Raptor
Description
The Raptor is our top of the line ice and mixed tool, and it’s revised and improved for the 2014/15 season. The grip is one-piece molded rubber for comfort, durability and reduced fatigue. The pick penetrates the hardest ice, cleans easily, and comes with removable weights for added versatility.
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. | 640 g / 22.58 oz Weight with pick: |
Length (cm) | |
Head Details | No adze or hammer 2 Screw adjustment |
Ice Rating | Pick: T / Type 2 Shaft: T / Type 2 |
Picks | Included with the tool: Raptor Pick - Ice Other Picks Available: Raptor Pick - Mixed |
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: 1 size fits all (not adjustable) |
Materials | Pick: Steel Head: Inverstment Cast Steel Shaft: Aluminum Grip: Molded Rubber |
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 |
I used the Raptor on 50+ pitches of ice last year, from alpine multi-pitch to ice cragging, and it held up to the beating just fine. The Raptors are neither light nor heavy, clocking in at around 20 ounces without the pick weights, which is industry average for a tool in their class. The pick weights come stock with the tool, though I removed them and never put them back on, mainly because the tool’s weight was distributed evenly without them.
“You get what you pay for” didn’t become an overused consumer cliché for nothing, but the Raptor will have you backtracking. “This tool competes with my go-to tools that cost almost twice as much as these,” one tester said after two weeks of ice and mixed climbing in the Northeast. “Now I feel silly for shelling out so much dough!” Testers loved the simple, streamlined design with a small curve in the shaft and an offset handle (meaning it’s angled slightly backward), which offered a solid amount of sticking power with each moderate swing. The pinky rest made the tools comfortable and easy to use without over-gripping, and the ergonomic double handle made matching hands and technical movement a breeze. Important update from last year: Designers made the main handle slightly larger so big-pawed ice climbers will fall in love with these, too. Nitpick: The removable head weights have Phillips- head screws; testers would have preferred the more standard, field-friendly, dime-size flathead.
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