New BD ice tools?

OK let's see what the rumor mill comes up with...

I saw some video of a high profile BD athlete climbing with blacked out tools that looked like Nomics...or maybe slightly different?

Any ideas about a new BD tool for 2024???

Yes. I have used them and they are very very good. 

Link to the video? 

Dallin Carey wrote:

Link to the video? 

Will Gadd, IG

I haven't seen the video, but yes, they look a lot like Nomics (were there two or just one?).  They also look like they feel a lot like Nomics, but a bit heavier in the swing, overall.

Graham Johnson wrote:

Yes. I have used them and they are very very good. 

Care to elaborate, they looked like carbon, is that the case?

Did BD ever fix their issues with picks breaking?

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

Did BD ever fix their issues with picks breaking?

Yes. Like 15 years ago

that's about when I dumped them for Petzel and Cassin and haven't broken a pick since...  Pretty hard to forget breaking 4 picks in  two seasons  leading and soloing. I doubt I will ever have that warm fuzzy feeling with  BD tools again.. 

Nick Goldsmith wrote:

that's about when I dumped them for Petzel …I doubt I will ever have that warm fuzzy feeling with  BD tools again.. 

But you know Nick, this is a bit like saying “I’m not gonna bet on the Buffalo Bills anymore cuz they sucked ass 10-15 years ago 

Not saying BD is now as good as the Bills, I have no idea on these axes (unless JJ sends me a pair, lol)  just that 15 yr old datapoints in dang near anything, are irrelevant today.  Arc’teryx is an example of one I loved 15 yrs ago…not so much today. 

Climbing ice is mostly a mental game. I had 4 bd picks break in two seasons. I almost always either lead or Solo. There's simply no room for that baggage. Got so bad I was looking at my pick after every swing to see if it was still there. Plenty of good tools out there without the baggage. 

I can’t find any pictures or video. Does somebody have a link that they can share.

The video discussed is here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cnapo6bqd0J/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I’ve used this tool this winter and it is pretty rad. And it has some nice features others in the market do not. Looking forward to seeing the production version.

It looks like a non painted reactor …

Yeah.   Trying to envision what the radness could be.  Can someone explain why it’s not just an “also ran” Nomic imitation?  What’s the “sauce”?

  Is its mission to get Nomic owners to say “wow, gotta get me some of these!”  Or just for new ice climbers in the market for tools, to swing it and say, “Feels just as good as a Nomic!” And they buy this cuz it’s cheaper or in trendier colors….

Anyone know if they will upgrade the Cobra?

DeLa Cruce wrote:

Anyone know if they will upgrade the Cobra?

The cobra is already perfect

DeLa Cruce wrote:

Anyone know if they will upgrade the Cobra?

An "upgrade" to the Cobra would most likely make it worse. 

Kai Larson wrote:

An "upgrade" to the Cobra most black diamond products historically made them worse. 

Kevin Mcbride wrote:

The cobra is already perfect

That may be so. But that wasn’t the question. 

I just saw this  video, it seems to give the best view yet of the tools

https://youtube.com/shorts/N4VmpqS03eQ?feature=share