New Nomics?? :)

Does anyone know if there will be significant updates to the Nomic this year? Will there even be a new model? I know they just updated them... But, I'm very close to purchasing some new ones and want to know if I should wait or not.

Thanks ahead of time!

coldthistle.blogspot.com/20…

I had thought since the updates last year across their whole ice tool line, you'd be good for a while before any changes. Was just the bottom of the handle changed? Any idea why the Petzl website doesn't reflect this change posted on Dane's blog?

The bottom of the handle has been changed with modified spike and the size adjustment has been improved with better engineering. The older model Nomic did not come with either a hammer head or adze. The new model offers both.

jack roberts wrote:The bottom of the handle has been changed with modified spike and the size adjustment has been improved with better engineering. The older model Nomic did not come with either a hammer head or adze. The new model offers both.

Is this the older one now?:



Everything seems to look the same, except for what's posted up on the blog link above.

The picture above is the current model Nomic.

Same model as last year but a minor improvment on the end piece and pommel. No changes past that.

Pommel now has a serrated blade, slightly different grip shape and adjustments from the original. And as Jack mentioned the ability to add a hammer or adze. Also easy to add a Cold Thistle hammer to the old or new model Nomic. Both DRY and ICE picks are new and taper from 4mm to 3.2mm and are now T rated, slightly steeper in angle and have a different tooth pattern.

Nothing wrong with the original Nomic, but the new ones have a few advantages. If you can find a a pair, buy them, as there won't be a lot of them around early on.

Just got a set last week and they are amazing can’t wait to try them out. I never owned the older generation of Nomics so I can’t compare however I have attached some pics of the Nomics on top of the BD Fusion's and Cobra's. I tried to line up the grips as much as possible. The Nomics seem very similar in form to the Fusions however they are shorter. Also the Nomics feel significantly lighter than the Fusions with the weights off the picks. The grip on the Nomics is very nice and easy to adjust. I really like how the Nomic grip fits my hand, it is a much better fit than the Fusion. I have size medium hands and without glove or with a thin dry tooling gloves the bottom of my hand does not catch the bottom of the grip on the Fusion's very well so the little nub on the grips between your pointer and middle finger does not sit between your fingers very well, it kind of catches your pointer finger. With the Nomic's in the small postion the grip fits perfect, and in the medium position it fits perfect with a warm glove on.

Nomic1

Nomic2

Nomic vs. Fusion

Nomic vs. Fusion Grip

Nomic vs. Cobra

Nomic vs. Cobra Grip

Here is a detailed update from the blog

coldthistle.blogspot.com/20…

Is Petzl still having supply issue this year? I couldn't find any Quarks or Nomics last year.

Many of the major on line retailers have all three tools available now. I suspect they will be in short supply by mid winter. But that part is only a guess. Last winter was the exception not the rule for Petzl.

How does the Nomic compare to the Black Diamond Cobra?

Just got a pair myself a week ago and got to swing them this last weekend. What can I say? For me, they are my favorite tool I've got to swing. They swing so well and they work quite well on mixed.

coop wrote:How does the Nomic compare to the Black Diamond Cobra?

This is probably the most common review comparison anywhere. I will summarize a bit below, adding my own experience from getting to climb a few pitches with each of them (lots more nomic than cobra).

They are both definitely top-of-the-line tools. The general thought is that the swing on the cobra is just about as perfect as it gets. so for pure ice and snow using standard technique, the cobras are unbelievably good tools. Work nicely alpining as well, from what I understand (I don't do a whole lot myself). Also work nicely with leashes if you prefer that (I certainly don't). If all I ever climbed was pure ice and snow, this is probably what I would want.

However, the nomic has nearly as perfect a swing, and has a much nicer upper grip option and aggressive lower grip. They were made for leashless ice and mixed, and it shows. The offset handle and the upper grip allow for quite a bit more comfort matching hands and pulling strange moves. The all-metal, low profile shaft and head are way better for torquing and shoving into cracks. Though it doesn't seem obvious, they are making their way into the big mountains more and more, especially with the technical fast-n-light mountaineering crowd, though I think the cobra is probably still better for this for most (again, little experience here).

As a summary, the cobra is a great all-arounder leaning slightly towards the snow/alpine side of the spectrum, while the nomic is a great all-arounder leaning slightly towards the technical mixed side.

I pre-ordered some through Bent Gate while they were on sale. Hopefully they ship this week, I can hardly wait.

Now I just need to order a CT hammer!

Thanks Shoo, so if you plan on getting in to mixed climbing the Nomics may be a better choice.

Any other links to reviews that compare the tools? Thanks!

I climbed with them both in purely ice routes, no mixed or alpine. Nomic is simply better than Cobra. Both tools have their own swinging style. Nomic requires wrist flick to get a proper stick, while Cobra allows me to bash like straight shaft (useful when I'm tired). Both swing well, and have good balance. We can adapt to different swing style, but the picks at the end made the difference. Nomic pick (old cascade pick) penetrates and cleans like hot knife through butter, allows me to climb effortlessly. Cobra's laser pick penetrates well, but cleaning it is a FUCKING bitch. I get pumped much quicker on Cobras (and Vipers) than Nomics.

People said you can modify the picks for Cobras to allow easier removal of picks, but I haven't found that to be the case so far.

Here is the kicker, I got the new Quarks last season, and to my dismay, cleaning the new Ice picks is a pain. When I compare the picks to old style, they are completely different. Dane pointed out that I can modify the new Ice picks, but I haven't had the chance to test that out.

Please post up or pm me if you see a discount for the new nomics

Check Karstsports right now. ~$239. Link here

No question the older style Cascade pick is better on ice. But easy enough to modify the new ones. Have to wonder just how much the new design team at Petzl can fook up a great tool?

Nomic is better compared to the Fusion, Quark to the Cobra. But BD lacks a decent pick design in comparison. So no real comparisons...as already mentioned getting the pick out is more than half the battle.

I climb on most everything. But the tools I use and have paid retail for more than once are the Petzls. There is a reason I spend my money on their ice tools.

Dane, do you have a picture of the modified pick? I got a thick skull and I don't see how you can modify the new Ice pick to Cascade pick. I really don't understand why Petzl designer would change the picks for ice climbing.

I pretty much entirely agree with Dane though my experience with the tools is 180 degrees opposite I.e. I own both but have mostly climbed on Cobras. I think the Nomics actually swing better and have been easier to clean. In the past, I've mostly climbed with the Cobras in case I need to pound a pin and I didn't want to use different tools in the mountains vs on a "daily" basis. also I like the spike on the Cobras.

Other problem with Cobras on mixed ground is the angle of pull shifts when going from the lower to upper grip. Fairly easy to adjust to if you know what's up, but no such issue with the Nomics.

Now with the hammers available and the new pommel, I might make the switch. Nomics are still slightly more of a pain to clip onto/remove from ice clippers o n my harness though.

The Laser pick does need a TON of modification to clean well but I've got the process pretty dialed now.

I have a big potential issue with the new Nomic Ice pick though. At the gym where I train, it is literally impossible to get a stick in the Iceholdz(TM) on the mildly overhung system board. With adjustments to swing and hand position, I have been able to get good sticks with both Cobras and the old style Vipers. I'm guessing the first tooth is too steep (which is one of the things causing the cleaning problem with Laser picks) so I worry what they'll be like on real ice.

Will let you know.