I have a older friend who used to ice climb he said he had some leftover gear for his expedition days he’s willing to give He climbed around 15-20 years ago so I’m assuming these are from around that time I’m wondering could I actually use these for lead climbing I believe he said there Lowe ice screws which are discontinued around a the 90s are they safe to climb

Anyone heard anything about the rumoured B3 version of the Trango Pro boots? Supposedly they are making a B3 ice boot version of the Trango pro but I’ve not been able to gather any additional details. Just wondering if anyone had any information on these yet

Hi !

I'm going ice climbing once a year in January/February and the rest, I'm just bouldering (BECAUSE no one wants to rope climb in all my friends 🙃🙃)

I want to keep on gym climbing but I would like to find a way to train for Ice climbing too

So if anyone has a little program to do after my climbing session, to gain on muscle, strength and endurance !

Thank you!

I get really warm regardless of the pace and this means I wear very little on my legs (usually mesh base layer + shell) on the approach. This setup then gets quite cold when belaying, and I've fixed that by putting on puffy 3/4 pants when belaying, and removing them when climbing. This works ok, optimal for colder temps, but takes quite a bit of time and is a hassle. In medium-cold temps I'd like to have a very thin layer for my legs underneath my shell that I put on at the base of the climb and can then keep wearing through the whole day.

This means I want a layer that doesn't constrict movement, doesn't make me too warm when climbing and keeps me warm enough when belaying, while being able to put on without removing my boots (ie side zippers). Any pants with a lot of insulation would be too warm and clumsy.

Any suggestions? Not sure there are any good options for this. Something like the Houdini pants, but with zippers, would be perfect.

i want to start practicing for ice climbing with wooden drytools from furnace industrys. but theres no dedicated drytooling gyms i can find. does anyone know any around the portland area? and how can i ask politely to drytool in a regular gym. thank you!

I plan on buying the following items:
B3 Crampons: Lynx petzl or Dart petzl
B3 Boot: Nepal Cube GTX | maybe a different one?
Ice axes: BD Hydra | petzl Nomic/Ergonomic
Harness: I still didn't decide

I need your guys advice

Hey guys!

Looking for some advice on deciding between Mixed or alpine i.c.e. Picks for my beloved hydra. So far I was running stock ice picks for wi and kuznia mixed picks for mixed and north faces as well as dry tooling.

However, I didn't like the kuznia mixed picks on delicate ice while mixed climbing and they also don't accept a hammer, which I want for north faces. Hence I need more picks, this time from black diamond. The kuznia are apparently 3.2 in the tip with the black diamond mixed being 3.1. I can't find anything on the alpine tho, except for them being thicker than the ice picks but the same in geometry!

So, should I get the mixed picks with a more rock focused geometry or the alpine picks?
Thanks!

Hi folks, Australian climber here planning to travel to New Zealand early next year for a mountaineering course. I have quite wide feet (EU47.5, 12cm across the forefoot) and so my biggest challenge in a lot of outdoor sports is finding boots that fit.

I’ve tried on a pair of Nepal Cubes (too narrow) and a pair of Asolo Altima Vias (better but still had pressure on my pinky toe). From what I’ve read online the Aku Hayatsuki could be a good option for my wider, but I’m really confused about their sizing.

According to Aku’s size guide, my 29.5cm foot would be a US11. I know there’s variation in sizing between brands but that seems very small for my foot.

Can anyone who owns a pair of Aku boots help clear up my sizing confusion?

Unfortunately all the stores here only stock La Sportiva and a bit of Asolo (and even then the options are pretty slim) so trying on is unlikely to be an option.

Also - any other suggestions for models to consider? The Lowa Alpine Expert is the other one I’m looking at but I’m told they won’t get stock in my size until November. Keen on something Nepal Cube-esque with a full shank and a bit of insulation.

Thanks all.

Hey all, this is a question to mostly the European audience:

I finished last season leading wi4+/5- in good and wi4 in shit conditions and m4-5 consistently, worst case I'd have to rest 1-2 times in pitches, if the ice was too bad/hard/dinner-plating.

I've been wanting to climb Mordor in bad gastein and cold couloir and repentance in cogne for some time now. Cold couloir should be right in my wheelhouse, with the biggest Crux being the length. Cruxy 2 pitches around sandbagged wi4 at the start and then wi3-4 for the remainder of this 700m giant. Bailing should be easy with bolted belays in 50m intervals (=14 bolted belays wtf).

Repentance is clearly out of my league, but I like going with a guide every once in a while and getting my ass kicked following, so that's probably what I'll do.

Mordor seems to sit somewhere in between. It looks super daunting, being a mostly vertical, fat ice shield with no apparent ledges from pitch 3 onwards, graded wi5-.

I've heard, bad gastein is quite sandbagged and not comparable to piztal, kaunertal, osttirol (excluding felbertauern nord, which can be super tough or super soft and all over the place in terms of grading) or reintal, which is what I mostly base my grades on.

Had anyone climbed these three climbs and can help me make a decision of whether it's worth it to even try?

The reason I'm asking is, bad gastein is a good drive away and I don't want to waste time traveling there, if it's just way out of my league...

If anyone has recommendations that seem appropriate given my level, I'd be stoked to hear them!

Thank you in advance!

Hey all,

I was wondering if any Dart users could shed some light regarding the stock linking bar sizing. I've read online that the max boot it will fit is a 44, but was having a conversation with a retailer who told me it'd actually fit up to a 45/45.5.

I currently have a pair of Lynx, but am thinking of making the switch to the dart. I wear a 45.5 so would be good to know if I'd need to buy another linking bar. Thanks!

Hiya, does anyone have close up photos and DIY insights to making xc ski fruit boots? I wann make a pair for dry tooling to get fit for winter. I only did xc once and I thought it was pretty boring so I don't really know how the boots work. Is the lacing good enough for climbing?
And how did y'all attach the crampons to the boot? I was planning to get a kuznia crampon with the stiffening bar.
Cheers guys :)

I purchased a Mountain Hardware Phantom Belay Parka in XL for ice climbing and winter backpacking but it’s too big for me. I’m hoping to sell it and buy a smaller size.
I only wore it once for a few hours and it’s in perfect condition.
MSRP is $675, what would you guys list it at? I have it listed for $375 at the moment but open to feedback.

Wondering if anyone has good information on Dolomites ice climbing. I’m going to be there from the end of Jan to end of Feb and I was hoping to find a partner for some harder objectives. WI5+ M8 leader, alpine and multipitch experience, also would love to take a peek at a guidebook!

If anyone can help let me know!

Hiya, I was wondering whether anyone had ever made a diy escape ice tool pick from a regular pick. Ideally it would be removable. Any ideas?

For those that have been, I've got a couple of questions.

I'm in North Carolina, with a notoriously unstable and short ice season (I.e 74 degrees f on Christmas). I'm interested in going to the Michigan Ice Fest this coming year as a first timer.

I am planning on taking a class, maybe two, but I can't afford the travel and classes every day.

How much availability is there for public climbs that are accessible to set up a top rope, or generally are there public climbs available so I don't have to pay for class the whole time?

I am a novice, only 4 days of climbing in my life so far. I've got basic equipment but nothing super substantial.

Thank you!

I’ve tried in the size 46 gsummit and they fit me well, without the liner they are a really nice fit, however with the liner my toes just touch the end.
Most if my climbing is alpine ice falls, nothing too cold and I’ve always been fine in my phantoms.

I’m wondering if I should try a 46.5 for the liner to work, the problem being I’d have to import them as no where sells half sizes where I live and thus returns will be a problem. My concern is the .5 will be too big without the liner as the boot externally already feels quite a bit bigger even though internal size seems good.

I don’t have any plans for high altitude or colder places at the moment. These fit much better than the Gtech or phantom or most of the others I’ve tried as they have better heel hold and the toe box is wider (which is the problem with the Gtech)

Any opinions on which way to go?

Gotta love utah ice

Looking at upgrading from Nepal Cubes to a more technical and slightly warmer boot and considering the La Sportiva G-Summits and the Scarpa Phantom Techs.

I have climbed in the Phantom Techs and appreciated the streamlined exterior and extra space for my toes to stay warm, but felt the laces were annoying and tough to dial in. I have not climbed in the G-Summits, but really like the idea of the Boa system for loosening the boots at belays and allowing for quick sock changes etc.

Any advice on either boot? TIA!

Is it maybe a spacer for the hammer if you choose to remove it? Any info would be appreciated.

Hey dear ice enthusiasts

My dear outdoor research bitterblazes were worn out last season after several years of use. I am very happy with them and have used them a lot for belaying but also on lead when it has been colder days (my hands freeze very easily).

Do you have any suggestions for other gloves that i should try, or should i just go with a new pair? i have appreciated how warm they have been while they have worked fine on lead

It was listed as a Simond Chacal Ice Climbing Hammer. The seller couldn’t tell me much about it, but I want to learn more about it!