 Hi folks, Can anyone recommend a good grip tape for an ice axe, the local shops dont seem to have anything appropiate. Cheers, Stephen
|
 |
 Use self amalgamating rubberised tape
|
|
Cheers Frank 
|
|
Handlebar tape might be worth a punt - see these - the cork would be my pick - but I can't see how any tape would survive very long plunging the shaft into hard snow, getting scagged by rocks etc. Wrap it towards the spike end to give it the best chance of staying put.
|
| Edited: 27/11/10 16:49 |
 Bar tape would, I think, be entirely likely to part company at just the wrong moment...
|
|
|
|
| Edited: 27/11/10 17:28 |
Or some large diameter heat shrink rubber and a hairdryer
|
|
As I have just done. Cycle inner tube . Road size will fit nicely. A squirt of WD40 lubricates on then leave the inside sticky to grip. Or as we did in the old days. Surfboard wax. Bit of a 1 day wonder though.
|
|
Just remembered. In the past i superglued a spiral of thing string to an axe then applied the inner tube. Great job
|
|
 what matt said.
beat me to it by 2 mins.
|
|
twice! 
|
|
 I can highly recommend the cycle inner tube grip too. You want one that takes you a good 10 mins of struggle to get on. That way it is tight enough so that it doesn't move too easily when plunging into snow or swinging the axe. I use a 28/32 width tube as I find the offroad tubes (anything over 37mm) go on too easily and also come off or move when used in anger. Also, there is usually enough chalk in the tube so that it can be slid up the shaft without resorting to oiling. Others have reported that the rubber splits quite easily in the very cold when rubbed up against sharp rock. I've not had the problem, but maybe I've just been lucky. Using other diameter tubes, I also make a protective storage / transport cover for the pick and adze, using 18/25 and 37/42 tubes respecively, though a wider tube would be better for the adze (I just don't have a bike with real off road tyres). I cut these off an inch or so too long, so there is a bit of rubber flapping on the end to ensure the metal can not poke through. Better than paying for it, as I've always got a few inner tubes too holed to be of use on a cycle.
|
|
 Well I'm here now so i will say it too - use an old inner tube.
|
|
Hi folks, Thanks very much for the info, I will check out the Grip tape and the inners. Cheers, Stephen
|
|
I'd like to add that I stumbled across this site and tried the above method using the inner tube, and it worked GREAT!
Some additional info: I have a Raven Pro Ice Axe and used the REI Novara 26-32 Presta inner tube. It went on the ice axe a bit too easily, so I washed out the metallic powder on the inside of the inner tube, dried it out, then put it on the ice axe. I found that a 6" strip turned into 8.5" or so when on the ice axe (stretched of course). You can also rotate the inner tube so that the vertical lines become somewhat horizontal and add grip.
I think you *might* be able to try a 20-25 tube for it if you really don't mind spending some extra time and effort getting it on. This is a really common ice axe, so if you have the Raven Pro you may want to give those dimensions a shot instead. It will take some effort to get it on, but it'll be more solid once you do.
Thanks a bunch for the tip!!
|
| Edited: 29/12/11 08:28 |
And it just occurred to me how phallic all of this discussion is. But hey, it's good info none the less.
|
|
