Petzl Ride Axe

[Cole Crawford]

https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Ice-axes/RIDE#

Now available … 240g = 8.4 oz. Looks like it’s built for more serious use than the Camp Corsas. Anyone check one out yet?

[Rick M]

At only 45cm long not sure about its utility for anything other than meeting a race gear requirement or as a secondary ice tool. Would be difficult for an average adult male to get leverage in a self arrest scenario I think.

[Cole Crawford]

That’s the biggest downside for me as well. If I’m going to be carrying an ice axe while hiking, I’ll either use it by itself or with a single trekking pole. I rarely travel in poor enough conditions that I actually need to self-arrest, so 99% of the time it’s in cane position. Not much good for that at 45 cm.

[Lester Moore]

The Petzl RIDE is only one ounce heavier than the CAMP Corsa but it has an all-steel head. However, the RIDE’s head has some big lightening holes and looks thin in spots – makes me wonder if it would bend on ice. 45cm is less than ideal for self arrest, but it’s workable. 45cm is a reasonably comfortably length on steep snow in cane position, although holding power for self belay is questionable.

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

45cm is too short for most of what I use an axe for. This would be nearly useless as a cane for security when ascending steep slopes unless it was near vertical. My Suluk 46 TiCa weights 166g for a 70cm shaft and a leash. I think the functionality of a proper shaft is more pragmatic than the stronger head the Petzl probably has.

[Dean F.]

Come on, now.  The primary function of an ice axe is as safety equipment, to self-arrest, and you could certainly do that with this axe.  It’s clearly not meant for hardcore mountaineering or glacier travel- it’s targeted at… well, us.  Hikers who occasionally cross a sketchy snowfield.

And there is a reason that Suluk doesn’t market their product as an “ice ax.”  To whit: because it isn’t an ice axe.  If you just want a cane, Dan, good on ya.  But if you’re actually worried about making an unplanned glissade I’d take this over Suluk, hands down.

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

I agree that the main use of an ice axe in a backpacking context is “occasionally crossing a sketchy snowfield” but in this context I think it is safer to secure myself with each step (via plunging in a cane) rather than only if I fall (self arrest).

On something like a 30 degree snowfield it’s pretty tough to use a 45cm for anything other than self arrest, which is something I’d like to avoid the need to do. With a 70cm TiCa I can plunge that in with each step and remain quite secure. Something as short as the Ride would be impractical for this.

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