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I have a "naked" axe. Other than a leash, what are some accessories I should have on my axe? I won't be doing any technical ice climbing with it.

Thanks.

Scrapes and dings from knocking snow off your crampons. They come with time. Some folks like to put rubber spike, pick and adze guards to keep the sharp points from damaging anything. Just extra weight in my opinion.

I use the rubber guards just for travel and storage. Never in the mountains.

I always lose my rubber guards in travel. Gone through 2 sets now. Maybe TSA takes them?

BigMitch wrote:. Maybe TSA takes them?

Naaah, they only take cupcakes.

Use a sling for a leash, so you don't need extra gear.

Keep it simple.

Leash is it. My guards stay in my travel bag when I'm on the hill.

Keep a file at home.

Seriously, all you need is about 5ft of Perlon you can get at REI for $1.50 and you're good to go.

Here is my custom painted axe with a simple flat webbing leash. Light.

I paint Farsi sayings along the shaft.

Honestly I find the leashes to be annoying as hell. Nothing on my axe except my grubby paws!

I've climbed WI 4, M5 with that axe. Can't imagine doing that without the leash though.

Gafoto wrote:Honestly I find the leashes to be annoying as hell. Nothing on my axe except my grubby paws!

I don't like a leash on a basic mountaineering ax either, for some reason. Mine is naked, except for the few times I've tried to duct tape the head/shaft so's to be easier on my hands/gloves during longer slogs on steep snow.. But the two types of tape I've tried thus far have lost adhesion and fallen off before the climb was done, and having a pocket full of duct tape scraps is lame, since I refuse to litter on the 'tain.

Ben B. wrote:

Gafoto wrote:Honestly I find the leashes to be annoying as hell. Nothing on my axe except my grubby paws!

I don't like a leash on a basic mountaineering ax either, for some reason. Mine is naked, except for the few times I've tried to duct tape the head/shaft so's to be easier on my hands/gloves during longer slogs on steep snow.. But the two types of tape I've tried thus far have lost adhesion and fallen off before the climb was done, and having a pocket full of duct tape scraps is lame, since I refuse to litter on the 'tain.

Not sure if you've tried Gorilla Tape, it's pretty solid stuff.

I think the whole leash vs leashless thing is a bit of a religous argument. RMI prefers their clients not use leashes. Their philosphy is they would rather the client drop the axe in a slide and not injure themselves with it, relying on the rope team to stop the fall.