Now with a subtle bend in the shaft, the Black Diamond Raven Pro receives some welcome updates.
The original Black Diamond Raven Pro, with a straight shaft and classically curved stainless steel head, has been my personal ice axe of choice for the last nine years. The new design has a range of tweaks and improvements.
Alex Roddie’s Best in Test 2025
Other than its price, this classic ice axe with some welcome updates has just two minor downsides.- comfy to hold
- good range of lengths
- grippiest shaft of all tested
- excellent pick for hard snow and ice
- superb spike
- expensive
- large cutout in adze reduces effectiveness
- no T rating
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £120 |
| Weight: 439g (65cm) |
| Materials: stainless steel head, pick and adze, aluminium shaft, stainless steel spike |
| Technical rating: CEN-B (Type 1) |
| Grip: bevelled metal |
| Leash or Pommel: none |
| Lengths available: 50cm, 55cm, 60cm, 65cm, 70cm, 75cm |
| blackdiamondequipment.com |
The shaft now has a subtle bend near the head and a machined grip near the spike. The shaft also has an asymmetrical cross-section for greater comfort, and the pick now has a more technical angle. The spike is sharper too.
I like the fact that it’s available in the full range of sizes from 50cm to 75cm. No leash or pommel are provided. However, given the exceptional grippiness of the shaft, I’d argue that many people will be fine without.
The shaped cross-section really makes a difference to comfort, too. A comfortable hold in walking mode was always a headline feature in the previous iteration, and this tradition is upheld with a beautifully polished and sculpted head.
Smooth cutouts on either side mean no gloves snagged on sharp teeth. The business end of the pick is sharp enough for a good hold even in hard ice. Self-arrest is positive and a little grabby, but not too abrupt.
The bent shaft and revised head translate to definite improvements on steep ground. It makes placements overhead better than any other axe tested, and the balance just feels right. I found it a pleasure to use on Grade I/II mixed ground.
The adze is sharp and efficient at cutting steps. However, the large cutout does make digging out a tent platform slightly more laborious. I’m glad to see a much better spike, with a sharper point and more metal (the spike on my old one had worn almost flat). It efficiently punches through the hardest snow and easily finds purchase on ice.
Downsides? Other than the adze cutout, I would like to see a T rating to match its agility on steeper terrain. The price is also high.
Testing notes
Alex tested these ice axes on a range of day routes and short backpacking trips throughout the Cairngorms and West Highlands, including a real mix of terrain – typical easier winter walking all the way up to Grade I gullies and easy mixed ridges. Weights stated are as measured on Alex’s digital scale; note that the same length was not available from every brand, so the length of the axe tested is also stated.
This review first appeared in the December 2024 issue of The Great Outdoors. For more ice axes tested by the experts, see our guide to the best ice axes for mountaineering.
