Best piton hammer?

looking for opinions on a hammer of whatever make and model is lightweight, but still enough ass behind it to do the job. Looking for better options to carry in our team rescue packs.

thanks!

I've used my ice tools, cobras are so versatile; but use the larger hammer, Kev Craig deserves props on that idea.

yes, on an operation yesterday we used the hammer on my grivel X monster...however sometimes I wont be there for them to use my tool.

Omega Pacific makes one with a fiberglass handle. I don't nail, so I don't know how it compares, but using normal hammers quite a bit I prefer fiberglass to wood any day.

Omega Pacific fiberglass hammer.

Tryin' to wear out a Grivel Thor. Light, but, enough to drive some iron or set a bolt if need be.

I'd also probably check out a few of the Petzl models, too.

Do you guys think that any of the construction type hammers would be good as well?

I dig the built in funkness device!

just buy a Black Diamond. It's been a solid hammer, in one form or another, for close to forty years. Easy to find and not a lot of money. iI your in a hurry, don't expect a A5 coming your way if at all.

The supertopo community Duece A5 project is alive and well, but I expect it will be later this year or perhaps early next year before they are ready. The casting of the heads is complete at this stage. If you are intersted in ordering one of these hammers please check out the thread below:

supertopo.com/climbers-foru…

There are about 170 ordered right now.

Allen Hill wrote:just buy a Black Diamond. It's been a solid hammer, in one form or another, for close to forty years. Easy to find and not a lot of money. iI your in a hurry, don't expect a A5 coming your way if at all.

I agree; my BD yosemite hammer has been a great tool for close to 15 years now. Fiberglass is nice for canoes not hammers. Wood handles make all the difference in shock absorption.

tenpins wrote:looking for opinions on a hammer of whatever make and model is lightweight, but still enough ass behind it to do the job. Looking for better options to carry in our team rescue packs.

Let's try it again, but, this time with an emphasis on lightweight. I'm thinking a hammer that will ride compactly at the bottom of a pack and only used very seldomly.

I noticed on the 'taco that Greg Barnes uses a Cassin Roccia that were blown out on Sierra for around 15 bucks each. Then he cuts it down to make it more compact. That'd be a great option if you can find one.

I'd probably look at the Camp Brenta, the Petzl Tam Tam or Bongo, and I see Karst Sports has the Kong Speleagle in stock, which is light and compact (571g).

I guess the Grivel Thor isn't available anymore.

A hammer probably has to have enough head weight to make it functional. I'd guess somewhere around a pound to pound and half is as light as maybe practical. Bit under the near two pounds that most heavy use rock hammers go at (A5, BD, Kong, etc).

Good luck on the search. Post up a review if you pick something up!

-Brian in SLC

This OTHER hammer from Kong looks like a lighter hammer than a "big wall hammer". I saw it in the Liberty Mountain catalogue the other day.

kong.it/products/HI_QUALITY…

I can't stop watching it!

That Kong speleagle looks like a bad backcountry rig! Anyone gotten to swing it? Id be real interested in any reviews anyone could point me towards.

Ive been considering a hammer for backcountry rap bolts/pins, more so than climbing actual nailing routes. Something that will get hauled around and then be brought out only when natural alternatives arent available.

TDog wrote: Brian, isn't "bit under" and "near two pounds" the same thing in the same sentence?

Nah. Was thinkin' closer to a pound or pound and a half versus nearly 2lbs.

For some reason, I keep thinkin' the BD hammer is much bigger and heavier (mostly 'cause I used an A5 for such a long time). Its actually not that heavy a hammer. 703g or 26oz? I did pick one up as my Thor is gettin' pretty worn out.

Something under 600 grams just seems a bit smaller to me. Its size and weight.

Some weights for comparison (someone might double check these):

BD hammer 703g
Kong Speleagle 571g
Camp Brenta 687g
Petzl Bongo 680g
Petzl Tam Tam 535g

-Brian in SLC

TDog wrote: "lightweight, but still enough ass" LOL, you can't have both. BD is 26 oz. That equals 1.6 lbs. Looks like a good match for the team rescue pack.

The BD is 700g
The Kong is 571g

Just wonder what is the right weight to drive stuff, and yet be light as well. One cool feature about the Kong is that you can tighten 13 and 17mm nuts with it as well.

There is too much gear out there :D

very cool. Thanks for the input everyone. those alpine hamemrs are cool, and I was expecting to hear something positive about fiberglass handles, but the veterans say no - duly noted.

listening to MC Hammer "Can't touch this" as I type.

-I told you homeboy!

Brian in SLC wrote: I noticed on the 'taco that Greg Barnes uses a Cassin Roccia that were blown out on Sierra for around 15 bucks each. Then he cuts it down to make it more compact. That'd be a great option if you can find one. -Brian in SLC

Not really, the handle is too short for piton work unless you like scraping your knuckles off. My cut-off Cassins are 566 and 570 gms (one is getting worn so I made another). I don't know the weight of the originals, but if one were to use it for pins, you'd want it full length.

But it is sweet for a lightweight bolting kit - the hammer even fits in an A5 bolt bag.

Peter Springs wrote:Omega Pacific makes one with a fiberglass handle. I don't nail, so I don't know how it compares, but using normal hammers quite a bit I prefer fiberglass to wood any day. Omega Pacific fiberglass hammer.

+1 for durability and schwing-iness. LOVE mine, but its not light.

I have placed plenty bolts with a Petzl Tam Tam. It takes a while but does the job, it's a nice light hammer and would be fine for placing a few pins.

The Omega Pacific hammer is far from light, and the eyehook in the handle should not be trusted for even hammer weight. Mine failed while the hammer was hanging from my harness. Also the fiberglass doesn't absorb any of the shock like a wood hammer does.

Craig Martin wrote: The Estwing makes a great hammer for pounding pins.

Dude, what's going on in this pic? I can't see any pins but I see a framing hammer. What are you pounding on?

And ... What are you people using hammers for? Are you aid climbing, placing bolts, replacing anchors?

Do people really still hammer pins? Aren't all prior piton aid climbs now clean because of modern gear? Are there that many places where people still pound pins? Or are you people replacing bolts?

Mut wrote: And ... What are you people using hammers for? Are you aid climbing, placing bolts, replacing anchors? Do people really still hammer pins? Aren't all prior piton aid climbs now clean because of modern gear? Are there that many places where people still pound pins? Or are you people replacing bolts?

Think of this as more a SAR app.

You don't get the choice of the best of rock or natural gear, you get shit rock with dime-thin seams along with moss filled cracks -- pitons can be an effective way of putting anchors in on the fly.

Although, you could say the same about some alpine climbs & winter technical, not all of them are clean cracks just waiting for that juicy cam or tri-cam.

Which is why I go with my cobras, I'm using them anyway on technical access, no reason to carry another hammer.

Although, I have the BD hammer, it's great; if I'm going into a pure crag situation where ice tools are not needed; it'll be the wall hammer and/or drill, depending on what systems/patient transport and logistical needs are.

("I" could mean "we" -- as it's not just one person rigging up something) this is when clean gear, trees, boulders, any other natural or fire-truck type anchor just isn't available; which if this be the case, I've only encountered a piton application in the shit-rock alpine where nobody would claim such a disgusting line, anyway.