As the name suggests this axe is designed for walkers rather than climbers. Petzl says it’s for ‘glacier travel and easy snow slopes’. I’ve used it frequently in recent years and think it’s excellent for hillwalking. It’s not designed for technical climbing (hence the lack of short lengths) so isn’t an axe to choose if you have ambitions that way. The head has cut-outs to keep the weight down and is two-piece so won’t be as strong as a single-piece solid head (all heads usually have one hole for attaching a sling or karabiner). I like the short sliding leash which is easier to use and doesn’t flap about as much as a long leash. Overall for walkers I think this axe is the best combination of weight, design and price.
First published: December 2014
