Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe One Color, 75cm

"What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:""I've taken the Raven Ice Axe on everything from long glacier traverses to steep, icy couloirs, and it performs exactly as advertised for general mountaineering. The stainless steel head bites clean and holds, and the trapezoidal shaft cross-section gives you a surprisingly secure grip even in gloves. For anyone getting into alpine terrain, this is a reliable first axe that won't hold you back.""The high alpine has a way of demanding preparation you don't always know you need until you're already committed to the line. The Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe is the kind of gear that earns its place in your pack before the first step on glaciated terrain — a B-rated, general mountaineering axe rooted in Chouinard's original piolet design and updated for the demands of modern mountain travel. Black Diamond rebuilt the Raven from a strong foundation. The investment-cast stainless steel head features updated pick and adze geometry for secure placements on hard snow and ice, along with a carabiner-ready hole sized to fit any clip you're carrying. The trapezoidal aluminum shaft isn't just light — its cross-section locks the axe in your grip when you need to drive the spike or swing the pick with control. Available in sizes from 55 to 90 centimeters, it fits the full range of approaches from short couloir crossings to extended glacier routes where having the right tool simply isn't negotiable."

Price: $139.95 from Backcountry