UKC

Best first ice axe to get to use in uk.

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 jamescook 25 Feb 2014
Hi looking to buy some ice axes to use within th uk. Never used them before so any advice on which make or type would be grateful
 Blackmud 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

A popular versatile pair of axes for general climbing/walking/mountaineering in the UK is the DMM Fly.
 Billhook 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

It might depend on what you want them for? Walking or climbing?

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=578033
 peebles boy 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

Depends what you want them for - mostly walking/easy climbing? Harder climbing?

What's your budget?
 Run_Ross_Run 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

Depends what you want to use them for. What you thinking of doin with them. Easy gullies, ice, mixed?

If your looking to get 2nd hand, which some do as a starter, let me know as I have a set of DMM flys that im putting on ukc later for sale.

OP jamescook 25 Feb 2014
Bit of climing, for instant gullies In and around snowdonia
OP jamescook 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

And a bit of ice
 CurlyStevo 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

Personally I'd go for leashless axes (ie curved axes with a clip in point for lanyards on the pommel, a lower grip rest and possibly an upper grip rest), ideally you want something like the new Vipers or quarks, however previous gen axes that have been modded for leashless will also be fine.

I think the new Vipers are more robust than the new quarks, specifically there are durability issues with the upper grip rest on the new quarks.

Buying second hand has advantages that the axes are more likely to retain value than buying new in case you don't really get in to winter climbing.
 peachos 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

I started winter climbing last year on borrowed axes and purchased a set of Grivel Matrix Light from Go Outdoors for £160 recently. They still have them at £90 each and I'm sure you could find a 10% off flyer somewhere.

They're similar to the DMM Fly, so ideal for up to at least grade V I reckon. Not as technical as Vipers or Quarks, but would be better for use when walking/traversing.
 Hat Dude 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

IMO the axes recommended so far are a bit over the top for what you seem to be thinking of, with perhaps the exception of the Flys.

For low grade gullies the DMM Raptors might be more suited (you can always switch to the Fly picks if you plan on anything steeper).
 CurlyStevo 25 Feb 2014
In reply to Hat Dude:
I disagree - If the OP wants to climb ice not just grade 1 gullies. I don't see the point in buying a DMM Raptor to just need more axes yet again in a year or so. Personally I wouldn't buy a walking or Alpine axe unless either I intended to go to the Alps in summer OR I was intending to do a lot of winter walking.

When I started out I went straight for quarks, didn't buy any more axes for many years, never regretted it!
Post edited at 10:56
 CurlyStevo 25 Feb 2014
In reply to peachos:

Personally I would advise the OP only buy axes with geometry similar to the grivel matrix light or DMM fly second hand, as he will probably want to sell them in a few years anyway and upgrade to something better suited to leashless climbing.
 Hat Dude 25 Feb 2014
In reply to CurlyStevo:

The OP needs axes that are suitable for what he'll be doing now, not what he might progress to later; out and out technical axes are fantastic for steep ice/mixed but are not ideal for easier stuff.

Personally if I were doing a lot of winter stuff these days I'd want both.

If he can get 2nd hand great,
 CurlyStevo 25 Feb 2014
In reply to Hat Dude:

I don't think easy climbs are really any harder with tech axes. Better to future proof your self and get axes that will last for the long haul than keep spending money upgrading axes.

I'm a firm believer in making the hard ground easier rather than making the already easy ground easier (at the expense of making the harder ground even harder)
 jester69 25 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook:

Hi James

I have a pair of DMM Flys that I am going to sell - never used and bought from brand new. I am selling them for £150 for the pair - let me know if you're interested?

PS Am getting rid of them because I didn't know that a trapped nerve in my back would develop into Raynauds' Syndrome!!

Pete
 rossn 27 Feb 2014
In reply to Hat Dude:

I agree. I've got a collection of about 20 axes accumulated over the years from Stubai Aschenbrener (spelling might be off) to Terry's to Dmm Flys. But I recently bought the new Fly to replace my old ones and then realised that if I'd bought Raptors and Fly picks I would effectively have both for the price of the Fly (if you see where I'm coming from). So I think your idea gives scope for progression and Raptor is a good axe if you end up in the alps or for general mountaineering.

RN
 Bradders 27 Feb 2014
In reply to Hat Dude:

To be honest, I found that the more technical quarks were better at doing easier climbing, alpine stuff, walking stuff than the less technical flys, which is why i sold the flys.
However the quarks are on the expensive side, the grivel matrix lights are excellent all round axes though and probably on the cheaper side.
There is one substantial flaw that makes the DMM flys poor for easier angled routes.
Bradders
 david100 27 Feb 2014
In reply to jamescook: I started with matrix lights because they were cheap and have used them for 3 seasons up to grade 3 without any problems. I think it depends where you live and the activity you plan to use them for. If you live in Scotland and you will get the chance to do a lot of winter routes and progress quickly then go straight for technical tools. If you live in england and will use them more for a mix of walking and limited easy climbing in the lakes and wales then a more realistic choice like the dmm fly might be better. I love my matrix lights because they are really light and easy to place but on the flip side they lack the penetration of heavier axes.


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