Head to Head: DMM Cortex vs Black Diamond Hydra Ice Axes

If you're looking for a fresh set of higher-end technical ice tools, two much-discussed models new this season are bound to turn your head. Enter the Black Diamond Hydra - a highly refined and versatile tool - and the DMM Cortex - a strikingly burly yet lightweight workhorse. Both seem destined to become familiar sights on winter crags in the coming seasons, but which is the axe for you? We put them to the test this winter to see how they stack up for UK climbers.