rhyang Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Just curious to know if anyone has actually seen one of these things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I think I seen on it on mgear.com. Unless this is just a placeholder.... Â Â link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdietsch Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I figured it was only a matter of time before BD came out with an answer to the Aztar ... looks like it uses a new style pick, not compatible with the old stuff where's the hammer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 thats the only pic I've seen and I googled the heck of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I figured it was only a matter of time before BD came out with an answer to the Aztar ... looks like it uses a new style pick, not compatible with the old stuff where's the hammer? Â given that it has a normal, not reverse clearance pick it seems this is actually a general mountaineering axe and BD is jumping on the "bent shafts for general mountaineering" trend started by DMM 3 years ago and followed by Grivel. Â So it wouldnt be their version of the Aztar but of the Air Tech Evo or whatever the hell Grivel calls theirs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyang Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 This seems to be another variation - a longer axe with a nonreplaceable recurved pick, sort of like the grivel jorasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYC007 Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Like grivels air tech evo axe/tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdietsch Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I figured it was only a matter of time before BD came out with an answer to the Aztar ... looks like it uses a new style pick, not compatible with the old stuff where's the hammer? Â given that it has a normal, not reverse clearance pick it seems this is actually a general mountaineering axe and BD is jumping on the "bent shafts for general mountaineering" trend started by DMM 3 years ago and followed by Grivel. Â So it wouldnt be their version of the Aztar but of the Air Tech Evo or whatever the hell Grivel calls theirs. Â I made my comparison based on the modular pick ... something the Cirque, Cosmi'tec and Air Tech Evo tools do not have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 i don't see that it's modular? in that olypicture it looks like its one piece. does it say modular in the ad copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdietsch Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 (edited) i don't see that it's modular? in that olypicture it looks like its one piece. does it say modular in the ad copy?  ad write up on BD web-site ... availble in 50,57 and 64 cm  Venom # Compact and light piolet for technical mountaineers • Replaceable Venom Classic Pick sticks and holds in steep ice • Curved shaft and dual-density grip penetrate hard snow well • Comes with a Lockdown Leash  Edited August 30, 2005 by wdietsch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dru Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Oh yeah, good point can't see that little bolt in Oly picture at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Crash Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 I figured it was only a matter of time before BD came out with an answer to the Aztar ... looks like it uses a new style pick, not compatible with the old stuff where's the hammer?  More like an answer to Grivel Air Tech Evo (which now also comes with a hammer), with the added twist of the replaceable pick.  So many axes to pick from these days... And now Petzl had added the Cosmi'tec. Argh. So many choices. Which reminds me I need to get these Quarks for alpine and everything else  drC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdietsch Posted August 30, 2005 Share Posted August 30, 2005 Oh yeah, good point can't see that little bolt in Oly picture at all  looks like there may actually be two screws and the need for an allen wrench .... one of the things I like most about the x-15, BP, Cobra, etc.. is the single sloted screw ... no need for a wrench in the field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyang Posted August 30, 2005 Author Share Posted August 30, 2005 I decided to ask BD a couple of things, and got some responses : 1. shaft and pick are both B-rated. 2. hammering pickets in with the spine is not recommended. 3. Availability in mid-November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 You've gotta be kidding, how are these fundamentally any different from the X-15 design circa 1989? Wait 16 years for what,a little bend in the top of the shaft? Look a little snazzier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figger_Eight Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 They're a whole heckuva lot lighter than the x-15. I've had my hands on them a couple of times now, and they're a pretty elegant second tool, or even as a primary. I'm not sure if field serviceable picks are an issue with a pick that's not going to see much vertical ice/rock. If used as a workhorse tool, they'll just last that much longer if you can swap the pick out for a new one without worrying about replacing the shaft. Â Also, even the standard Air Techs are soon going to have curved shafts. Â My 2 cents at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdietsch Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 for $35 less, fully "T" rated and only an ounce heavier I'd go with the DMM Cirque   personaly if I was to break the pick on a "B" rated general purpose axe I'd probably be tossing the whole thing ... you can pick up something like the BD Raven or Grivel Pamir on sale for around $50 .. the replacement pick for the Venon is $35.00 !!  if the only modular pick they offer is a general purpose shape .. what's the purpose? ... perhaps a more aggresive one is in the works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olyclimber Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 i don't see that it's modular? in that olypicture it looks like its one piece. does it say modular in the ad copy?  ad write up on BD web-site ... availble in 50,57 and 64 cm  Venom # Compact and light piolet for technical mountaineers • Replaceable Venom Classic Pick sticks and holds in steep ice • Curved shaft and dual-density grip penetrate hard snow well • Comes with a Lockdown Leash   I caressed one of these the other day. Seems like a really nice alpine axe. Light weight, nicely balanced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted May 3, 2006 Share Posted May 3, 2006 Anyone actually used one yet? You can get a classic or a recurve pick for them. Thinking of the 57cm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweatinoutliquor Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Photo of Hammer Version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Recurve pick: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Doesn't this axe seem to be a mountaineering tool? and if so, when was the last time a pick needed to be changed? Seems like a liability to have the potiential for pick loosening mid pitch. Is this acceptable for a pick changing benefit that will never be needed? Are people using this tool for water ice and drytooling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 I guess one could lock-tite the bolts down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Doesn't this axe seem to be a mountaineering tool? and if so, when was the last time a pick needed to be changed? Seems like a liability to have the potiential for pick loosening mid pitch. Is this acceptable for a pick changing benefit that will never be needed? Are people using this tool for water ice and drytooling? Alpine ice, like this one: or a half dozen other tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewhack Posted May 4, 2006 Share Posted May 4, 2006 Have the 57cm set. Adze with classic. Hammer with tech. Very versatile and relatively lightweight (20 oz w/leash). Comfortable for piolet canne. Swing well. Have used them on 50-70 deg alpine ice/snow. Haven't tried them yet on WI, but think they would fare well. Overall, think they are a great set of alpine tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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