A pictoral representation of the UIAA-151 and EN-568 standards for ice screws.
Aero Lite 16cm
Description
The AERO LITE are the lightest ice screws on the market, with an innovative 3-tooth steel bit for technical mountaineering.
They are available in 5 lengths. They use a stainless steel, 3 tooth tip, which allows for easy placement in all conditions.
The body and the hanger are made of aluminum to minimize weight.
The foldable crank is made of stainless steel.
The diameter of the screws is larger than the current ones on the market.
This makes it possible to safely use existing anchor holes. A color code makes to quick identification of the different lengths.
These are the ideal screws for technical routes where performance and lightness are key points.
Retail price
US$ 89.95
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Weight (grams / ounces) Weight (g / oz)In grams and ounces, the weight, as stated by the manufacturer / brand. | 72 g / 2.53 oz |
Length (cm)Length (cm)Ice screws range between 6 - 30 cm. Generally speaking the sizes can be thought of as: Short - 13 cm and belowShort screws (“shorties” or “stubbies”) are for thin ice found on harder ice climbs and/or in crappy conditions. Medium - 14 - 17 cmWith ideal conditions climbers will be able to plug medium-sized screws with no problem. They have a nice weight to length balance. Long - 18 cm and aboveLong screws are most often used as anchors or in crappy ice conditions where they can go deep to find the real ice below. Mountaineers may also prefer long screws as they can gain better purchase in less than ideal ice and have less chance of melting out. How Many To CarryThere is no standard of how many screws to carry of each size. It will vary depending on where you’re climbing, your style of climbing and what level you’re climbing at. Some climbers will get a variety of the sizes, while others might get a majority of medium screws, a few shorties for thin spots and some long screws for anchors and bomber placements. Note: The amount of threading on each screw does not change even when the overall length changes (exception: e-climbs screws). |
16 cm |
Feature(s)FeaturesNo Handle / KnobAbout 30% of the options 
Pros: Cheaper Cons: No “speed” handle/knob for faster threading Note: This is not currently a feature to filter on (coming soon), but is important to see the difference. Handle (non-fold)About 24% of the options 
Pros: There is an extra “handle” or “knob” for faster screw threading. Cheaper than folding versions. Cons: Some of the knobs stick out substantially and could cause the rope or draws to get caught on the lengthened handle. Handle (folding)Around 42% of the options 
Pros: Foldable handle allows for quick threading and reduces snagging potential by folding out of the way. Cons: More expensive. Color CodingNearly 70% of the screws are color-coded, and this represents nearly all of the screws that have handles/knobs (color coding can also be on the hanger or the tube itself). 
Pros: Like on cams, color-coding makes for faster size identification. Cons: Generally color coding only comes on more expensive screws (with handles) There are 7 brands that follow red, yellow, blue, gray, green as a small to large standard, but that is not consistent across the industry. Sewn Sling (Pre-Attached to the Hanger)
Pro: You don’t have to carry quickdraws, so it saves weight and speed of clipping. Con: The length of this sling may not be ideal and it is not adjustable 2 Clip Points on the Hanger
Pro: More clipping options, especially ones that are closer to the ice to reduce leverage in a fall situation. Con: This comes standard on only a few screws so your options are limited. On some configurations this will also make the hanger much larger. Reverse Threading
This is the most controversial feature. Grivel and CAMP (which make up 30% of the ice screw market) use reverse threading on all of their screws and claim that this angle is more effective at spreading an impact load across ice. If you are interested in the merits of the “reverse thread” design, click to see photos of the concrete tests (reverse threading pulls out more concrete than standard threading) and read about the concerns of testing in concrete. Read discussion of the engineering that goes into thread design and the questioning of straight pulls while testing to judge if reverse threading would make a [significant] difference in the event of a fall on ice. |
Folding Handle Color Coding |
Strength (kn)Strength (kN)In kilonewtons, the strength as stated by the manufacturer / brand. |
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MaterialsMaterialsHangerThe material of the ice screw hanger (what you'd be clipping a carabiner into). Expect Stainless steel or aluminum here. TubeThe material of the tube of the ice screw (aka shaft). Most often it'll be Chromoly or steel but Grivel, Petzl and e-climb (and perhaps others) offer an aluminum tube ice screw option. Nearly 90% of ice screws are made from steel because steel is stronger and more durable. Aluminum screws will dull and wear out much faster and are not designed for crag-style ice climbing. They are specialty ice screws best used for fast and light ascents. TeethThe material of the teeth. Most often the tube material and the teeth material will be the same (e-climb and Petzl are exceptions). Often, screws with aluminum tubes will have steel teeth to help with durability. | Hanger: Forged Aluminum Tube: Aluminum Teeth: Stainless Steel |
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. Ice screws are not certifiable below 10cm. Learn MoreRock and Ice Certifications Guide |
CE, EN, UIAA |
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Aero Lite Ice Screws