I think it is great to be able to switch out the hammer and adze for whichever you will need. The handle allows you to maintain a solid grip longer than you could with any cla…
- Frank, 06/07/11
Chicago

I use this for climbing glaciers especially. I highly recommend this axe- great quality, and just everything about it!…
- John, 11/02/12
Nashville

This is a great ice climbing axe. It is extremely light. I first used it for some mountaineering…
- Ildar, 12/25/11
Saint-Petersburg

Basically, best tool eve. I noticed a few things I liked about the new Quark. First off... You can actually spin a carabiner through the slot on the bottom. You don't know…
- Mark, 10/04/10
Houston

It's light, but the pick still swings. The head has a T cross section to give your palm a large pressure surface for slamming the spike puppy home in dense snow. The had and…
- J. MARK, 06/22/09
PORTLAND

This axe is very light and great for glacier travel and high-altitude mountaineering when every ounce counts. It's extreme light weight hinders it a little when chopping step…
- ORLIN, 04/02/09
DENVER

I bought the 50cm hammer pick version and the 57cm adze version. The 57cm finish was good but the 50cm hammer was not. I noticed that the hammer hex bolts had rounded (ma…
- Gilian, 04/12/13
Belconnen

I struggled with trying to get a set of axes that would do everything...these have a nice curve (wish it was more bent) but at 57cm it was a good length. The hand rest is bee…
- Gilian, 04/12/13
Belconnen

I own two of this tools since Christmas and had them out in the ice about 10 days. The swing is great compared to my other tools and the weights at the head can be removed for…
- Ego, 03/21/12
Boulder

Wanted a Nomic forever and I finally broke down and bought one. 1) I am not crazy about the lower carabiner holes location. IF one wanted to use the tool with a carabiner i…
- Michael, 03/09/13
Schenectady

This ice axe is meant for less technical styles of mountaineering but for self arresting and using it as a snow anchor, it works flawlessly. It's not the heaviest or the light…
- Adam, 12/07/10
Redmond, WA

Does everything a general mountaineering axe should! Ive taken mine up quite a number of peaks and shes shown a bit of wear but who wants a shinny axe anyway! Don't use her as…
- BEN, 03/10/10
CREIGHTON

Everything about this axe is killer, except for the grip. Uncessary weight and gets a little caught up in the occasional probe. Go with the Raven Pro and save yourself the s…
- William, 10/30/12

Great axe all around! The additional leash and grip helps a lot. What can you say, Black Diamond doesnt make bad products.…
- Nikolay, 05/03/11
Kiev, Ukraine

The cobra works great for all sorts of climbing. The shape works well on steep ice and mixed routes. The tool plunges in snow well, so its marvelous on alpine routes where you…
- Chad, 01/13/13
Ridgway, CO

I absolutely love these axes! I have nothing but good things to say about them. I climb a lot of ice, and own nomics, fusions and techs, and 9 out of 10 times, I grab these…
- Cory, 04/26/11
NY

BD has made some nice improvements on the second gen fusion. Definitely a better swing on pure ice. The removable and clipable spike gives it a serious advantage over other t…
- Rhys, 10/31/11
Fort Collins

I found that the new fusions climb ice better than the old ones. Not great, but better than the previous gen. They excel at drytooling though. The new fusion IMO rocks the…
- Cory, 04/26/11
NY

I bought 3 of these for an outdoor adventure group. Great piece of equipment for an intro into mountaineering. Students practiced self arrest at Nordhouse Dunes in Ludington…
- Louis, 01/12/11

Good piece of general mountaineering equipment at a great price. Great for beginners and also for everyday non-technical climbs. Weight is good, leash is nice. Great quality.…
- Mike, 01/26/12
Sea Level

I carry the Corsa for summer alpine rock routes, where I may hit some steep snow here and there but nothing super technical from a snow/ice perspective. It's not long (or agg…
- MICHELLE, 02/22/13
eldorado springs, co

I brought this with me on my hike along the northern part of the PCT. There were a few times when I had this puppy out in case I slid. There was one instance in which this was…
- Jeanne, 10/22/12
Pittsburgh, PA and Washington, DC

For a T rated axe this is light, well balanced and does the job well. Got 65cm for walking and general moutaineering and used for belaying on easy to mod snow slopes performed…
- Terry, 01/26/12
Sydney, Australia

This is a nice mountaineering axe with a terrible leash. The leash just doesn't work very well, it always twists up and it doesn't fold over the top of the axe in a nice way.…
- Girard, 12/02/10
New Hampshire

just looks cool on the pack, right?…
- Gib, 05/08/13
Venice

for general mountaineering, this is a great axe. the steel in the pick and the spike will make sure it doesn't get dulled up, and its stainless steel, so no rusting and staini…
- Ted, 09/27/11
FoCo

This has been a great axe, and when paired with the adze version, is a part of a very versatile axe system. The 57cm is a great length and the hammer pound in bomber pitons we…
- Jeremy, 12/11/10
Amarillo, TX

Use this extensively in the white mountains for moderately technical ice and snow climbing. I replaced the classic pick with the tech pick and it climbs ice good yet not too a…
- Scott, 01/28/13
Maryland

The original Air Tech Racing was legendary for being the perfect blend of super light and super strong. (1 piece forged chromoly head). This new version adds a bottom carabine…
- Eric, 12/29/12
Seattle

Love this axe, it's light and strong. Kind of expensive but worth it.…
- Kelton, 10/14/12

This is really the only ice axe I have used, so I can't compare it, but I was happy with it. It's not a walking stick, even at the largest size, you would have to be pretty sh…
- Daniel, 08/30/10
Canada

All Ice axes are a blend of compromises. This one blends the strongest possible head/pick (1 piece forged chromoly) with very light weight, without being TOO light, like the C…
- Eric, 12/29/12
Seattle

If you're looking for a tough axe to take on hard alpine routes, this is not your axe. If you need something to help you on a steep snow slope or for generic glacier travel,…
- Greg, 08/20/10

I love the light weight and its proved worthy on a number of climbs, but don't choose this if you're planning on any sort of technical moves or places where a good bite is cru…
- Ben, 05/19/10
Seattle