Swift Ice Axe Review

A modern evolution of a classic mountaineering piolet style axe.

Swift ice axe review.

The flicklock pommel can easily be moved or removed if you wish. With an adjustable pommel and a t rating the black diamond swift takes mountaineering piolets into the 21st century. The black diamond swift takes the classic mountaneering piolet into the 21st century. The technical curved profile can be pressed into service in steep couloirs and technical sections of sno.

No model is as much of a blend between a traditional ice axe and an ice tool than the petzl sum tec and that s a good thing. As the only t rated mountaineering axe in black diamond s line the swift combines insane strength with remarkable lightness to help you make short work of front pointing up hard snow or traversing technical ridges into ski lines. The burliest of our piolets and our only t rated piolet the swift is the ultimate in classic mountaineering tools. The swift s burly oversized spike made it one of the easier models to plug vertically into the snow.

One piece hot forged stainless steel head construction ergonomic shaft and technical profile for performance in technical snow sections and the. It s a classic ice axe with a modern design that makes it great all around gear for classic mountaineering and alpine climbing. It features a one piece forged stainless steel head and a t rated curved shaft. It is lightweight comfortable to carry and use and performs well during self arrests and in steep terrain.

The petzl summit ice axe is our editors choice for the best ice axe. What really sets the swift apart. In this special edition i review the black diamond raven ice axe and take it to the cliffs near my side to see how well it fairs in sandy coastal bluffs. The number of different modular headed ice axes has increased in the past few years and manufacturers are responding to this rapidly growing hybrid category.

The sum tec is the brainchild of the late ueli steck along.