Trango Scorpion Ice Axe
|
Anybody used it? I am looking at getting into ice climbing this season. Already got boots/crampons, and the wallet is very thin. I can get pro deals on trango stuff, is it going to suck? I'd be spending twice as much to get a pair of BD's or Petzls, alternatively I could buy somebody's old axes. Which do you think would suit a new climber better? |
|
I've not used them, but I've heard other people say they were quite good. Trango has a long history of making excellent tools. |
|
actually to get a pair of new vipers would only be $60 dollars more on mountaingear at the moment. |
|
superkick wrote:actually to get a pair of new vipers would only be $60 dollars more on mountaingear at the moment.Wrong. As previously stated, I get prodeals on Trango stuff. It would be more than 200 dollars more. |
|
A friend of mine has a pair that I climbed on last year. I like them quite a bit and put some thought into getting a pair. The only complaint I had and what ultimately kept me from getting them was the fact that you can't swap out the hammers for an adze and I just prefer Petzl. |
|
They climb surprisingly good! Do it, you wont go wrong for pure ice lines. |
|
I have a pair and they are actually pretty good for vertical ice (up to WI4). Anything over that (or an mixed) and you should look elsewhere. Also, I was never really able to find a good leash that worked well with them thus ended up using them leashless which seems fine. |
|
Whatever happened to the "Don't talk about your pro deal or you will lose it" agreement that most companies make you sign when you are accepted in the program? |
|
My wife used scorpions for the first few years of her ice climbing. They are really fantastic tools. After that she went to the Cassin X-All MTN tools, which are probably the best pure ice tool on the market right now. (I liked hers so much I switched to them, also). We still have the Scorpions and loan them to new climbers because they have a very easy, natural swing. |
|
They are a little longer than other similar tools. The head weight is nice. The picks are soft, I bent the tips with very little use. Plan on shaping the picks because they dinner plate cold ice. If you plan on banging pins or pickets you're going to ruin them. |
|
Ray Pinpillage wrote:They are a little longer than other similar tools. The head weight is nice. The picks are soft, I bent the tips with very little use. Plan on shaping the picks because they dinner plate cold ice. If you plan on banging pins or pickets you're going to ruin them. For what they cost pro, or sell for used, they are a steel. There are obviously better tools but these work pretty well for the money.Bingo. Friend has a pair and they are really nice tools. |
|
They are quite nice, however if you are serious about climbing ice, you will just want to upgrade to Nomic, fusion or X-Ice or a more modern design. If the price is right, then go for it, but realize you will be looking elsewhere quickly. You can always give them to your significant other - or use one as a third tool. |