Grivel Dark Machines -- Lightweight Ice Axes

These are one of the lightest ice axes on the market. Here are my thought on these beauties!

[@derrangopaisels2494]

thanks for making these vids they're super helpful!!

[@naturenate7117]

Glad you like them!

[@JohnnyIDive37]

great vid Nate got to love Grivel gear.

[@naturenate7117]

Thank you! And I am a big fan of their ice axes!

[@JohnnyIDive37]

@Nature Nate you should try there G20 crampons.

[@naturenate7117]

@@JohnnyIDive37 I'll do a swap day with one of my friends, he also loves the G20s. I like the little spur on the side, I bet it adds a nice depth to the mono point. I'll definitely try them out!

[@JohnnyIDive37]

@@naturenate7117 Nate I use to have Cassin Blade runners once you try G20 cramps you won't go back.

[@andrewhowarth7260]

I climbed with some dark machines today with the total ice pick, I find them really hard to remove. When there deep in the ice! I climbed with a nomic today as well and the petzel picks are far easier to remove and easier to climb with.. My partner has the same issue too. It's a shame as the dark machine axe is really nice, I find the picks let them down

[@jaroslawwalewski1060]

As for issues with "lightweight" axes... The key is to have good balance, if you make it from metal and loose weight from pick and upper part you we I'll have issues with climbing. Dark's have light bottom part and also lighter pick do they've menaged to keep optimum balance. Best is when you have lightweight tool when shaft is really light and have the most of the weight on top. With really carbon tools you can get almost half of the weight on top just pick and head. Then it climbs almost effortless. Type of connection (in Dark's) between upper part made from metal and carbon handle can easily brake as the edge of metal just cut carbon insert in some circumstances...

[@naturenate7117]

Thanks for the clarification, it makes sense why they can brake at the handle under the right conditions. I find them to be extremely well balanced and are they excellent on ice, but I am pretty gentle with them. They are not the tool for extended mixed routes.

[@alanananf1244]

Hey man, how to chose this one compared with tech machine? For ice cleaning and mountaineering, and mixed

[@naturenate7117]

I would probably go with the tech machines if rocks are involved, they will just hold up better. You could probably get away with the tech carbons if you wanted to save a little weight though. the shape of them keeps the carbon shaft pretty protected.

[@ChrisSchaecher]

Way too boujiee. Stick with Nomics.

[@naturenate7117]

Nomics are definitely great tools