Modifying Ice Axes for Kids (Tools for Slabby to Vertical Ice)
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I'm curious about everyones experiences with modifying ice axes for kids for vertical ice. Thanks for the information and pictures are always great to see. |
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Go find them a pair of used quasar compacts , remove the hammers . Short , good enough grip and they swing ok . He'll I have a pair that I still climb with just for old times sake . And to show the so called experts ( ex-spurts!) that its not the tool just the operator ! |
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Whats the worst thing that can happen if the kid is wearing a helmet??? I can't imagine anything worse than a few dozen stitches, something a lot of kids used to get. . . |
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Dont have a pic handy , but cut down the handle of an old terrydactyl ice tool to make it a small 'hooking tool for kids. Added some one inch webbing for a wrist sling. It works fine. Also the Omega Pacific Bulldog tools from several years ago came in very short lengths(like 40 or 45 cm?) and were perfect kid tools once rigged with a wrist sling. Also any old tool that is an axe, with an adze, MUST have a tennis ball duct taped over the adze to keep that sharp edge from making head contact with the kids. Of course, a helmet on their heads. Kids seem to place tools right in front of their faces alot to start. Slabs and pocketed vertical are best ways to start them off for sure. |
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Grivel makes a kid friendly tool, the Alp Monster. It comes in 38cm. |
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I thought the alp monsters were third tools and the lil monsters were kids tools. Pretty much anything small will work, my kids have even swung most of my axes at one time or another. Bonus, the lil monsters are $10 cheaper per tool. |
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Yeah, have seen those 'lil monsters, but they lack any weight at all IF you want your kid to learn to swing a pic into the ice at all. Just work for hooking pretty much for a rookie. Takes a skill to punch one into hard ice with any force. Cheap, but not quite for under 11 yrs old I'd say. |
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Woodchuck ATC wrote:Yeah, have seen those 'lil monsters, but they lack any weight at all IF you want your kid to learn to swing a pic into the ice at all. Just work for hooking pretty much for a rookie. Takes a skill to punch one into hard ice with any force. Cheap, but not quite for under 11 yrs old I'd say.What about drilling and installing a set of Nomic pick weights to assist? |
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What about buying a couple of old school coonyard ice hammers? |
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Anything new on making tools for kids? |
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I would recommend NOT shortening "full size" tools. I shortened the handles on some old BD X-15s and they never worked right afterwards. Turned out that a shorter handle drastically changed the angle that the pick is loaded at. The result was that it would pull the pick straight out of even bomber placements. |
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How bout a set of Hummingbirds? |
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My daughter started climbing ice last year at age 7; I climbed next to her and helped her hook the tools. We both had a great time. |
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Oscar, that's awesome! |
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Any updates on making kid tools? |
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these look pretty sweet as kid tools |
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The 43cm sumtecs look like the best bet without having to modify. |
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I second the vote for the little Sumtec. I was able to get one on sale last year and my 3 year old loves it. He's tried a little dry-tooling and wants to get on ice this winter. I'm going to put some small metal cleats in his winter boots and we're going to play around on the creek with his axe and "crampons". |
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Mark Regier wrote: I'm glad this thread has new life. |