Best all around ice tool

Nick Sweeney wrote: Send an email to CAMP, they replaced both of my handles for free!

I love my Cassin (CAMP) X-All Mountains for WI2-4, they stick really well and I don't think I've ever had one pop that had a semi-decent stick. Beyond that I pull out my Petzl Ergos because it's most likely to be sustained vertical and lots of hooking and pulling over bulges.

Nick Sweeney wrote: Send an email to CAMP, they replaced both of my handles for free!

You're in my region. I've used Quantum Techs and I own X Dreams. I know I'm in the minority, but I found the "spike" on the QT to be terrible. Seemed angled all wrong from how I wanted to use it.

The X Dream will work for everything you might do in Georgia and NC. They are great for vertical ice, sure. But they are surprisingly usable on low angle stuff. I take my XDreams up the stuff in the Blacks at least once a week when in. I occasionally will trade one out for a Corsa Nanotech (which can climb WI3 fine, fwiw) when there's deep snow, but that's more just to cut weight than because of any performance deficit in the XDream.

Before I owned the XDream, I used BD Cobras, and before that the Camp Awax. Though I've never used an All Mountain, I'm sold on Camp/Cassin. I was never super psyched on the Cobras and regretted giving up the Awaxes.

One thing about the Cobra/QT/North Machine that I think isn't mentioned often that I do miss: carbon shafts don't suck heat from your hands as readily as aluminum. My XDreams get cold, and I have little hands and don't want to wrap the shafts.

Just to follow up from my last post...CAMP has a great customer service department and has been extremely easy to work with. Replaced my broken X-dry grip with no hassle and even gave me the option of switching it out with the X-Alp if I wanted. This company seems to really stand behind their products. I'm a fan to say the least.

Craghead wrote:Just to follow up from my last post...CAMP has a great customer service department and has been extremely easy to work with. Replaced my broken X-dry grip with no hassle and even gave me the option of switching it out with the X-Alp if I wanted. This company seems to really stand behind their products. I'm a fan to say the least.

I third. Camp customer service is the jam!!