Grivel Tech Machine - Ice Tool Review

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.