Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe with Grip

We’ve read the reviews across the web for the Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe with Grip and summarize the results below:

Universal Ranking

PeakScore: 92 (out of 100)
User Rating: 4.7 stars 
Expert Rating: 4.4 stars

Number of Ratings Reviewed: 97

Pros & Cons

Reasons to buy:

User Reviews

  • Grip feels great and is functional.
  • Very versatile in many mountain situations.
  • Rubber grip provides stickiness.
  • Easily-adjustable leash.
  • High-quality piece that doesn’t cost too much.
  • Spears into hard snow without issues.
  • Able to slip the axe in between your backpack and your back for easy convenience.

Expert Reviews

  • Proven to be useful in tough occasions, albeit not the most high-tech option.
  • In soft conditions, it works well for chopping ice away.
  • The spike is well designed for easy use.
  • Very comfortable to carry in self-arrest or self-belay position.
  • Good option for general mountaineering as an all-around axe.

Reasons NOT to buy:

User Reviews

  • Some may not like the non-movability of the leash.

Expert Reviews

  • In firm conditions, it doesn’t work as well in self-arresting.
  • Didn’t work as well with firm snow for chopping steps.
  • The pick is wider and less-aggressively shaped, making it less secure on steep faces.

Summary:

The Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe with Grip is a functional, versatile, and easy-to-use ice axe that has proven to be a good all-around option on the mountain. The less-aggressive shape in the pick makes it not ideal for steep terrain and hard ice, but for most mountain conditions, this axe is just what you need.

Multimedia:

Note: User and expert rankings were reviewed across the web. Some expert reviews include these: 1, 2, 3, 4.