Mountain Project Logo

Anyone climb with the Camp (Cassin) X-all mountain ice tools

Original Post
cms829 · · NJ · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 90

I have been interested in the for a couple months now. But have been climbing on a loaned pair of BD cobra's. Im going to start saving up some cash and wondering if anyone could give me some insight on feel, durability, climbing ability, etc. I would REALLY appreciate it! Its honestly between those, the cobras, the fusions, or nomics.

Sunny-D · · SLC, Utah · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 700

I have the Cobras, Nomics and X all mountain. I choose to climb on the X all Mountain because I like them better. Think wood axe vs Scalpel. When you climb one and one the X all Mountain displaces less ice and is easier to get solid sticks. if you were in Utah you could go out with me and compare them all.
Dallen

Tparis · · Pottersville,New York · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 270

very different swing than the cobras. the pick is basically the old camp awax pick. only requires a wrist flick most of the time, I found that I tended to overdrive them and then had difficulty removing them once I climbed above them. I found the distance between the bottom and trigger to be a little tight for my meaty paws.

cms829 · · NJ · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 90

Actually funny you say that I may bein SLC in march. But hopefully i'll have a pair way before then.

Are they as durable as the others? hows the weight? and the swing?

Thanks bud!

Chris Wenker · · Santa Fe · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 1,887

Did you do a search?

Cassin X-All Mountain Ice Tools

funkyicemonkey · · Colorado · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

Somewhere I did a bit of a longer post/review on the x-ice or x-mountain or x-mixed. All the same axe with different pics. Basically I really like them, the pics do need LOTS of sharpening to stop them sticking. Great all round axe, it really depends on your swing but for the price you can find them they are fantastic. Only 1 big problem. The grip is held on with a small bolt - I am sure its absolutely fine but it does wig me out - logically the only time it could be a problem is if you use the hole in the spike for a belay.

All in all the axe is far more rigid than my Nomics, the angles are very similar and its better for big mountain routes. Having said that I do prefer the Nomic swing and the old Petzl astro pics, a personal choice. One final point, the pics are very robust, they last far longer than the flexy Petzl pics and the shatterable BD's.

Contact Camp and see if you can test them out.

funkyicemonkey · · Colorado · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

Just re-read your post and had a think. I would say Nomics or X- tools. If the X tools are cheap enough go for them, if not go for the nomics. I dont like the BD swing and I find that the design can at times be troublesome on cauliflower ice and I have a tendency to snap the pics - a problem I had all the way back to the origonal cobras. If you feel that the Nomics are not "mountain" enough just look up Uli Steck. The X tools are truly a fine axe and far more popular in europe, they are also more forgiving if you keep the teeth razor sharp. The great thing is all the axes you talk about are excellent - back in the day axes were fairly bad, ask anyone what their hands looked like after a few days on the ice with straight shafted axes and wool mits.
Good luck with whatever your choice is.

cms829 · · NJ · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 90

Thanks for all the reviews and opinions guys! I will thankfully be flying out to Ouray next Wed for the Festival so Im hoping to be able to try out the nomics, fusions, and the Cassin/camp.

Erik Rieger · · Maine · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 682

Have used my brand new cassin all mountain tools on a few hard alpine mixed routes and some waterfalls within a month of getting them. they swing like a dream and are very versatile. definitely a different tool than the nomics, which I would have gone for if they had a proper spike. spot on design, though, definitely recommend them.

Wyatt H · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 6

What are the differences between the X-AM and the Awax? More curved? Less curved? Lighter? I find that the Awax has a similar grip angle and climbs almost exactly the same as my Nomics.

JChepes · · West Ossipee, NH · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 7,390

Just climbed on my new x tools today. Very nice! A bit hard to
remove but overall 2 thumbs up. 1st tools were the awax series.
Sent them back to Camp after 1 season because of loose head on
on pick. Sent me new pair of x-mountain as replacement.
Siked! No only if it would stay cold to enjoy them on some
thick ice.

JChepes · · West Ossipee, NH · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 7,390

X-all mountain I found quite similar to awax.
Not much diifference except for new ugly orange color and different handle.
Either or both picks quite enjoyable.

Jeff Conley · · Kingman · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 0

I love my set of awax but I feel that camp doesn't support their tools for as long as bdel. I am still looking for the leashless hooks and can't find them anywhere, so it wories me I won't be able to find new picks if I need them later. I couldn't be happier with the swing and placements - so if the x-all-mtn is simular thats where my vote would be, but I have only used quarks and ergos in the past so take my opinion for what its worth.

Wyatt H · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 6

I talked to CAMP last year and they said they were going to make AWAX hooks again soon. Maybe call them and check the status of that. Still lots of AWAX picks out there too, if you want to buy them up.

Evan Johnson · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 675

I got the all mountains now, they're great! Like the awax, but updated extremely well. Great balance.

Also, if anyone would like to buy a set of (new in packaging) picks for the Awaxes, then shoot me a PM. One adze and one hammer.

Patrick Carey · · Keene, NY · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 0

My wife and I both climb on X-All's now. She bought a set first and I liked them so much that I sold a set of new Cobras to get the Cassin's. We climb everything with them - alpine ice, steep ice, thin ice, and even mixed. They are simply fantastic. The picks are so aggressive that they require only a light placement to be solid. They often times will get a good stick in otherwise bad ice due to the fact that they fracture and displace so little on the way in. There is also no learning curve with these tools. Literally the first time I climbed with my wife's, they felt so good I soloed a 100' grade 3 climb. That's not something I would normally do with a set of tools that weren't mine. I came home and bought a set the next day.

Two things about these tools:

1. They can be detuned to clean easier. Just take the down-turned beak off the nose of the pick and take a light pass on the backside of each tooth. Works like a charm.

2. They are practically a source of local pride in the Adirondacks since they are the brainchild of a badass local guide. The Mountaineer in Keene Valley has the wooden prototype he made and it pretty much lines up exactly with what Camp has produced.

Go get you some.

Erik Rieger · · Maine · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 682

Update: I have broken three pairs of grips now (one of the old version, two of the new kind). CAMP has gladly sent me new ones in the mail for free, so great customer service on their part. The fact that the grips keep breaking is a bit disconcerting (both first and second position pommels keep cracking), but the tools still rock! Hopefully they will figure it out soon (it seems like the plastic material is just too soft) as I'm sure many others have the same issue.

Evan Johnson · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 675
erik rieger wrote:Update: I have broken three pairs of grips now (one of the old version, two of the new kind). CAMP has gladly sent me new ones in the mail for free, so great customer service on their part. The fact that the grips keep breaking is a bit disconcerting (both first and second position pommels keep cracking), but the tools still rock! Hopefully they will figure it out soon (it seems like the plastic material is just too soft) as I'm sure many others have the same issue.
I have been doing some pre-season hanging/training with mine and have noticed some creaking noises. The handle system is only attached with one small allen key.

Erik: do you have any photos of the handles? Would be interesting to see exactly where they failed.

- I still have a set of the awax picks for sale - (SOLD)
Chris Graham · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 545

I am going on my second season with my X-all mountains and think are a fantastic tool. The picks are well constructed and have lasted far longer than any other brand I have used, The swing weight is damn near perfect and all it takes is a light flick of the wrist and you are good to go. They hook great and climb mixed terrain as good as any tool I have ever owned. I use the gray handles as the stock orange and gray handle was too thin for my hands. The new grips have made a huge difference. They are lightweight and despite the aggressive geometry, it is a wonderful alpine tool that you can actually plunge with...imagine that!

Just my two cents, but I have been really impressed with these tools and how they have performed on all conditions here in the Northeast!

Grammy

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Climbing Gear Reviews
Post a Reply to "Anyone climb with the Camp (Cassin) X-all mount…"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.