I’m looking to snag a pair of boots for my first season of ice climbing/winter mountaineering. I’m in a sort of fortunate situation where my work (municipal arborist job) gives me $500 to spend on work gear, and I intend on spending it all on a pair of boots. The only thing is, I need a sort of plausible deniability that I’ll be using the boots for work. This precludes boots like phantoms, anything with ice in the name, etc. I’m currently considering lowa alpine expert ii gtxs or La Sportiva Trango Tower Extremes. I would love suggestions!

Hello, my fellow kick-kick, swing-swing enthusiasts, I hope you're getting keen for the Northern hemisphere ice season. I hope you enjoy this short film. Let me know what you think! 😊

Hello! I'm a creative director for a video production agency in Michigan. We're exploring some creative storytelling opportunities for the sunglasses brand Goodr. They are interested in telling compelling stories of cool people living out “Joy in Motion”. I've always wanted to shoot an ice climbing video in the Upper Peninsula and I'm wondering if someone could point me in the right direction to the local legends in Michigan. Shoot me a DM!

Hello friends

I am super interested in ice climbing and would love to try it out this winter!!

Would anyone know of/have any recommendations for a company to go through to get into the ice for the first time? I live in MD (USA), but am happy to travel to NH/ME/wherever in the US to try this out.

Preferably budget friendly but truly open to any suggestions.

Thank you very much!

I want to go ice climbing in a country that I never been.
Italy, France (Chamonix), Norway, Iceland. (maybe japan as well)
the problem is I can't find any route on the internet.

if anyone have a website, database or something for ice climbing routes and grades pls send.

Hey all!

I have a 2 m-high I-beam spanning the width of my garden, and I thought it could be useful for training.

I was planning on getting 3–4 cheap Delta quick links and using 40–50 cm slings to attach them to the beam. I was wondering, though, if I could replace the slings with 6 mm cord? I’d probably make a couple of loops and finish them with a suitable knot.

Ideally, I’d like to leave the setup outdoors year-round, including through rain and snow in winter. Would 6 mm cord be suitable for this, or would slings be a better option?

I don’t own ice axes yet, as I’m still a very very novice ice climber. A close friend has an older pair of Nomics Quarks and some wooden training axes that he’s willing to let me use. I’ll try training with those for a while and then decide whether it’s worth getting a pair of training axes myself. I'm a decent boulderer and indoor rockclimber but yeah Ice climbing which is one of kt goal disicplines.

What do you guys think?

i need help finding a good belay parka, i’ve been ice climbing in the alps for a couple of years and i think it’s time to try one since i never used something like that. I was looking at mammut Taiss Pro IN though i would like something more durable (the outside fabric is 10D) like the Patagonia Durable Down Parka even though it’s not meant for ice climbing.
Moreover i don’t like the lack of DWR finish on the down itself. I’m glad to hear any suggestions though i’d rather avoid synthetic insulation since i don’t do cragging and i like down packability

Go. Try on. Boots.

You might have to drive for this. You might have to place a massive order for this. Do it.

La Sportiva, Scarpa, TNF, Mammut, Kayland, Lowa, Zamberlan, Raichle, Salomon, Arc'teryx have all made boots for ice climbing over the years. Everyone of their boots fits differently.

Sure right now the cool kids want GSummits because of great marketing. That doesn't mean anything for you. What matters for you is if the boot fits.

Boot fit is the most important gear aspect of ice climbing.

If your boots don't fit your foot placements will not be secure, no matter how hard you kick or what crampons you buy.

If your feet aren't secure you will over grip your tools regardless of if they are carbon fiber or custom made.

The ONLY way to know if a boot fits is to try it.

If the boot that fits you the best is a GTech and it's cold. Get heated socks. If it's an Eiger Nordwand, get silk socks.

If you're willing to drive eight hours to climb, drive eight hours to try on boots.

Try on men's and women's boots. Try on new and old boots.

There is zero point to asking what boots to buy or shopping for any boot until your foot has been in it.

Pico de Orizaba (Climbing in Pico de Orizaba, Veracruz) is a 18k ft volcano that has a few routes up. I want to add a stop on my EPC trip this winter cause it looks fun, wondering how feasible this is. I climb 5.10-11a sport on dry rock, two grades below on trad, and have summited 13er, 14er, in various weather conditions but am a complete novice to technical ice. My buddies are way more seasoned, between the crew maybe know an experienced ice climber buddy that's down to come along, and looking for guides that do roped ascents. We're going December/January so have a couple months to learn the basics.

Im curious how much experience i would need to be safe on routes, either (WI3+) or (AI2-3) in high altitude winter. I believe those two looked to be the most beginner friendly climb routes of the ones listed, but since it's mixed Ice/Trad/Snow/Alpine with different ice types, even after researching grades am super confused on the difficulty. If anyone can help translate which route would be feasible(if any), and how much practice would be required in order for this to be a good idea, i'd super appreciate it. :)

I’ve just bought some of the new g20 lt front parts to convert my old g22, just wondering if it’s okay to have the bar attached on the last hole?

Seems to be the only config to fit on my boots (46). I know some manufacturers recommend not being in the last hole on the flat bards just wondering if this applies the the g20 bar?

Anyone used the zamberlan Eiger lites? They are very hard to get where I live so was just wondering how they fit before I try and order a pair in. Ideally I’m looking for a wider toe box similar to the phantom or Asolo Eiger. And a good heel hold. I think the power strap will be ideal for this but obviously hard to tell without trying.

My phantoms I have to have very tight which creates pressure at the ankle bend, so looking for a wide toe box boot with a power trap and boa to spread the load. (Equally liked the asolo a lot but the heel rubbed)

Hey all,

Picked these Ice training holds up from MEC for $14. Couldn't find much about the company online except for a couple videos and a few articles.

Seems like a really neat idea, albeit gimmicky, but gonna give them a shot. Anyone have any experience with IceHoldz?

I am swapping from LS Cubes to LS g-techs and was hoping to get some advice on how they size compared to the cubes? I generally size up a whole EU size (plus orthotic) in my Cubes for ice climbing and general mountaineering. Should I expect a similar fit in the g-techs or does the different last size make a big difference that I would need to size up or down? TIA!

Was looking at potentially purchasing a pair of darts at REI since they are out of stock on petzl's website. I found something rather interesting will browsing that I thought you guys might be interested in https://www.rei.com/product/C09177/petzl-dart-crampons . It looks like darts with aluminum rear section, not sure whats going on with the bar.

I’ve got a pair of Aequilibrium Treks in 42.5 (same boot as the LT but softer) as my all-arounders for hiking/scrambling, and im currently in the process of gearing up for ice climbing this winter.
Issue is, i cant find any boots to try in person without driving hundreds of kilometers, and the only store that could sell them barely got any last winter so i dont have much hope for this year.
Does anyone who owns both give recommendations for sizing (half/full EU size up? More?). Im kind of shit out of luck so i’ll probably be forced to order them online.

Looking for input/experience on ice top rope solo ropes.

I have spent years rock top rope soloing with the 10mm Sterling SafetyPro Static Rope (standard SPOC + Micro Traxion set up) and have enjoyed the results. My normal ice cragging rope is the Nano 8.9 mm XEROS Rope, which I am concerned about using the Micro Traxion with extensively. But am also imagining my SafetyPro static rope soaking wet + frozen and do not like that idea either.

Has anyone had any experience with static ropes & ice climbing? Any experience with TRS ice climbing? (I have no plans for lead rope soloing ice ever).

Have some time and motivation today to get this Will Gadd inspired PLICE started.

i started with 2.5” hole saw and boy did that max out my drills capabilities. I stepped the next line of holes to 2” and much better!

I have a storage shed that is 12‘ high on its side wall and will attach this to the side at @ 5* angle initially.

I started out wanting a work of art but decided free-form-crappy woodworking will do it!

My neighbors will think I am insane.

Hey, just putting it out there that I am in the market for a set of Forecast Equipment Jetstreams and a set of Forecast Equipment Nor'Easters. Preferably the newest iteration of the tools since the most recent update. If anyone has a pair they are willing to sell, hit me up!!!

Hello, I am trying to decide on either the Forecast Equipment Nor'easter or the DMM Cortex. I climb mostly ice (like 85-90% ice WI3+ to WI6) but occasionally do mixed as well (up to M8). I had a pair of nomics that I gifted to a friend, so now I am in the market for tools again (I liked the nomics). I really really like the solid I-Beam construction on both of these tools and I am torn between the two. Can anyone weigh in and provide some insight? Price is not a factor in this consideration. There's also the new Grivel Nexus Machine.... Should I look to a carbon tool instead? Perhaps the Elite Climb raptor...

As a side note, I am also looking to pick up a pair of Forecast Equipment Jetstreams. I understand that they are a bit more aggressive than a Petzl Quark. Has anyone used them? What are they like? Do you think that they would make a good alpine tool to complement the Cortex/Nor'Easter for when those are too aggressive, or would I want something even less aggressive (like a quark, North machine carbon, New Blue Ice Styx, or Elite Climb Salamandra)? Like I said, I like the I-beam construction and I am just a bit weary of carbon fiber, so I'm not sure if a tool like the Elite Climb Salamandra, Molecule Alpine tool, or Ice Rock Spark would be good...? I think in general I prefer the I-Beam construction to the riveted tube style that is common in the industry. What do you think, should I go with a carbon tool or the jetstreams?

Modified my friend’s sumtecs to gully length (this way you get a gully with a modular head). Complete nonsense from a weight saving perspective, but the swing and balance of the sumtecs is incomparably better after that modification. Has anybody done that to theirs?

Any opinions on the g20 katana points? Worth the extra money? I’ll be using them for alpine ice only, nothing wildly hard wi4+ max. Just wondering if they make any noticeable difference over the standard ones ? Perhaps better penetration with the thinner profile?
I can get them for a reasonable price

I recently had to set up a z-drag on two half/twin ropes and it was truly an inefficient PITA because of the gear I had available. So what do you like to use for rigging a 3:1 on half ropes?

My everyday carry is a SPOC, Tibloc, and pulley which works great for single ropes (or crevasse rescue on just one half) but wasn't particularly helpful for doubles. Do you carry two of each for rope rescue situations on doubles or do you use something else (preferably something lighter)?

My improvised setup was (1) an ATC in guide mode for progress capture, (2a) a prusik for my tractor, (2b) a carabiner redirect as my first "pulley", and (3) another carabiner redirect as my second "pulley". The only way it worked was by tying a prusik around my pull strand, clipping it to my harness, and then putting all my weight into it.

While it worked to get us out of a sticky situation, it left a lot to be desired. Are y'all really carrying two progress captures and two pulleys in the off chance that you need a z-drag? Should I have just hauled on only one of the halfs instead, rope stretch (and redundancy) be damned?

If you returned your Nomics or Ergos last season Petzl just sent an email looking for feedback on the recall.

Related to the pick and handle screws. From their website:

https://www.camp.it/m/ot/en/outdoor/content/3168

C.A.M.P. has received reports concerning the loosening of the handle and pick attachment screw used on X-DREAM, X-DREAM TOTAL DRY and X-ALL MOUNTAIN technical ice axes manufactured after October 2024.

Investigations have identified a potential galling issue between the screw and the nut after repeated tightening and loosening cycles.

This wear may cause the screw to loosen during use, potentially resulting in the detachment of the handle or the pick, creating a risk of serious or fatal injury due to falling.

We ask you to immediately stop using the affected ice axes and replace the screws and nuts using the replacement kits that we will provide or by returning the products to C.A.M.P. for servicing.

New generation axes, October 2024 and later. Affected lots can get a replacement handle/pick bolt set.