Petzl Glacier Ice Axe

We’ve read the reviews across the web for the Petzl Glacier Ice Axe and summarize the results below:

Universal Ranking

PeakScore: 93 (out of 100)
User Rating: 4.9 stars 
Expert Rating: 4.1 stars

Number of Ratings Reviewed: 71

Pros & Cons

Reasons to buy:

User Reviews

  • Great for alpine hikes due to the shorter shaft.
  • Lightweight.
  • Effective at self-arresting.
  • Able to use for basic mountaineering or backpacking.
  • Good value for the product.

Expert Reviews

  • Comes in three different lengths.
  • Anodized aluminum shaft is lightweight.
  • The steel pick is aggressively toothed for grip on ice and terrain.
  • The handle has good grip for keeping your hand on the ice pick.
  • Performs well for self-arresting and steep climbing.
  • The design lets it perform well on clearing ice and chopping steps.
  • The clip accommodates most carabiners for functionality.

Reasons NOT to buy:

User Reviews

  • Too short to use as a walking aid.
  • The 68cm size might be too big for the last steep stretch during a climb.

Expert Reviews

  • Despite performing well on steep climbing, there are other picks that work better for consistently steep routes.

Summary:

The Petzl Glacier Ice Axe is a lightweight, aggressively-toothed, and functionally-designed axe. It is not ideal for consistently steep routes or use as a walking aid due to the shaft length. For those who want a lightweight option that is easy to carry and deploy, this is a great choice.

Multimedia:

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