Grivel X Monster?

[Coldfinger]

Howdy,

 

Am thinking about going leashless and wondering what folks have to say about these tools for ICE, nothing too extreme but vertical, swing, penetration, balance, etc.....

 

Thanks!

[RafalA]

Owned these for about two days but got a chance to climb some WI3/4 and easy mixed on them.

 

The most interesting thing was the side-to-side flex, which was worrying to say the least. They're designed to do so, but man did it ever feel sketchy.

 

Swing was ok, although pick penetration was marginal and required quite a bit of force to sink it in (non-modified pick). As they're all single-thickness steel, the balance is somewhat middle-to-upper end of the shaft (due to the pick being quite heavy).

 

Another thing I noticed was their shortness compared to other tools.

 

All in all, even for the price, not worth it imo.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

I've had a set for a few years. I think they are an excellent tool for all-around moderate alpine terrain, but suffer a bit on cold pure ice. The pick is very thick. I added a small tooth near the front, which helped with stability in shallow placements, but it still isnt as good as my quarks.

 

Benefits of x-monster:

price

weight

hammer and spike

umbilical clip-in

plunge head first

good on soft ice and hooking ice

good on easy to moderate mixed

 

drawbacks:

fat pick is not very delicate

I dont like the flexi shaft on steep sport-mixed

 

Coupled with my quarks, they make a nice second set of tools, and I use them more often than quarks in the mountains. That being said, I think I'll get some new Nomics this season.

 

[summitchaserCJB]

Don't buy the stupid monster x. It personifies everything bad about climbing IMO- flashy, stupid, shallow.

Get some tools you can take into the alpine and beat the s*** out of. Don't go for some showy monstrosity. Just my opinion of course.

Then again, for someone just getting into ice they might be good. All depends on your priorities. Nothing against Grivel either- I freakin love their crampons and other gear.

Edited November 16, 2010 by summitchaserCJB

[TrogdortheBurninator]

CJB is a punter and is talking out of his ass.

 

while the x-monster might not be up to the challenge of the haystack on mt si, they have served me just fine on a number of classic alpine routes.

[summitchaserCJB]

like what routes trogdor? North Ridge of Baker, Stuart Glacier Coulior, North Face of Chair, Rap Wall, some WI3+ r/x to name a few ect....The r/x route was my first ice lead

Awaiting an apology...

 

Edited November 16, 2010 by summitchaserCJB

[summitchaserCJB]

Did I claim to be the best ice climber in the batch? No. Did I give an educated opinion? Yes. Are you an asshole for calling me basically a person unworthy of an opinion without basis? Yes.

Good day.

[genepires]

posting photos of yourself in order to prove something about yourself is bad form. (unless you are poking fun at yourself) Best to let the logic of conversation do the talking.

[Coldfinger]

I'm glad you quit your job, damn, it seems to have given you a bad rash!

 

Anywho, hope we aren't getting too far off track, did like the pics tho.

 

Just mulling my options for going leashless without spending all the money I'm going to need to get to places like Cody or even Colorado. Love the Monster pick, NOT buying either the Quantum Tech or Matrix Tech after watching the yellow pommel bust on a partner doin' it alpine style. Not buying a set of Quarks due to $$ (I'd want an adze but no way I'm paying $45!).

 

Seemed like it might be more of a hooking tool on ice (like those old elephant picks on the Lowe tools) and an absolute beast for mixed.

[genepires]

BTW, nice photos.

[summitchaserCJB]

posting photos of yourself in order to prove something about yourself is bad form. (unless you are poking fun at yourself) Best to let the logic of conversation do the talking.

Thanks for the advice. You'll notice I did add the argument.

And thanks for the compliment.

Edited November 16, 2010 by summitchaserCJB

[ColinB]

Photos don't prove you aren't a punter. In fact, they do the opposite.

[Dane]

X monster isn't a bad mixed tool and some actually like the flex shaft on hard mixed. Not a great water ice tool. But it is not suppose to be.

 

Would I buy a pair? No. But have friends that own and use them. They were designed to be a tool for climbing hard mixed, hence the thick pick. I find them too specialized for my own use and the head attachment problematic.

 

How good are they?

 

Good enough to get up the C/M which is like 100x longer than the N face of Chair and just a tiny bit harder

 

http://www.tvmountain.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=117&video_id=1718

[summitchaserCJB]

Have you done a x rated ice climb Colin? It scared the fuck out of me. My belayer wouldn't even second.

[Coldfinger]

Well, just managed to pick up a new Matrix Light for $99, so it looks like I'll get another if I like the thing, return it if I don't and try the Monster next......

 

Suppose it was bound to happen, CJB meets the CF....

[Coldfinger]

Have you done a x rated ice climb Colin? It scared the fuck out of me. My belayer wouldn't even second.

 

I'm guessing you since have found it, with a Q-tip perhaps?

Edited November 16, 2010 by Coldfinger

[summitchaserCJB]

Wait who are you troll??

[Coldfinger]

Just because you are an outrageous character and make a muck out of it to boot does not a troll of me make.

 

Kudos for all the funny shit you have provoked here!

[summitchaserCJB]

I try I try

[Coldfinger]

Have you been drinking or are you always like this?

[TrogdortheBurninator]

aren't over half of those pictures from a grade 2 snow climb?

 

how many pitches have you climbed on the x-monster?

[TrogdortheBurninator]

coldfinger, I think the x-monster, or any tool using the x-monster pick will be a fine tool to get things started (if you are just getting started). it will just take a few extra swings to get a good solid stick in cold ice. I would strongly recommend putting another tooth near the end of the pick. i think it makes a big difference in their climbability.

[summitchaserCJB]

Have you been drinking or are you always like this?

im stoked right now after quitting my jorb.

[Coldfinger]

Thanks! Just figured I might get two sets of tools instead of trying to make one do everything like I've always done. Picked up the original Monster and couldn't even figure out how to swing it. How big is the grip?

 

That one pic did look like moguls to me but I didn't see a lift, lotsa folks in another pic, maybe it was a Mounties trip?

[summitchaserCJB]

Zero. But it's still gae.