Grivel X-Blades--- used 'em?

Title says it all. I can't check them out locally. I've tried:

New Cobras: nice but too much $
New Vipers: so-so
Old Quarks: nice
Nomics: great but liked the swing of
Quantum Techs: better

So I'm curious how the xblades compare.

Thanks!

QT's will be much more rigid than X blades, better "dampening" as well - they will feel significantly more "solid" when they stick. The X Blade and Quantum Tech are very different with different swings. QT's have a more comfortable, rounded grip as well. I always thought that hanging on the flat metal bar stock handle of the XMonster/XBlades wasn't particularly comfortable, even with the plastic clamshell bolt-on grips.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly version of the Quantum Tech, look at the Matrix Tech. Or buy the Quantums used. (I actually have a pair for sale, if you're interested. PM me).

Hi John,

Thanks for your impressions. I found the Quantums to be flexy pulling down, actually, whereas it didn't look like the xblades would flex at all downward (sideways yes). Do you know if the xblades are the same geometry as the xmonsters? That would answer a lot of questions.

They're similar, but I've never compared them side by side to say how close they are to one another.

Your biggest expense is not the initial cost of the tools but the replacement picks.

Buy the tool the meets your needs. The cheap comes out expensive in the end.

rocknice2 wrote:Your biggest expense is not the initial cost of the tools but the replacement picks. Buy the tool the meets your needs. The cheap comes out expensive in the end.

Depends how often you trash your picks of course. But consider the Trango Raptor; replacement picks only $37. The tool comes with the mixed pick but the ice pick is really much better if that's your primary medium. They'll still out-hook most any tool out there even with the ice pick. You got to have smallish hands though, as the grip is snug and non-adjustable.

PS picks were on sale for $22 at the end of this past season.

Right in the olden days before interchangeable picks when the pick wore out the tool was toast something to keep in mind. As an aside this concept was one we broached with the Grivel people in 2005 when we visited Courmayeur...

Sounds like no love for the x-blades. I thought maybe they would be better for steep ice cragging than the quantums, given what looks to be the aggressive curve?

Point taken on long term value.

I did a lot of climbing (>100 pitches this season) with the X-blades on every kind of ice/mixed terrain. They swing nicely and the aggressive curve and offset grips are great. They climb well side-by-side vs. the nomics, with a similarly aggressive shape, which especially does well on steep-pure ice. The tool is very stiff in the downward direction, and they give great vibrational feedback with a good stick. I seemed to break less ice and hook more with these than with Quarks, Nomics, or Fusions. For steep climbing on ice or rock they certainly do well, hooking with these tools is a joy.

Issues:

biggest one: disposable-one piece construction. I've allready sharpened mine almost 1cm. not sure if they'll last through next season.

No hammer- I think the x-monsters might have one.

look flashy.

Not much stiffness laterally(they flex alot side-to-side). I've felt like this was nice in fragile ice actually. However this makes steinpulls and crack-torquing very difficult and sloppy. If you are trying to do any hard dry-tooling, these tools are not the way to go.

Upper grip is just the sheet of steel: you will need some rubber and tape to make an ergonomic grip out of it. Even after doing this, I still found it easier to match on a round nomic-style second-grip.

They are couple of cm shorter than most other technical tools.

If you plan to climb mostly ice, these are great tools for a great price. For harder drytooling, Nomics or BD Fusions both outclimb them for sure.

Thanks— I appreciate the firsthand feedback! This has been very helpful.