"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here’s what you need to know when choosing ice tools, along with my favorite picks for the best ice axes.

This capable mountaineering axe combines a hot-forged head with an ergonomic kinked shaft for exceptional all-round ...

This Czech-made, value-orientated axe hits the sweet spot for progression from winter hillwalking to mountaineering, with ...

Ultra-light at only 280 g, the GULLY ice axe is designed for technical mountaineering and steep skiing. Its tapered banana-shaped pick and the TRIGREST handrest (adjustable without a tool) ensure the ...

Just as a hiking pole can be a hiker’s best friend on the trail, a good ice axe can be a mountaineer’s best friend on snowy and icy slopes. Most ice axes are long enough to provide stability and ...

I took a nasty 300 foot slide on a hard-packed, black diond slope after slipping while snowboarding. On the way down I intersected with a tree and have lived to tell the tale. I would like some advice ...

When venturing into the backcountry in winter and even into the shoulder seasons of late fall and early spring, an ice axe is a vital tool for navigating steep snow fields, ice, and scrambles. However ...

The ice axe you’ll want to use for mountaineering and couloir climbs is different than the type of ice tools you’ll need for pure ice climbing. A ski mountaineer or scrambler will have different needs ...