Issue link: http://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25065
Grivel THE MACHINE ICE AXE One of the biggest advancements in waterfall ice axe design. the Machine boasts a long list of features advantageous to the hard-core ice climber. It was also the axe 3 of choice at the Winter X Games. An aluminum. 155g dampener softens the rebound and vibration of placing the axe. The Machine features the Liberty Leash. allowing you to de-clip from the axe while the neoprene leash stays secured to your wrist making re-clipping fast and easy. The machine also features a ski-pole-like grip and a spike at the bottom of the axe that protects your fingers from getting smashed. Grivel, 800-451-5127; $275.00. Charlet MOSER THE AXAR A hybrid of the Pulsar and the Quasar. the Axar is lightweight and multi-purpose. bent shaft clearance and head design facilitate hooking and anchoring; the spe cially-designed spike protects the knuckles and allows the shaft to be plunged for alpine security. Charlet Moser, 603-356-5590; $235.00. 6 Simond THE PITBULL CRAMPON The Pitbull allows climbers to customize their crampon to their boots. their personal climbing preferences and the quality of the ice they're about to climb. Simond designed the Pitbull to take three different types of teeth, GE (Glace Extreme) teeth are straight points designed for frozen waterfall ice. ADS (Activa Diagonal System) teeth are 45-degree points oriented towards mixed ice and snow. and frozen waterfall ice. Mono-point is a single tooth designed for mixed and frozen waterfall ice and is especially good for dry tooling. All three types of teeth can be adjusted to varying lengths with a washer/bolt system. Bluewa1er, 770-834-7515, disfributes Simond products in the US; $184.00. ""'. _ .... "ew last year. Grivel's adze replacement is the first blade specifically made hooking rock and. because of its tapered design. hooking into cracks of different sizes. Grivel, 800-451-5127; $35.00. rd is one of the only harnesses on the lly designed for winter alpine climbing. It has of adjustment. allowing the climber to expand l'rcmtr·"d its size depending on the amount of clothing bei Its gear loops are designed to hold ice tools and to the bottom of the waist belt enabling easier ===--tn gear when wearing a jacket. But perhaps its coolest is the removable leg loops. When mother nature calls Ip��-th"r,-rfp�lr,,�,lp conditions. you can answer that call having to remove the whole harness. Simply . Black Diamond, 801-278-5552; $78.50. revolutionary new design in ice screws could make placing protection the easiest thing you do while climbing. This new screw has a small flip-out handle attached to the screw's hanger. which makes spinning these babies into the hardest ice easy and efficient. Black Diamond, 801-278-5552; $52.50. Bluewater ICEFLOSS ROPE Each year it seems climbing rope gets thinner and thinner. This year Bluewater has topped the bunch with a ridiculously thin 8.0mm twin rope made specifically for waterfall ice climbing. It's bomber. it's light. and you could probably pack it into a small brown paper bag. Bluewa1er, 770-834-7515; 37m: $96.50 / 60m: $156.49.