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Reviews

Swift

Black Diamond
Black Diamond Swift Ice Axe
6

Best ice axe ever made?

Pros
T rated - very tough and durable
Does everything well
Pommel is a great addition
Cons
Slightly heavier, but it's not really noticeable...
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton

Took it to Monte Rosa and Mont Blanc in 2024. Heavily abused it as a drytooling axe, bashing to the rocks, crack placements, hanging on it in the rocky Cresta del Soldato. Then tried it out as an ice tool on an almost vertical thin-ice-over-rock face of Corno Nero. It did everything great! The shaft looks all scratched after drytooling with it, the tip needs sharpening a bit, but this ice axe was never supposed to even be used like this. T rated, the balance is amazing, comfortable to carry, great in self-arresting, and the adjustable pommel is comfortable, stable and useful. 

When I think about everything I've put it through - it's just incredible and limitless! I would trade a lot of my gear, but not the Swift. So sad it's discontinued. But it should be in the hall of fame of BD products as the most versatile tool ever made.

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Ribelle HD Men

Scarpa
Scarpa Ribelle HD Men Mountaineering Boot
5.04

The boots i can't find a reason to get rid of

Pros
They do everything well
Very durable
Cons
Could be lighter
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton

These are the boots I'd choose if needed to keep a single pair for the rest of my life. Stiff enough, agile enough, light enough, warm enough - golden middle for most of mountaineering and climbing purposes. I am constantly looking for reasons to switch to something else, but keep returning to the Ribelle HDs.
I wish they would be a bit lighter, but understand that this would probably come at a cost of durability and warmth. So I just accept them as probably the best semi-auto crampon boot out there.

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Ice Axe Covers

Trango
Trango Ice Axe Covers
6

Best ice tool pick cover

Pros
Light
Durable
Easy to handle
Cons
Impossible to find in Europe
Familiarity
I’ve used it a ton

This is hands down the best ice tool pick cover on the market. Suede, durable, covers most of the pick for safe transportation, light, very easy to remove and put on. And looks just gorgeous on yellow/black Grivel tools :))
Sadly, I only managed to get my hands on one and can't find the second one to buy anywhere in Europe.

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