Petzl QUARK

The updated QUARK is a superb tool, that will climb equally well on ice, mixed and snow. Petzl seem to have ironed the key durability issues of the previous model. Whether you are an experienced winter climber looking to upgrade your existing tools, or an aspiring mountaineer looking for your first pair, the QUARK would be an excellent choice for a mid-range do-it-all winter tool. Whilst there are other cheaper tools available, the RRP of £210 per axe is comparable with heavier tools from other leading brands. I am not a fan of the movable griprest, or the trigrest, but the former can be ignored, and the latter can be easily removed, so this does nothing to detract from an otherwise brilliant tool. If you are looking for something that will take you from grade II to (at least) grade VII then this has to be one of the best choices available right now.