DescriptionAir Tech is a superlight ice axe with a chromolly steel head that corresponds to UIAA norms for strength and durability; trustworthy for both casual and professional use. Air Tech's lightweight can best be appreciated at high altitude where every gram feels like a kilo. Its forged chromolly steel head is hand polished, the teeth extend the entire length of the pick. A natural rubber grip covers the Ergal 7075 shaft. FeaturesHot forged Chromolly steel head
Ergal 7075 alloy shaft - "T" rated
Rubber grip
"Classic" positive pick angle for technical work
Weight: 475 gr. or 16,8 oz
Available lengths: 48cm, 53cm, 58cm, 66cm, 74cm
Suggested range of usage: 1. classical and technical alpinism 2. ice falls and goulottes (gullies and couloirs)
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Reviews
| hmronnow | Untitled Review | | 
Voted 5/5 | Have owned one for 3 years and love it.
Unlike the ultra light all aluminium backcountry-ski axes, the Air Tech (still quite light) has a proper steel shaft pick, which will take years of walking support also on rock and the most beautiful chrom-molubdenium-steel head on the market.
If occationally you have to swing the pick into hard snow/ice, you need the weight of a steel head, which furthermore will survive that accidential blow to the underlying rock. I find that the Air Tech even bite into water-ice, allowing me to do easiy ice climbing with that and one technical axe (Rambo II). Carrying those and one trekking pole, I have two-handed support all the way from valley to summit.
Since you rarely equip mountaineering piolets with leaches, pulling yourself up steeper ice will often send the glove sliding down the smooth shaft. Here, the rubber handle of the Air Tech gives me a good grip even with thick mitts. After three years the rubber is still holding up nicely, so don't worry about its durability. The rubber does, however, mean that it is slightly more difficult to plant the axe head deep in the glacier for belays etc.
For this reason, I would check out the new Air Tech Evolution (look at www.grivel.it). It features the same great head and foot on a slightly bent shaft without rubber, but a hand-stop which slides up to the head when not in use. Though I don't know whether the bent shaft will be good for walking on shallow glaciers. | | Posted Aug 17, 2003 11:51 am |
| chris.mueller | Air Tech | | 
Voted 5/5 | Use mine for some years now. Love it, too. | | Posted Jun 4, 2007 4:32 am |
| Bergshrund | Very Durable | | 
Voted 5/5 | Extremely durable after years of use | | Posted Dec 21, 2007 2:35 am |
| terratomah | My workhorse axe | | Hasn't voted | I've had mine since 2001 and have used it more than any other axe. I love everything about it except for the rubber grip, which makes the shaft more difficult to plunge in hard snow. In hindsight I wish I'd gotten one without the grip, but it's been on so many adventures now that I can't give it up. Plus, it's gotta be one of the nicest looking axes out there. | | Posted Aug 1, 2008 11:48 pm |
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