SummitPost.org

surfnturf wrote:
what are you doing with a 70cm ice axe in the first place? are you 6'7" or something? shorter is better dude!

I know im a little worried now as i bought online, but have bought from the site before so if it's too long ill return for a 65cm.

Without having used one before I felt I'd prefer longer rather than being hunched over on a smaller one. but yeah trial and error i guess.

waXology wrote:...

Went to Elbrus last year. Unless you are going very early in the season, I can't see the need for an ice axe. On the complete trip, I saw maybe one guy with an ice axe and he looked like it was more trouble than anything else. I tried sliding down some parts because I was tired, but the gradient is never really big enough.

I was there for three weeks and managed to put everything I needed inside my 75L Gregory backpack. Needless to say I didn't change clothes much. When not in the mountains, I tend to wash my clothes every (other) evening. On the mountain, I wear merino wool (smellfree). There's plenty of fabrics out there that are dry withing 20min.

Besides, taking so much luggage will cost you a small fortune. If you were close to a big city, I'd say take it and leave the duffel in the hotel for the rest of your trip. But in Russia, I wouldn't!

It's too bad that this mother of all Heavy Vinyl bags aint made no more.

I have had the original one for over 20 years and it has been all over this planet with me. Through thick and thin. Been tossed by the burliest of luggage handlers anywhere. It still rocks and rolls.

PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE BAG.... 9000cu.in.


But, TNF still makes the BC BAG 9000 cu.in. and it too will take the best of beatings and keep going.


If you want strictly non-Chinese manu'd, these guys have a nice deal...

SP's CILO Duffel 6700 cu.in.

WILD THINGS MULE BAG... 8800cu.in

benjamingray wrote:

Brad Marshall wrote:

benjamingray wrote:

Brad Marshall wrote:

Brad, is this what you use on Denail? Do you "waterproof" them somehow?

Yes, I use the X-large on Denali. It's a long bag with a low center of gravity so the sleds don't tend to tip over as much. If you don't know this already another tip is don't tie your duffle to the sled very tight. Too tight and the tension in the cord torques the sled out of shape rounding off and twisting the bottom which leads to additional frustration (not sliding straight and tipping over more often). Instead, make sure your duffle is well secured to the climbing rope and only lightly tied to the sled.

I haven't found a need to waterproof them even when they get dumped on by heavy snowfall.

http://c0278592.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspac ... 601181.JPG

That shape does look sled friendly. Thanks for the tips, cool picture

I have also used these (not on a sled) but really like these things. Durable, burly, and cheap.

Can't say regarding waterproofing though....

waXology wrote:

surfnturf wrote:
what are you doing with a 70cm ice axe in the first place? are you 6'7" or something? shorter is better dude!

I know im a little worried now as i bought online, but have bought from the site before so if it's too long ill return for a 65cm.

Without having used one before I felt I'd prefer longer rather than being hunched over on a smaller one. but yeah trial and error i guess.

If it was me I'd keep the 70 and even trade up to a 75 and I'm only 5'-9". Of course we all know we should be climbing in balance and not leaning on our axes but when I rest I often do this and I'm always hunched over.

Brad Marshall wrote:

waXology wrote:

surfnturf wrote:
what are you doing with a 70cm ice axe in the first place? are you 6'7" or something? shorter is better dude!

I know im a little worried now as i bought online, but have bought from the site before so if it's too long ill return for a 65cm.

Without having used one before I felt I'd prefer longer rather than being hunched over on a smaller one. but yeah trial and error i guess.

If it was me I'd keep the 70 and even trade up to a 75 and I'm only 5'-9". Of course we all know we should be climbing in balance and not leaning on our axes but when I rest I often do this and I'm always hunched over.

How tall are you, Waxology?
I'm just about 6'1", and I use a 70, despite one of my buddies yelling at me at the time to go way shorter. If you do just a bit of research into this, you'll soon find the two different opposing camps on it. I went the standard way, measuring to the floor, etc. I will say that so far, in my limited use, ie. a couple times up on Hood, I can't imagine using anything shorter. The 70 served me well.
Depends on what you're doing, I think. The steeper the terrain(which I've not ventured into yet), the shorter the axe you'll want. But, for general glacier travel, and milder slopes, I think having slightly longer is better.

There ya go, one from the "other" camp. Not even going to argue.

Just a few comments from my own experience:

surfnturf wrote:Shorter axes are better for a number of reasons...There are more reasons, but I can't think right now... ice axes are not walking sticks or trekking poles, they are a tool. Im 6'2" and I use a 60cm ice axe...

1) When falling, you can swing the axe quicker to self arrest position. It also should not get snagged as easily on the rope, clothing, leash, etc.

Whenever I've arrested a fall (slip) I've never swung my ax, only rolled over on it.

2) When digging a snow anchor, thats 5 or 10 cm of digging that you dont have to dig. You can make a snow anchor faster.

Maybe, if you're using your ax as the anchor. I've never dug a T-slot that was the exact size of my ax and I usually bury a picket.

3) When hiking, a shorter axe will get snagged less on straps, trees, bushes, other hikers, etc.

So true, especially those damn tree branches.

4) When traveling, much easier to pack.

A 75cm ax should fit in a duffle.

5) When opening a beer with the adze, you won't spill the beer quite as frequently.

Haha, I only take cans so I can't comment on this.

By the way, I'm 5'-9" with only 27" legs and find a 65 way to short for me. Everyone's different.

The Chief wrote:It's too bad that this mother of all Heavy Vinyl bags aint made no more.

I have had the original one for over 20 years and it has been all over this planet with me. Through thick and thin. Been tossed by the burliest of luggage handlers anywhere. It still rocks and rolls.

PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE BAG.... 9000cu.in.


But, TNF still makes the BC BAG 9000 cu.in. and it too will take the best of beatings and keep going.


If you want strictly non-Chinese manu'd, these guys have a nice deal...

SP's CILO Duffel 6700 cu.in.

WILD THINGS MULE BAG... 8800cu.in

Y, i have a couple of those patagonia black hole bags. wish i had bought more than 2... they are SWWEETTT! check this out.... my buddy miguel with one of them doubling for his forgotten pack on our way up mt blanc! they have straps which double as adjustable shoulder straps.

dskoon wrote:

Brad Marshall wrote:

waXology wrote:

surfnturf wrote:
what are you doing with a 70cm ice axe in the first place? are you 6'7" or something? shorter is better dude!

I know im a little worried now as i bought online, but have bought from the site before so if it's too long ill return for a 65cm.

Without having used one before I felt I'd prefer longer rather than being hunched over on a smaller one. but yeah trial and error i guess.

If it was me I'd keep the 70 and even trade up to a 75 and I'm only 5'-9". Of course we all know we should be climbing in balance and not leaning on our axes but when I rest I often do this and I'm always hunched over.

How tall are you, Waxology?
I'm just about 6'1", and I use a 70, despite one of my buddies yelling at me at the time to go way shorter. If you do just a bit of research into this, you'll soon find the two different opposing camps on it. I went the standard way, measuring to the floor, etc. I will say that so far, in my limited use, ie. a couple times up on Hood, I can't imagine using anything shorter. The 70 served me well.
Depends on what you're doing, I think. The steeper the terrain(which I've not ventured into yet), the shorter the axe you'll want. But, for general glacier travel, and milder slopes, I think having slightly longer is better.

I'm 5'11. I spoke to the guys at the store who i bought my axe from, they hadn't sent it yet so i asked should i ge ta 65cm, the guy said he was 5'9 and used a 70cm. He recomended i keep the 70cm. so see how i go.

I have the TNF bag in an XL and use it quite often for travel. It's endured on the tops of vans, flatbed trailers, airport baggage handlers, and more while showing only a few nicks. I actually use the backpack straps all the time because I'm too cheap to pay for a cart. It's a great and durable duffel, but sometimes it's nice to use a lightweight one like those listed above (which I have used similar styles as well) because you can save a fair amount of ounces. This only makes a difference when you start reaching the airline weight limits.

As for the ice axe, I have to side with the school of just keep it. IMO, the difference between a 65cm and a 70cm is so little that the "benefits" of being quicker to swing, less digging, and snagging is for practical purposes insignificant. If you are going to use it as a technical tool and want to go shorter, then get an ice tool (something around 55cm). If you're using it only for self arresting, then just get a superlight CAMP Corsa or something similar. But, throughout the history of the ice axe, I believe it's fair to say that it has been a multipurpose walking stick; and it still has that legacy. Thus the two schools of thought.

I use an EMS Camp Duffel. Pretty bomber. The XL is technically an inch or two too long for checked luggage on domestic US flights, but I just underpack it by an inch or two and haven't been charged oversize yet.

Highly recommend the gear Russ Walling makes