It’s hard to argue against the value of the DMM Spire, says Alex Roddie, awarding it his Best Value buy in 2025 tests.
The DMM Spire ice axe is refreshingly no-frills, with a price tag to match. This straight-shafted axe has a welded steel head with a classical curve, and is available in a range of sizes including 75cm.
Alex Roddie’s Best Value in 2025
A basic but great value axe which came out top of the bunch as the best axe for step-cutting.- excellent value
- good performance
- good adze and spike
- grippy shaft
- weight
- welded head not as comfy to hold as some
- less positive on steep ground
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £74.99 |
| Weight: 360g (55cm) |
| Materials: steel alloy head, pick and adze, aluminium shaft, steel spike |
| Technical rating: CEN-B (Type 1) |
| Grip: none |
| Leash or Pommel: none |
| Lengths available: 55cm, 60cm, 65cm, 75cm |
| dmmwales.com |
Starting with the shaft, it’s as basic as they come: straight, with oval cross-section, and no grip of any kind. However, the anodised surface does have a surprisingly grippy texture, and at no point did I wish for a leash.
The pick is optimised for snow rather than ice, but I had no trouble climbing a 45° gully of hard névé. This is helped by a good balance in the 55cm sample I tested. The chisel-shaped pick and small but positive teeth all help anchoring in hard snow. It extracts smoothly too.
The section near the head is free from teeth and smooth under the glove. However, due to the basic welded construction, comfort in walking mode is not as high as other axes tested.
The adze is one of the best tested: broad, sharp, and sculpted for efficient cutting and chopping. Although it has cutouts, they’re small and don’t affect performance.
Thanks to the adze and straight shaft, this was the best axe of all tested for step-cutting. Self-arrest was also very positive, with a smooth and controllable action. The spike is sharp, chunky and durable – one of the best of any axes tested. It should stand up to many years of use.
Overall, if you rarely plan to venture onto graded ground and are ok with the compromises, it’s hard to argue against the value of the DMM Spire.
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.
