Ice axe length for 5 10 As Chris mentioned, the axe should barely touch the ground when standing upright and with arms at the side. I was cheating with a 56 cm Grivel Super Courmayeur with an Evolution pick that could go back and forth between mountaineering and water ice/alpine ice routes, but thinking a lighter axe might be nice. com Jan 14, 2017 · This is sourced from REI's How To Choose An Ice Axe. 72m): 50-60cm; 5'8"-6'0" (1. I'm 5'10. According to the old advice, all of his ice axes are at least 10cm too short! Why keep an ice axe short? On steep terrain, a longer ice axe puts the climber’s hand The general rule of sizing an ice axe for general or traditional mountaineering says that the spike of the axe should reach your ankle when you hold the head of the axe in your hand alongside your body. A longer axe, though, can be unwieldy to use during self-arrest because the spike can catch in the snow and send you and your axe flying. When you shop for an ice axe, you'll need to know its basic components: See full list on outdoorgearlab. 72-1. His most frequently used ice axe is 56cm, and he even uses a 45cm ice axe for ski objectives. Jan 14, 2022 · Ice axes are measured in centimeters from the tip to the top of the head, and they generally come between 50 and 70 centimeters (20-27 inches) long (Image credit: Gerry Images) Ice axes are measured in centimeters from the tip to the top of the head, and they generally come between 50 and 70 centimeters long. 8m): 60-70cm; Too short is generally better than too long. However, personal preference and the slopes you expect to typically encounter may shorten the length. Avoid getting an axe longer than 70cm unless you're tall enough to measure out as needing an axe that size. Parts of an Ice Axe. 8m): 60-70cm >6'0" (>1. . A rough guide to ice axe length is: <5'8" (<1. For example, one of our guides is 6’1″ (185cm) and their longest ice axe is 60 cm. Aug 21, 2023 · My current mountaineering axe is 70cm and is heavy. Thinking of the Petzl Summit and wondering about length and whether 52 or 59 cm. vpdprmtyqfnyhlzxrugirkomfupnsgwqysjduwfsjgdhnxqegjpvq