Ice axes
Product 2021
Woman, Man
The Reactor Ice Tool is the new technical ice axe from Black Diamond, designed for ice climbing and steep mixed climbing. The first sensations holding the axe are surprising if you are accustomed to using an equivalent competitor’s model. The heaviest part of the ice axe is at the handle and not at the head. This gives it a different balance when holding it and when using it. Swing initiation is much more direct and precise, the inertia and movement require a little more force for the blade to properly anchor into the ice.
The Black Diamond Reactor Ice Tool’s dual density handle is big and wide. It has an adjustment system that adapts to all hand sizes. At the index finger is a removable trigger that can be changed with an Allen key, (an additional trigger is sold with the ice axe as well as the Allen key). This grip is pleasant as your hand goes naturally in the right place. The lower part of the handle where the support wedge is located is quite wide and comfortable, which is suitable for a long and steep pitch where you need to stop and take a breather. For small hands, this wedge’s width is less practical, it creates discomfort, especially on a long pitch when fatigue sets in.
The double handle provides different types of grip and depending on its use, ice or dry, it remains very effective. Changing hands is fluid and precise providing support and giving significant energy saving. It is difficult to find an efficient and unobtrusive location to use the Spinner Leach in situations where you do not want to lose your ice axes. As with most technical ice climbing ice axes, the Reactor Ice Tool Black Diamond needed a little personal tweak. However, for little hands that tested it, there was no negative feedback about this point.
The handle is made of extruded aluminum. The axe’s geometry and curve provide efficient anchoring whilst ice climbing. Nothing very innovative about the curvature or use of aluminum. We never banged our fingers or had any discomfort with the ice axe’s placement in relation to the movement of the ice. As far as Dry climbing is concerned, we find its limited precisely due to this unpronounced curvature. As it’s not its specific aim, it is suitable for ice waterfalls and other mixed ice waterfalls.
The Black Diamond Reactor Ice Tool features a steel head and aluminum shank. The head is compatible with a hammer and mountaineering pick (sold separately). Two screws/nuts make up the attachment system for the tools (hammer and purlin) but also for the Black Diamond Natural Ice Pick blade. Delivered with the ice axe, a key makes it easy to change the blade or tools.
Having a lightish head, Black Diamond kitted it with the Natural Ice Pick blade. This blade is open-angled, meaning the tip is thinner than the rest of the blade. This gives it greater and easier penetration into ice. The movement you use when swinging the ice ax is not necessarily wide and strong for the blade to anchor correctly. It may be effective in the ice, but this blade remains fragile if you start to scratch the rock.
Here are the measurements of the Reactor Ice Tool Black Diamond: size 50cm, weight 610g.
When we took the Reactor Ice Tool Black Diamond in our hands, our first impressions were the ones already mentioned, a different balance than what we were used to, more weight and more space for the hand to grip.
After a short time getting used to it, this ice axe showed us all how effective it was. Precise, efficient, this is a weapon that Black Diamond has offered us. Its program is 100% ice climbing. It is also just as effective in a gulley or on a mixed ice structure. It logically wins the Test4outside FIRST Award.
The listed price is 260 euros. Size tested 50 cm, one size. No lanyard.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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