Grivel Air Tech Evolution

Pete B
Reviewed: 14 August 2007

GREAT FOR THE ALPS

I used a pair of these (axe and hammer) this summer in the Alps and found them great. They are light for when you are carrying them on your pack, the shaft easily penetrates snow and the gently curve protects your knuckles, they also swing well. They build quality and finish is excellent. I found them great for routes between F and AD grade.
I highly recommend them for alpine routes and have used them on 55° snow and ice but for very steep ice or hard mixed routes I would use a more technical axe.
They also come in a range of lenghts so you can pick the correct size.
T rated shaft so fine to belay off the axe.

You can't do every thing well with one tool so they aren't the best for ice climbing or hard mixed where you would want a T rated pick. They are more expensive than some other axes but they can be found for £75 each instead of £100rrp.

I have seen and picked up many ice axes this summer in the Alps but there were none I though better and would buy instead.