mammut_rep

O.k. How about $60.00?

This is NOT one of the older models with the rivet problems! This is a newer model that was purchased directly from Petzl about two months ago. I have a blue Elios, Size 1 (the smaller size) plus a Vizor (face shield). Neither of these have ever been used. In fact, they are still in the packaging. I'm asking $75.00 for the package, o.b.o. PM me if you are interested.

O.k. If the pick were replaceable how many of you would buy a pair?

The picks are forged.

The pick costs a lot more to produce than the shaft does. So, if we were going to make the pick replaceable and offer them separately, the cost of the pick would most likely be much more than half of the total price of the tool. The picks are pretty tough and there is a lot of metal in them. I think you will get your money's worth out of them.

Nope. The pick is fixed.

Both have GTX. Both are insulated, but the EXP has more. Approximately the same warmth as say the La Sportiva Nepal Extreme. The EXP is a little higher in the cuff and is considerably stiffer in the midsole because of the carbon fiber shank. The GTX has a nylon midsole that is pretty stiff but flexes more than the midsole in the EXP. In my opinion, the EXP is a better ice/mountaineering boot, and the GTX is a better general mountaineering boot. The EXP accepts step-in crampons a bit better also. The best thing about the EXP, I think, is that it is orange (swtiching to red this Spring) and the GTX is blue. Brighter colors always make you look cooler in photos. Hope this helps.

For Sale: Pair of Grivel Alp Wings. The one with the adze used only a couple of times. The one with the hammer has never been used. Both have Evolution Picks. $300.00 for the pair o.b.o. Grivel Air Tech New Matic Crampons. Never used. Includes Antibotts. $90.00 La Sportiva Trango Ice Boots. Used only about six times. Still in great condition. Size 44.5. $150.00. P.M. me if interested.

Mike, You can get the Taa-K-Oons with either the Mixte or Cascade pick now. Good to hear that you like them.

I talked to one of the guys at Northern Lights a couple of days ago and he said it was still passable. Probably would be good to have 4WD and take it slow.

...

JoJo, Picked up the very first copy from Feathered Friends today! It looks awesome! Great job! See you in Bozeman! T-

I have no idea if it is safe to mark your slings that way. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen anyone mark their slings before. I would say don't do it.

Yeah, these stay in the line. They just get some minor cosmetic updates (new graphics & polished heads) plus the new ones this Fall get shipped with the new "Horn." It's a removable plastic pommel like the BD Viper Fang in case you want to climb leashless on these. The Horn is available by itself this Fall (around $17.95 each) so it can be added later. Otherwise, the tools being delivered this Fall are the same as these ones.

Don't know. I'd have to look at the pics.

For Sale: One Alp Wing w/Evolution Pick, New Alp Adze & Easy G Leash $150.00 One Light Wing w/Evolution Pick, Standard Hammer & Easy G Leash $140.00 They were once part of my sample set and have been used once or twice at most. PM me if interested.

So, I got a request from one of the shops in Seattle to give you guys the official word on these skinny slings from Mammut. A couple of years ago, someone at Mammut realized that the colored thread, made of nylon, serves really only two purposes. One is to give the slings color and the other is to increase the surface contact, or friction, between the sling and the bartacks. The nylon thread in the sling doesn't add to the strength because the breaking strength of nylon can be up to 40% lower than spectra. So, if you remove some of the nylon but keep the same amount of spectra, you can maintain a 22kn breaking strength while decreasing the width of the sling. However, since you are removing some of the nylon, there won't be as much friction between the sling and the bar tacks. So, to work around this the sling is widend at one end and the other end is tucked inside. Then it is bartacked through all of the layers. This helps to hold the ends of the sling against each other. In other words, a traditional sling has one end bartacked on top of the other end. In a pull test, as the breaking strength is approached, one end of the sling usually starts to peel away from the other end. Stuffing one end into the other prevents this from happening. Hopefully, this makes sense. If not, you can make up your own stories about how this sewing method works. They are as strong as other spectra slings. As for the fuzzing up issue, I don't think they fuzz up any more than any other spectra sling. It is just more noticeable since the spectra to nylon content is higher than in other spectra slings. They are meant to be light and lower bulk. If you want more durable slings buy nylon. There. How's that, Mike?

Sorry, I guess I didn't do a very good job of explaining this. The knob stays in, positioned above the eye of the screw until you have enough threads in to flip out the handle and start cranking. Also, having the knob above the eye allows you to keep pressure on the screw when getting it started. Hopefully this time it makes sense.

IceIce, Grivel really isn't trying to "re-invent" the ice screw and they aren't trying to copy the other screws on the market. What we heard from all of you (you being the American ice climbing community) is that the 360 screws were great except that the way they racked sucked. The proven design that allowed for efficient racking is the design that BD, Charlet, Omega, etc. uses. We're not trying to copy it, just trying to give climbers what they asked for. The other new design feature of the Americana is that the knob will allow you to never have to let go of the screw while geting it started in the ice. If you don't understand what I mean by this, imagine you are trying to place a BD screw or any other screw that has a rigid hanger. There comes that point when you make that first turn as far as your wrist can turn and then you have to let go of the screw to make the next turn. I'm sure most people that have placed screws on lead have at least imagined their screw not being in the ice enough and having it fall out after you let go of it to make the next turn. Or, like me, they have actually experienced the screw falling out and down the climb. The yellow knob rotates and allows you to keep constant pressure on the head of the screw while you let go of the hanger to make the next turn. Essentially, you are never letting go of the screw, so it will reduce your chances of dropping it while getting it started. Make sense? This design feature is new. It is not being copied from any other screw's design out there. Sure, you don't get the same crank that pivots out of the way in tight spots like the 360's. That's why the 360's are staying in the line. I've tried for over a year to convince people that all you needed to do to address the racking issue with the 360's is to carry one or two extra biners and rack fewer screws per biner. Also, you most likely would find a use for those extra biners while climbing. Grivel is just trying to make things a bit more efficient for ice climbers. If you have specific questions or concerns about this new design, PM me. The Americanas will start showing up in stores around the end of September so you will be able to take a closer look then. I've got one that I'm willing to show people if you can't wait until then.

Does anyone know if there will be an ice fest in Lillooet this year?

Lawgoddess, FYI, the Tech Wing and Top Wing go away this coming Fall. They will be replaced by two new leashless tools. Besides, shouldn't everyone own at least two sets of tools?

Both tools are now sold.

Sorry. No spare adze for sale.

The Tech Wing has sold, but the Top Wing is still available.