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Petzl Quark or Charlet

Original Post
Max Andre Loh · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2024 · Points: 0

Hello guys, I am going to buy one of these pair. Im fairly new in alpinism. I am just looking to buy one pair that suits both mountaineering and ice climbing. Which one of these pair do you think I should proceed with and why? The quark do have the retractable griprest at the end and the trigrests of course. The Charlet however do have the straps.

that guy named seb · · Britland · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 236

Get the new ones. Leashes haven't been relevant for about 20 years or so. 

Steve McGee · · Sandpoint, ID · Joined Aug 2021 · Points: 795

Yeah no need for leashes, and the new Quarks will use the standardized Petzl picks and accessories.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,687

My experience is that the older tools (the Charlets) are decidedly superior for technical water ice. For general mountaineering, I suspect there's not a lot of difference in performance. The Cascade picks that made the Charlets so great are no longer available however, and that can be an issue. But I have seen that the picks for the newer tools fit the older tools, though hammer and adze compatibility may not be as seamless. Photo of new Quark pick in an old Quark:

Graham Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 0

The Gen1 quarks are better for pure ice and have the lower grip rest so are actually fine to climb leashless with.  my guess is they are from 2007ish when people were still nervous about leashless tools and Petzl and Charlet Moser were still brand-sharing.
The more modern quarks climb fine, still have picks available and are very good all purpose tools. Buy those ones unless the Gen1 quarks are super cheap and you can use those for a few seasons until something newer and sexier comes out. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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