Petzl Ride Axe

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.