Sum'tec Hybrid Ice Axe - How hybrid are we talking?

Hi all,

I've got a target this summer that may require some climbing on 45 degree ice in a couloir (N. Palisade, U-Notch). I have two regular axes but I wanted to mix it up a bit by getting a tool for the ice. I've been on low angle ice before with my regular axe and was fine... but new gear is always fun. Anyways, I'm only going to buy one for now because I don't have any plans for vertical ice. With all that said, I was wondering if the Sum'tec would fit the bill for what I'm planning to use it for. Or should I just get a a proper tool?

This guy appears to do alright at above what I'm looking at:

Responses because over my limit: Thanks! I've got an 26" Grivel Glacier and a comparable BD, I think it's called a "Raven?" The BD axe is pretty heavy so I'm not opposed to ditching it in favor of a tool just to save some weight. But good to know that I'd probably be ok with what I have. That said, a single Quark is looking good if I do go for a tool, so thanks for the tip - price is right, too. My friends all ice climb at Lee Vining so they'll probably drag me out there one day, so vertical ice is not out of the question in the future. I mostly climb in California so real vertical ice opportunities are limited.

The Sum'tec will climb 45 degree ice much better than your traditional axes will.   Both the pick design and the fact that it has a pinky rest make it better at vertical ice.   However, given that you already have 2 traditional axes, maybe it makes more sense to get an axe like the quark or cobra?   Especially if you want to get into vertical ice climbing in the future.

I guess what I'm saying is that I recommend the Sum'tec to two people
1.   The person getting their first axe who intends on quickly progressing from easy glacier objectives to moderate angle alpine objectives.
2.   Somebody who intends to have a big quiver of axes and wants a great tool for moderate angle alpine objectives

What are you regular axes and how long? For something like the U-Notch which is just ice no real bulgy steps over icy rock I would say just save yer money til you figure out what you might be doing in the future.

CalvinM wrote: I guess what I'm saying is that I recommend the Sum'tec to two people
1.   The person getting their first axe who intends on quickly progressing from easy glacier objectives to moderate angle alpine objectives.
2.   Somebody who intends to have a big quiver of axes and wants a great tool for moderate angle alpine objectives

Would person 1 not be better served getting a more traditional (and significantly less expensive) piolet like the BD Raven or DMM Cirque to start out with, and then paired technical tools (quarks, cobras, etc.) when needed? Or just going straight for a single quark or cobra and bypassing the walking tool entirely?

If you didn’t own the sum tec, but had say, a quark/cobra/viper, then I would say skip it. If you have none of those, the sum tec would be great. On 45* ice, good foot technique and one sum tec should be great. 

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. I'll let you know what I end up going with.

Update:

Thanks for all the advice!
I scored 2 X very lightly used Cobras for $200 total.   The picks are even pretty nice still.
Super dope.

Nice, I assume the old gens Cobra's. I use them and think they are a great all round alpine and vert ice tool.

Yeah, they're the older ones. I may be doing the U-Notch later in the season when it's blue ice instead of snow, and they should come in handy. I may need to buy an adze (both are hammers) and new picks, but even then it was a good deal.