Best Mountaineering Ice Axes of 2024

BEST FOR: EASIER ASCENTS

The classic design of the Black Diamond Raven gives climbers a secure and reliable tool for navigating icy slopes. Its sharp, stainless-steel teeth will bite into any surface and efficiently self-arrest you if you fall or glissade down a mountain face. The lightweight aluminum shaft will fit perfectly into any bag loop and won’t weigh heavily on your hike. 

With this ice axe, however, note that while the structure will help with self arrests and glissading, you may want a more streamlined design for serious ascents. This ice axe may not be able to chew away at the toughest of ice falls, so we recommend a stronger, more powerful axe for serious mountaineers.

BEST FOR: CLASSIC MOUNTAINEERING

The lightweight Summit Evo Ice axe is a versatile, strong tool that can dig into the roughest of surfaces. Easily held at the handle for strength or just under the pick for control, the Evo’s pick is made thicker in the middle for soft snow and sharp toothed at the tip for thick ice. The stainless steel spike itself will last through many expeditions while the grip ensures a comfortable feel. 

This is a strong, reliable, and lightweight axe that may take a bit of experience to perfect in use, but in the long run, will pay endless dividends. We highly suggest this axe to strong mountaineers looking to scale some serious terrain.

BEST FOR: SNOW TRAVEL AND SELF ARREST

Made uniquely with patented Sandvik Nanoflex steel, the Camp USA ice axe is 70% stronger and 20% more durable than normal steel ice axes. Even more impressive, this tradeoff does not result in an overly heavy ice axe, but rather a lightweight, bent tool that provides climbers with enough clearance to ascend without too much of a bent to irritate them. 

Other features include a separately sold leash that attaches to the shaft as well as a nylon plug that restricts ice from rattling around in the shaft of your axe. These small but useful features make the Camp USA stand out as one of the strongest and most reliable ice axes on the market. Take note, however, that with curiver ice axes, you may be able to get a bit more power than with this Camp axe.

BEST FOR: INTERMEDIATE MOUNTAINEERS

The unique, bent design of the Grivel Ghost Evo Ice Axe grants climbers enough clearance to ascend the steepest of slopes while its sharp toothed, curved pick allows climbers to get technical with their ascents as well. The carbon steel material will withstand more impact and wear than most other ice axes and the pick itself, which is more curved than competing models, may dig deeper into ice chunks for added stability. 

We recommend this ice axe for beginners looking to tackle technical ascents. The design and weight of it make it an easy-to-use technical ice axe.

BEST FOR: MULTISPORT CLIMBERS

The Black Diamond Venom Adze Ice Axe may cost more than others, but with a uniquely versatile design, it’s worth the investment. A light, fast shaft paired with a technical pick combines to make a super strong ice axe. And, with an adjustable pommel that you can slide up and down and lock into place with a small lever, you can use this tool on both steep and mild slopes. 

All together, it’s features make the Venom Ice Axe a well-rounded tool for mountaineering, back-country skiing, and snow climbing. Other axes may be more specialized, but if you have a wide variety of interests, we recommend the Venom Ice Axe for all your needs.

BEST FOR: LOW-ANGLE CLIMBING

There are few ice axes out there that come with a reverse curved pick and even fewer capable of digging into an ice fall when there’s little to no angle. Fortunately, the minds over at Cassin have crafted a near-unbeatable all-mountain ice axe that functions particularly well in low-angle climbing. This pick, with a very unique design, uses chromoly steel for digging into the ice and an easily adjustable grip for all hand sizes. 

Made in Italy, we suggest this to extreme, muli-sport mountaineers looking to climb large overhangs and ice waterfalls.

BEST FOR: BACKCOUNTRY SKIING

Much Like Black Diamond’s Raven Ice Axe, the Grivel G1 and G1 Plus are classic, reliable ice axes for mild terrain and backcountry skiing. Unlike the Grivel G1, which boasts a straight shaft and curved pick, the G1 Plus adds in a slightly curved shaft to enhance mobility and power. So, if you’re a beginning climber and you’re looking for the most basic model out there, we recommend the G1, but if you’re slightly more experienced and only foresee using your ice axe for backcountry skiing and self arrests, we suggest the G1 Plus. It won’t weigh you down and is more than reliable for any moderate backcountry expedition.

BEST FOR: EXPERT MOUNTAINEERS

Though it may be the most expensive ice axe on our list, the Petzl Ergo is by far the most advanced tool we’ve found. Built especially for high-end, steep slope, technical climbers and mountaineers, the Petzl Ergo offers an unrivaled clearance of terrain with a design that enhances mobility and strength. Other features include an interchangeable dry-weather pick as well as an adjustable handle for more control in steep environments. 

If ice climbing is not just a passion for you but a way of life, then we highly recommend investing in an ice axe such as Petzl’s Ergo that can match your intensity.

BEST FOR: ADVANCED MOUNTAINEERING

A well-crafted ice axe, the Trango Raptor sports a high quality, deep penetrating pick as well as a molded grip for comfort. This simple, yet effective ice axe can be counted on for any expedition and will do just fine on technical ascents as well as fitness-heavy climbs. With its curved design and reversed pick, it may not be best for backcountry skiers looking for a self-arresting ice axe, so we recommend this strictly to mountaineers and ice-climbers looking for a reliable tool to get themselves up the mountain.

BEST FOR: HIGH-LEVEL ICE CLIMBERS

With an extra wide, offset handle for control, when you’re climbing with the Black Diamond Reactor you’ll be able to get more strength and power behind each swing. The pick is made thin and short so that when it collides with the ice, instead of knocking off a huge chunk, it’ll slide right in like a needle. This design makes for a slightly heavier ice axe, but a much more reliable and precise one in the field of outdoor adventure. We highly recommend it to high-level ice climbers.