Best all around ice tool

Looking for ice tools that I can use for AI and WI. Was thinking grivel quantum tech's or petzl quarks. Opinions and suggestions appreciated!

I have the DMM apex which I really like. Curve of a nomic but the handle of a quark which makes it good for clearing bulges doing vertical ice but it also plunges relatively well in snow. Really well rounded ice tool imo

The Petzl Quarks are a pretty good all around tool.
I filed down the picks taking as a model the the Cassin X-All Mountain picks (they rock). Also, the Petzl picks last, I find them harder (longer time before needing to sharpen) than the Cassin and BD picks.

Remove the hammer/adze and add the pick weights for pure ice.
I've pretty much gotten rid of the original hammer since they tended to place too much weight on the back of the tool and opted for the CT hammers (discontinued). Petzl seems to have updated their low profile hammer so they may have caught up a bit with the CT ones.
Comfortably led some WI4+ with them.

I've done a few outings with my roommate's X-All Mountain and really enjoyed them, a step up from the Quarks apart from the pick being too soft.

don't wast your time... get the X Dream alpine, I've climbed long snow/Wi2 gullies, Super tecky WI6+ Ice and M hard drytool with these! they excel at everything!

I have the QT's and like em a lot, but I would get the xdream alpines if I were you.

Theriault wrote:don't wast your time... get the X Dream alpine, I've climbed long snow/Wi2 gullies, Super tecky WI6+ Ice and M hard drytool with these! they excel at everything!

Thanks for all the help guys! Now just down between the x dreams and QT's! Really appreciate the info from everyone

Adam Kunis wrote: Now just down between the x dreams and QT's! Really appreciate the info from everyone

Adam Kunis wrote:Thanks for all the help guys! Now just down between the x dreams and QT's! Really appreciate the info from everyone

Gunkiemike wrote: The X-Dream handle is not the sort of piece that one usually associates with plunging into the snowpack on an alpine route.

FYI, I have Grivel Matrix Tech, which I think has very similar geometry to the Quantum (but isn't carbon). The swing is really really nice, I like it more than most other tools except for maybe the Nomic. They would make a good alpine tool (and that is where I primarily use them), except the finger rest (the "horn", Grivel calls it) is pretty fat, so the tool will never plunge well.

For alpine climbing where I am going to be plunging a lot (ie, not a super steep route), I pair one Matrix with a hybrid tool with a sliding finger rest. The Petzl Sum'tec is probably the best known version of these, but I use a Grivel Nepal SA and my climbing partner uses a Grivel Air Tech Evo, both with the grivel sliding rest. Really good combination.

Quantum techs are great. As Theriault said, they have been discontinued but I dont think this means the picks will be hard to find. You can still find the old old style grivel picks all over the place and they haven't been made for decades.

problem with the quantum tech is that it is B rated and that the clip in point on the bottom of the tool isn't fully rated. i think its only rated to a couple hundred pounds. this is the same problem with the matrix tech which is the same tool but in aluminum instead of carbon.

can't speak to the x dreams. adjustable handles bum me out though.

the dmm apex are cool but they are a bit heavier than some other options.

you might consider the new grivel north machine. its a t rated carbon tool with the same geometry as the quantum tech - its more designed for alpine use. they slimmed down the horn on the bottom for better plunging...

I guess honestly if i were you, id get the matrix tech. you can find them super cheap. they're t rated and you can get spare picks cheap because they've been discontinued.the swing is one of the best ive ever felt. the only real downside for me is the non-fully rated spike...

Zac.St.Jules wrote:can't speak to the x dreams. adjustable handles bum me out though.

I own a pair of QT and a pair of x dreams- love them both but unless I plan on plunging, I would bring the x dreams no matter the grade.

I did confirm with Liberty mountain that Grivel will not be discontinuing the Monster line of picks.

Go swing some and get what feels the best to you. General "rules of thumb" for alpine + water all around tools would be: tools with plungable handles (so not ergo handgrips); a decent spike on the bottom; not radically curved; and weight conscious. Be weary of trying to take the super sexy ergo tools on long alpine routes. Sure they work, but there are better options imo. YMMV however! Both of your starting suggestions (quarks, quantums) are great examples of a "do it all" tool.

Lots of other good suggestions here for tools to swing to get you started, and all will climb well; you just need to find your fit, kind of like a boot. Put some time in and swing them before dropping $$$ on it. A bunch of suggestions from the internet are worth exactly what you paid for them.

All that said, from my own personal experience: check out the Quantum (or Matrix) Tech if you can. I love the swing (slightly head heavy and carbon damping), great pick metal, super light, and work well on both WI and AI. They're "discontinued" and can be had at good prices now. Picks will continue to be manufactured, and last way longer than others.
A few friends of mine use the Cassin X-All Mtn and I've been able to borrow a set a few times. Climbed a super thin smear with them and loved how delicate I was able to place the pick. A nice tool and worth considering, especially at it's price point.

Kyle Tarry wrote:The Petzl Sum'tec is probably the best known version of these, but I use a Grivel Nepal SA and my climbing partner uses a Grivel Air Tech Evo, both with the grivel sliding rest. Really good combination.

I've had nothing but great experience with my Camp gear so I think I'm going to stick with them. Now down to ergo vs non ergo. Gut is thinking all mntns plus they're cheaper haha. Once again thanks for all the help!

I guess it depends on if you're gonna climb wi3 and below or above that.... If you stick to easier stuff go x all but if you plan on doing some steeper stuff ( dosent need to be right now ) get x dreams alpine ....

Theriault wrote:I guess it depends on if you're gonna climb wi3 and below or above that.... If you stick to easier stuff go x all but if you plan on doing some steeper stuff ( dosent need to be right now ) get x dreams alpine ....

That's exactly my setup. X-All for easy ice/alpine and X-Dream for harder ice/mixed. Just be careful if you plan on using an X-All to plunge with using the X-dry grip. I just cracked the grip doing this so I am swapping one out for the X-Alp grip if I need to do plunging on the approach to something more technical.

Craghead wrote:That's exactly my setup. X-All for easy ice/alpine and X-Dream for harder ice/mixed. Just be careful if you plan on using an X-All to plunge with using the X-dry grip. I just cracked the grip doing this so I am swapping one out for the X-Alp grip if I need to do plunging on the approach to something more technical.