load ratio, we are exploiting its property to absorb mechanical vibration and provide thermal insulation thereby ensuring the maximum comfort to the user’s hands.

The shaft is designed with a variable cross-section, and tapering wall thickness. This design facilities the even distribution of load and ensures the axe can withstand extreme forces under dynamic load.

The head is made from ultra-light and super-strength aluminium alloy. Its unique shape in combination with it’s material properties allow it to withstand forces well beyond the quality requirements of CE/EN/UIAA. Precision production techniques allow the pick to be bolted to the head with a single screw-bolt.

The replaceable pick ( Type T) is 4,8 mm wide at the base which guarantees its durability. The pick is tapered at the tip down to 3.0 mm for easy penetration into the hardest ice. SPARK by default is supplied with a dry-tooling pick. The picks for ice-climbing are available on request.

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.

405 g / 14.29 oz­
Length (cm) 50 cm
Head Details Hammer (pair: Spark Adze )
2 Screw adjustment
Ice Rating Pick: T / Type 2
Shaft: T / Type 2
Picks ­­
Pommel & Grip

Pommel & Grip

Upper Pommel

Fixed: 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 Pommel

Fixed: 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: Removable & adjustable
Lower Pommel: Removeable
Grip Size: 1 size fits all (not adjustable)
Materials ­Head: Aluminum Alloy
Shaft: Sturdy Carbon-fiber
Grip: Rubber
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.

Learn More

Rock and Ice Certifications Guide
EN, UIAA
Ice Pair Reference
AVG RATING
1.02
( 1 avg )
Rating
1.02
( 1 avg )

Mostly false advertising

Pros
Okish tool for low grade ice
Cons
Trigger is made of brittle plastic and breaks easily
Advertised 405g is far from true. Mine are 465g each.
Picks are not interchangeable with Aspeed tools
Familiarity
I’ve used it a few of times

I was hoping Sparks to be an "alpine" version of Aspeeds. Something I would take on glaciers and/or very long <=WI3+ climbs. They disappoint quite a little bit. At 930g per pair they are only 40g lighter than Aspeed (compared to advertised 160g).

One of the triggers broke into pieces on their first climb. Otherwise they are a decent tool, but all things considered I would never pick them over aspeeds for any application. Imo, Eliteclimb Salamandras are far superior for applications sparks are theoretically made for. 

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