Suggestions for ice axe protector?

Pieces of an old mountain bike tire held together with duct tape.

When packing an axe in my luggage to travel, I use chunks of expanded polythene foam for both spike and head. I've carved a custom-fitted slot for the head, and simply cut out a recess for the spike end.

EPE foam salvaged from packaging. Light, free, pretty robust.

I don't generally use protectors when the axe is strapped to my pack.

Made two short sleeves out of ≈ 1" webbing (for pick & spike); these can be fastened to the pack when needed (depending on whether the trip requires an ice axe or not).

Don’t have pictures here (in the office), but could make (and post) these tomorrow — if there is an interest.

i used two duct tape "envelopes" with a hair tie looped through for tension. easy on/off, cheap, held up.

@Henk Smees (theflyingdutchman)
Thank you for offering to post photos of the webbing setup– There is interest.

@Ozzy McKinney (PorcupinePhobia)
I'm guessing the duct tape envelope is double sided with the sticky side on the inside? did you hole punch for the hair tie?
thank you for posting.

@Kevin Beeden (captain_paranoia)
Thank you for the this foam idea, I wonder if I can convert the flotation swimming pool noodle into a sheath.. fun experiment.

@ David Chenault (DaveC)
Thank you for the reply. I don't have an old bike tire around, but I live near a few bike shops, I will ask them for a free donation :)

the envelopes are just pockets made of duct tape folded over on itself on 3 sides, so no sticky sides are exposed on any face (if that is what you were asking). just poked a hole for the hairtie with a knife.

for what its worth, used ducttape for crampon point protecters and anti-ball plates as well. the antiball plates weigh nothing and worked way better than other folks storebought ones on a week long expedition last year :D

Rodney,

Here are a few pictures of my way to protect the ice-axe (apologize for the poor quality). How to attach these (one for the head and one for the spike) depends on your pack. My previous one (store-bought) for which this set-up was initially made, has two straps coming down from the lid and another two straps going under the bottom. Once you see the pics, you’ll get the idea of how I did it. Every pack is different, so you’ll have to figure out how to attach the protectors to yours.

1a. Protector of the head. Forget about the strap going down (with triangle D-ring) – at the moment I’m using an MYOG pack and this strap is part of same. The strap going up (on a normal pack, this could be much shorter) is fixed to de bottom strap of my pack with a triglide.

1b. Detail.

1c. Detail (other side). Pay attention to how the strap is winded around the adze and fixed with a trident buckle. The advantage: I can reach backwards with my hand to undo the buckle and grab my ice axe without having to take my pack of.

1d. Detail. Once again; forget about the strap with de D-ring going down.

2a. Protector of the spike. The “buckle” on the left (don’t know the name) is used to fix the protector to one of the strap coming down from the lid of the pack.

2b. Close-up of spike-protector.

2c. Same without ice axe.

2d. Close-up of fixing buckle (strap coming down from lid is going through this one).

2e. Same; seen from the other side.

2f. Complete spike protector.

2g. Close-up of bottom part of spike protector without ice axe.

Hope this is clear; if not, just ask.

Henk (TFD)
Aka. The Flying Dutchman

Thanks for the photos. This gives me a few good ideas. I like the buckle clip. convenience makes sense.

…

Duck tape, card board from a cereal box, and a piece of cord. The hair tie is a good idea. If you lose it, which you will, you can make a new one.