BD Picks $7

[JayB]

REI (seattle store)has a box of old T-rated BD picks for $7 a pop. They were originally designed for the Shrike, but they'll work with any BD tool. Not a bad deal if you're looking for a spare pick to bring along during trips, etc.

[Colin]

What does "T-rated" mean? My Shrikes originally came with an older version of the Cobra Pick. Are these Cobra picks?

[jordop]

T rated = strong enough for mixed/alpine but smashes up the ice real good

 

B rated = not as strong, thinner, displaces less ice.

 

If the picks are Alaska pics, make sure they are not warped; over half of Mec's shipment were way out of true right out of the box and got sent back

[JayB]

"The UIAA tests axes in a variety of pulling and bending processes, and rates them either B (basic) or T (technical). Basic axes will meet the needs of snow mountaineering (self-arrest, boot-axe belays, glacier climbing, chopping, etc.) but may not have the strength to withstand high-impact forces like those generated during waterfall-ice climbing. Technical axes can withstand these greater forces"

 

I think that some of the thinner picks out there a la the CM cascade (?) may carry the B-rating. I don't think the rating would make much difference for someone like myself, but might matter to someone who abuses their shiznit while dry tooling, etc it might.