DMM Switch Reviews

Just looking for some DMM Switch reviews, not much out there about them.

Yup, not too many around. One review up on UKClimbing, but that's about it. I have a pair for testing, will post on here once I've had some time on 'em (so, mid-November). They feel like a pretty solid tool, and geometry is very Nomic-esque, so expecting a fair bit of them.

William Kramer wrote:Just looking for some DMM Switch reviews, not much out there about them.

Here is a vid of someone climbing with the Switch. His technique is complete crap, but at least you can see the tools in action.

youtube.com/watch?v=IWMW2j4…

I have a set... And I really like them. I have compared them to first gen Nomics... The Nomics had a little more head weight and punched into the ice a little easier, but felt flimsy in comparison. I found the switch to be slightly more balanced. On the switch, handle is all metal with the clear plastic coating, and was more comfortable for my hands in gloves (I've always found the Nomics to not fit my hands well).

That video tells me that those picks displace a LOT of ice. No reason to bust up that much ice on a grade 2-3 like he's on.

that video tells me that that guy sucks at climbing ice.

Yeah, saw it. They look clumsy, but could be climber. That's why curious if anybody had an actual, real world review.

Came out 6 days ago. Look sturdy but there is not much comments about the pick's penetration. X-Dreams pick are awesome but some blades bended easily (too soft, bad batch?). I would have like some comparision with competitors. The handle has'n t any ajustment which make it one of the strongest on the market. The spike lacks a sharpy point and is bouncing on solid ice.

climbinggearreviewsuk.wordp…

patbeaudet wrote:X-Dreams pick are awesome but some blades bended easily (too soft, bad batch?).

Really? Where did you get that from?

I have used a pair of DMM's Apex, and have found that they too displace a lot of ice in comparison to Nomics, Viper, and X All Mtn. The performance of the DMM pick is the only thing holding me back from getting a set of these. Otherwise they look stellar.

Rob Clark wrote:I have used a pair of DMM's Apex, and have found that they too displace a lot of ice in comparison to Nomics, Viper, and X All Mtn. The performance of the DMM pick is the only thing holding me back from getting a set of these. Otherwise they look stellar.

That should be an extremely easy fix. I haven't met a factory pick yet that doesn't need some geometry adjustment. It's easier if they give you a little more metal to work with to begin with.

Hi Bill,

Here's the link: gravsports-ice.com/icethrea…

A friend of mine got that blade after a first stroke in soft ice. It was 30°F outside in the shade, he verified and no rock underneath. Put a 19cm screw and bailed. Once home, he got a free replacement.

Hey Pat, thanks for the link. I've heard of one Mixte pick breaking but never bending. Good to know about the upper grip too.

Hi Bill, Here's the link: gravsports-ice.com/icethrea… A friend of mine got that blade after a first stroke in soft ice. It was 30°F outside in the shade, he verified and no rock underneath. Put a 19cm screw and bailed. Once home, he got a free replacement.

Weird, I have been through three sets of picks on my X-Dream from just wear and tare. I dry tool and ice climb with them, the most damage is by going through the ice and accidentally hitting rock and mushrooming the tip. I have yet to see any bent picks. My guess would be a manufacturing error in the metal tempering process.

Wondering what the op ended up buying for tools?

I've been swinging DMM Rebels for 5 years and DMM Apex for 2 years.

I have yet to encounter ice displacement from either tool as described above.

The Switch has an almost identical pick as the Apex if you compare their images, so I'd bet there would be a similar performance.

If you desire tools that stick perfectly time after time with the first or second swing DMM has it.

Haven't bought any tools yet, still borrowing and renting, looking for "the one".

I did use a pair of DMM Apex for 4 days of climbing, and really liked them, and I didn't notice any more displacement than most other picks, and they did usually stick hard with one swing in good plastic ice, but the picks were also modified and weighted.

What I didn't like was the angle of the tool, I bashed my fingers a lot, mostly on lesser grade sections, but on some vertical as well. Think that is from being more accustomed to Vipers, so more like operator error than a problem with the tool.

Jeff Johnston wrote: Just looking for some DMM Switch reviews, not much out there about them. Here is a vid of someone climbing with the Switch. His technique is complete crap, but at least you can see the tools in action. youtube.com/watch?v=IWMW2j4…

6 years behind this discussion but thanks for the video; I couldn't finish it because that guy's sticks are awful - pushing the tools like they're tack hammers. Anyway, I'm a Switch fan myself. Marc-Andre used them if that matters...

Gunkiemike wrote: That video tells me that those picks displace a LOT of ice. No reason to bust up that much ice on a grade 2-3 like he's on.

Or he doesn’t know where to swing lol

Got a pair of switch and apex, both are awesome, sturdy, fully T rated (can be used as anchor if sh** hit the fan) swing different than nomics but the handle is better with bulky gloves, double rivets on head and handle no wobble, no plastic, ships with head weight, adze / hammer built in the blade (makes replacement and customisation cheaper) 

The pick is T rated and a bit bulkier than nomic's pur ice which are B rated. That means you can drytool with last year's ice picks and keep a clean set for the next season. 

Colton H wrote:

Or he doesn’t know where to swing lol

It's what you said; just my assessment. I stopped the video LOL; kept thinking he was going to rip a tool. Jeff Lowe DID tell us all however that "most picks need some modification from the factory."