Grivel The Light Machine

Modular alpine ice axe for alpinism and lower grade ice climbing, with "Vario System" interchangeable picks and "G-bone" shaft.

A choice of picks are available - it comes fitted with the Alpine Vario which is Grivel's best pick for all round use.

There is a also a choice of axe or hammer version, or the possibility of removing either and inserting a black instead. The G Slider hand rest slides up the shaft out of the way when it is not needed, eg when daggering. The shaft has a technical angle and G bone shape which gives greater resistance even on thin ice. It has a rubber grip that provides excellent grip

Materials: steel, aluminium.
Certification: CE EN 13089, type 2, UIAA 152.

Length: 50cm.

Weight: c 549g.

NB Price is per tool!

New Axe Tests
B and T Ratings have been superseded by new EN Ratings, Type 1 and Type 2:
Both have the same test and strength requirement for the shaft strength test (which best simulates the buried axe/T-Slot technique), so either axe type can be used for belaying from the shaft in a buried axe belay. Where the differences between Type 1 and 2 become more obvious is in the lab tests that try to simulate torqueing/stein pulling and really test the strength of the pick and the pick-shaft interface, with the loads required for Type 2 tools being significantly higher.

So in summary:
Type 1: Standard walking and alpine mountaineering axes, suitable for ice axe belaying, but not designed for hard modern mixed climbing involving torqueing picks etc.
Type 2: Modern leashless tools suitable for ice axe belaying, and also designed for hard modern mixed climbing involving torqueing picks etc.

Thus it is not strictly true that Type 1 = B and Type 2 = T as both tests pass the old T shaft test and Type 2 axes are now being tested for properties that were not previously tested for.