iceisnice wrote:Oh, one more thing about the gear.....don't believe the stuff about finding "the right tool for you". Just buy anything and learn how to use it. Yeah, tools are different and require different style of swings....but seriously, you can climb on anything. Most of the new tools are all hype. Its about the climber....noth the gear.
I second that. My tools are crap according to gear whores, but the serve me just fine. True that I prefer my partner's aztar's, but not enough so that I would spend the money on a new pair. (At least not yet!)
BTW, there is a limit to that. Some of the really cheap tools suck pretty bad. I have a single Omega Pacific Bulldog that I bought as a 3rd tool. It absolutely sucks for climbing steep ice (too short, grip made of rubber tape, balance is screwed, etc.).