Need to interview people who have ice climbing experience

Hi, guys, I'm a student from Art center college of design. I have project about designing Ice climbing gear. I need to find some problems or needs for my design. Now, I need to interview people who has ice climbing experience. If anyone is willing to be my interviewee, please let me know. The interview will mostly via email. Thank you.

Hey Mike, I don't mind answering a few questions. I'm not the greatest ice climber but I'm happy to help. Just shoot me a pm.

Mike,

I am happy to help as well if you want multiple perspectives. I get out 15-20 days a year ice climbing and winter mountaineering. Feel free to PM me and we can swap emails.

bv
www.whiteknuckled.com

Hi Mike,
I've climbed ice for about 12 years, mostly in Colorado. Happy to chat about ideas-- I've definitely had a few of those moments over the years when I thought, "someone should invent a [blah] to deal with this problem..." Feel free to send a pm.

Good luck with the project.

been through the gear changes since the 70's(still have most of it in my 'museum'.) Drop me a line if you want a view on ancient gear days vs today's specialty tools.

Mike,
I am the one that pointed you here from the Socal Climbers facebook page.

To answer you question:
I like simplicity and do not like it when I need tools (like wrenches and screw drivers) to adjust gear. I had a pair of old charlet moser crampons (Petzl now owns the name) that had a flat head screw driver integrated into the buckle that you could use to adjust the crampons.

Newer crampons still need a screwdriver but don't have it integrated onto the crampon.

I also have a set of older Simond Ice Tools which allow you to take off a pick using the other ice tool pick as a flat head screwdriver.

As in both designs you don't need to carry any tools to adjust or replace components when out in the field. I think this intrisic value has been lost lately on manufactueres and I wish the desing engineers would bring that back into their thoughts when developing new hardware.

H ave about 10 years of ice climbign experience. I have several ideas I can give you for where I feel that ice gear has its weaknesses ans a few easy additions that would make some better gear.

IMO - The DMM Predator is the most artistic ice tool ever designed - too bad they are so heavy. They feel great in the hand and have many thoughtful features. Check them out. I like them so much that I keep a pair on my wall. Alan-

Alan Ream wrote:IMO - The DMM Predator is the most artistic ice tool ever designed - too bad they are so heavy. They feel great in the hand and have many thoughtful features. Check them out. I like them so much that I keep a pair on my wall. Alan-

thin, heated gloves

Mike, I'm available for interview too. Shoot me a private message.

I have a question. Is there any difference between women and men while climbing on ice? I see a article about women has smaller hands( wearing heavier gloves) that cannot hold a large grip as easily. They usually don't have the upper arm strength of men. And they can more often be vertically-challenged compared to their male climbing partners.

As a female ice-climber, I find it easier to climb with tools that have small grips. But the biggest difference I've always noticed between me and the guys is that it's so much harder for me to keep my hands and feet warm (!). Other women have told me they have the same problem.

This is what I am talking about - I am interested to see what you come up with. Go get em!

Mike Lai wrote:I have a question. Is there any difference between women and men while climbing on ice? I see a article about women has smaller hands( wearing heavier gloves) that cannot hold a large grip as easily. They usually don't have the upper arm strength of men. And they can more often be vertically-challenged compared to their male climbing partners.

I have (what I think) is a great idea that may or may not already be on the market: A thin neoprene pad on the ass of ice-climbing hard shell pants. I have thin gore-tex hard shells which are amazing, but when I sit in the snow with them, my ass gets cold very fast, which a thin pad of neoprene on the inside might help a ton with.

Just an idea

Ben Brotelho wrote:I have (what I think) is a great idea that may or may not already be on the market: A thin neoprene pad on the ass of ice-climbing hard shell pants. I have thin gore-tex hard shells which are amazing, but when I sit in the snow with them, my ass gets cold very fast, which a thin pad of neoprene on the inside might help a ton with. Just an idea

Alan Ream wrote:This is what I am talking about - I am interested to see what you come up with. Go get em!

I would like a pair of soft shell pants with a built in real gaiter bottom. So Velcro boot closure, stirrups, strap below the knee. Also waterproof and abrasion resistant knees and bottom. Full length side zips and suspenders.

thanks for your idea! Im still working on this project ! if you guys have any thoughts please let me know.

Hi, guys, I decide to design crampons. Right now I have a idea that crampons with a magnet. The magnet will attach on the boots' sole. This idea provides easy step in with no mess. I found it is really difficult when wearing crampons on heavy thick snow. Also, with magnet, it will hold crampons and boot to increase safety. I saw a video on youtube. A guy pops off his crampons when climbing. Is there anyone has this experience?
Right now I'm making a prototype with magnet for testing climbing with bail on or off. Here is a link shows how magnet attaching: magnet test
The next prototype I have fixed it to become one piece instead of two.