Black diamond viper review Let me tell you, these babies are like the sports car of the ice climbing world—sleek, stylish, and ready to tackle any vertical frozen waterfall that dares to cross their path. Sep 25, 2006 · Black Diamond Viper vote up. Apr 24, 2025 · So, this winter I decided to treat myself and upgrade my trusty ice tools to the Black Diamond Viper. The changeable hammer and adze lend to its versatility. Feb 12, 2022 · Black Diamond Viper . Oct 17, 2013 · I'm letting nostalgia go and finally getting a new pair of ice tools. But the main benefit of the shaft is that it has some give to it. Summary: The Viper shaft’s 90-degree-rotated major axis adds space between the shaft and the tip of the pick for extra clearance. The Viper’s hydroformed shaft extends through the grip for maximum rigidity and a responsive feel, and our Natural Pick is incl A durable, easy-to-swing tool built for a full season of winter climbing objectives, the redesigned Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool provides all-around performance for the ice and alpine climber. Lightweight, hydroformed aluminium shaft (CEN T) Adjustable FlickLock upper pommel; Modular head (compatible with all current BD picks) Titan pick (CEN T) Clippable spike; Weight: 570g (hammer) 595g (adze) Length: 50cm. Apr 11, 2024 · While the Gully is a no-brainer, some of us who like to tinker may like the idea of a tool that is easy to modify and adapt to the day’s objective. Full Black Diamond Viper description here. The tool’s pick is well suited for dry-tooling and a wide variety of ice conditions. Reviewed by STW September 25, 2006 Great ice tool for pure ice climbing. This means tapping it into ice you don't get the same feedback. The closest is the Air Tech Evo G-Bone but it still doesn’t really match with the other axes so I opted to exclude it. The Good. Jun 14, 2019 · Black Diamond Venom; Black Diamond Swift; SMC Kobah Pro; Of course Grivel is conspicuously missing from the review. . Black Diamond's Viper Ice Tool is an all-around axe for any terrain from nearby crags to faraway alpine climbs. Weight: 570-595g RRP: £210. Color: Black, Length: 50 cm, Pick Type: Adze Aaron’s favorite hybrid ice axe is the Black Diamond Venom. First off, the modular head design is pure genius. The Mark 3 model sees a slimming down of the shaft without losing any strength so you can torque your way up those corners, or mantel shelf that shaft with full confidence in the shaft integrity. If there was a comparison to be made the Viper goes head-to-head with the Quark as an all-round versatile tool that can be customised to suit your needs. But if you’re after an all-purpose ice axe that’s strong, lightweight and versatile, then the Venom is the one to go for. However, I just demo'd them for a few pitches each, so I wasn't able to really intuit the differences between the two. This does mean it's lighter then the Viper (though heavier than the Petzl Quark) making it slightly more practical as a alpine tool. The Black Diamond Venom LT brings that level of customization to the ultralight ski axe If you’re primarily looking for a pair of axes to tackle ice climbs, you might want to look elsewhere – Black Diamond’s own Cobra, Fuel or Viper models would probably suit your needs better for starters. The hammer allows you to be able to hammer in pitons or break away ice without damaging or dulling the pick. The Viper’s hydroformed shaft extends through the grip for maximum rigidity and a responsive feel, and our Titan Pick is included to beef up durability Sep 21, 2016 · Black Diamond Viper Features. Completely redesigned for maximum versatility on the myriad demands in winter climbing, the Black Diamond Viper Hammer Ice Tool is an easy-swinging, all-around tool. Sep 8, 2016 · The Black Diamond Viper still utilises Hydroforming (using water at extremely high pressure blown into aluminium tubing) to shape the shaft of the tool. In addition to a detachable Fang for leashless security, the Viper includes a Strike pommel that screws into one of two shaft positions and allows easy matching for a A durable, easy-to-swing tool built for a full season of winter climbing objectives, the redesigned Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool provides all-around performance for the ice and alpine climber. Black Diamond Vipers Dec 7, 2020 · Check great and honest reviews! BUY Black Diamond Viper Ice Axe. 0 vote down. The reason is they simply don’t offer the type of hybrid tool that we’re reviewing here. The Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool delivers cutting-edge performance for ice, mixed, and alpine climbing thanks to an extremely versatile design that works with or without leashes. Oct 7, 2003 · The Black Diamond Viper’s one-of-a-kind shaft offers exceptional clearance. Even with the add on features (fang, ), it's not Moved Permanently. The document has moved here. The shaft uses hydroforming to create variable thickness which allows a variety of hand positions. The Viper gives you the best of both worlds with little compromise. Qualified orders eligible for FREE S&H and FREE RETURNS. This is a normal process with real/dedicated ice tools: swapping picks, adding pick weights, hammers, etc. Updates for this season include a superlight, hydroformed shaft that extends through the grip for a more responsive feel, and a beefed up Titan Pick for durability and a reliable, versatile performance. The Cobra's main perk comes from the carbon fibre shaft. The shafts absorb more shock. It’s a lot of glacier with the ability to climb fairly steep slopes without smashing your hands. Read more: Black Diamond Viper review (1) Simond Chacal (1 review) Read more: Black Diamond Fusion reviews (2) Cassin X-Alp (1 review) Check Dec 21, 2017 · Black Diamond has stayed true to it’s blend of alpine and technical climbing tools with the Viper. Black Diamond Viper, $234. From playing around at Ouray this past festival, I know I like the swing of the Cobra/Viper design from BD over any of the Petzl or Givel tools that I tried.