Weekend_Climberz Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Anyone use these yet? They're not even listed on the BD website, but they are selling them at mountaingear.com. Pretty cheap, thinking about these or the X-monsters for my new setup this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderhound Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 It kinda looks like a lot of weight would rest on the pinkie and ring finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyang Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I picked up a pair of grivel x-monsters for playing around on mixed back in March (got them for like $25 each - special deal). They are heavier than advertised, but beefy. The flexible shaft seemed like a lot of fun for California mixed with a lot of torquing on vertical granite cracks - just did some bouldering with them though, nothing all that serious (still just a beginner at mixed anyway). As far as ice performance I only managed to follow a couple pitches of WI3+ on them in April, but they seemed decent enough toys for the price. The picks were thicker than I expected, and I'm not sure how well they will work on cold brittle stuff, but on more plastic ice they seemed fine. I think sportextreme.com is having a sale on them right now - might be last season's model - the grivel.com site seems to imply that the new ones may have replaceable picks (though a little work with a file would probably fix that on the old ones too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbb Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I swung the reactor a few times and it is definitely something new: a leashless tool with the swing of an ice climbing tool like the Viper. The grip is sticky and felt good in my hands. It is also big enough to accept thick gloves. With the price point I imagine they'll be selling a lot of these. I'm pretty sure Kurt was using a tester pair of these last winter, so he may have more to say.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrgo Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I messed around with this a little last season. It seems like BD just wanted to get something out that is strictly leashless and oriented toward ice climbing. I would still go for a more all around tool like a viper, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 These and the Charlet Nomics may just be the ticket. I don't care what anyone says, the old Quark Ergos and the BD leashless tools suck on ice and don't swing worth a darn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromage Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 I'm holding off on buying these until after they are recalled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 I'm holding off on buying these until after they are recalled. At BD, the company quality control mission statement is "Get It Right the 3rd Time" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurthicks Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 these are really sweet. I climbed on the prototypes a few days last season on ice and mixed routes and they seem to be the ticket. I like the grip better than the Nomics. The mini-hammer head is also about the size of a #7 stopper, great for camming in cracks. Supposedly they were supposed to retail for $200CAD, which is sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceclimber Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 Supposedly they were supposed to retail for $200CAD, which is sweet. $180 Cdn at MEC, they're now up on the website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaee Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 Yeah, but they say "Ships within Canada only" now on all the ice tools. What's up with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekend_Climberz Posted August 18, 2006 Author Share Posted August 18, 2006 $189 at AMH, and that's in the states, so screw MEC and their canadian hording asses. http://www.alaskamountaineering.com/Product.cfm?id=1048 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderfour Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 Yeah, but they say "Ships within Canada only" now on all the ice tools. What's up with that? It's called price fixing. They will charge us 10-20% more int he states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted August 19, 2006 Share Posted August 19, 2006 It's called "vendor agreement", where BD will only sell MEC the product if MEC promises not to sell it at cheap prices in the States and undercut the poor American retailers with their poor jacked-up-margins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaee Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 So if I know a friendly canuck: a) how much to ship to US? b) will these be assessed a duty when they cross over? c) how much is the duty? d) should I just stfu and pay the extra $54 in the US? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 a) About $25? b) Yes c) Ask your border guards. d) Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whidbey Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 Just go up and climb... buying them on the way... bitch slap them on the rocks and bring em back... no problems.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crackers Posted August 25, 2006 Share Posted August 25, 2006 a) $25 Canadian b) No. Dru, or any other friendly canadian, will make sure they look 'used' before he sends them. He'll write "your forgotten ice tools" on the label. c) It'll take him about six months to make them look right. d) Don't you want to make sure that they're not going to recall them by having them tested out first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaee Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Maybe I'll wait a while to see how the new design shakes out. I did think about the used angle. Maybe Dru will come to Smiff and bring a few cases of these from MEC for us. I guess the border guys would probably probe him first anyway, so that won't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 The Black Diamond Reactor in addition to the entire Black Diamond ice tool line (Fusion, Viper, Cobra) will be available to demo at the PDX Ice Festival Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 got mashed potatoes aint got no T-bone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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