WHAT DO THE ASCENT GUIDES ICE CLIMB WITH?
Ice season is almost upon us! Read up on our preferred gear for the ice season.
There is a ton of ice climbing gear out there, it can be tough to wade through all of the options. We’re here to tell you what we like and why in hopes that it helps you out come buying time.
What Nate climbs with
Ascent owner and guide, Nate, has been climbing ice for a while now. His ice adventures have brought him from Connecticut to New Hampshire, Colorado, Switzerland, and more. Over the years he’s honed in his kit for comfort and performance.
Tools - The Petzl Nomic.
Why? These tools work great for ice and mixed climbing and are really comfy to climb with.
Boots - The La Sportiva G5 or G2 Evo.
Why? The Boa lace system make them really easy to get on and off + they are super warm.
Crampons - The Petzl Lynx.
Why? You can switch your front points to mono or dual relatively easily, having options is always nice.
Screws - The Petzl Laser Speed.
Why? Having the little handle to help screw is a must!
What Andrew climbs with
Ascent guide Andrew is an experienced ice climber and is absolutely STOKED to smash some ice this season.
Tools - The Petzl Quark.
Why? They are a great all around tool. You can climb most ice terrain, use them for mountaineering & ski mountaineering. All around a super useful tool.
Boots - The La Sportiva G5.
Why? For the same reasons at Nate up above!
Crampons - The Petzl Dart.
Why? lighter than many other options with super customizable front points.
Screws - Petzl Laser Speed.
Why? For the same reasons at Nate up above!
What Blake climbs with
Ascent guide Blake is newer to the ice climbing game. Blake is mostly looking for gear that works well without breaking the bank.
Tools - The Trango Raptor.
Why? The price point is a bit better than other tools and the rubber molded grip is super comfy. The raptor is also shaped nicely for chiller terrain.
Boots - The Lowa Alpine Ice GTX.
Why? While they’re not the fanciest, the gator comes up nice and high and they are very well insulated.
Crampons - The Black Diamond Sabretooth.
Why? They’re very durable and stable.
Screws - “Leading ice is not in my wheelhouse yet!” - Blake
OTHER TIPS AND TRICKS
Carry two pairs of gloves and two hats that way you have a dry pair when you sweat out the first pair.
Having a J snare makes threading your V thread way easier.
Use an insulated water bottle to keep your water from freezing.
Have 2 or 3 ice clippers on your harness to make storage easy. Make sure your harness has slots for the clippers!
Bring a 22cm screw for making V threads.
Make sure your rope is dry treated!
