Simond Naja

An ice climbing axe / hammer for alpine and water ice, with an extremely balanced swing. Like all Simond technical tools, the Naja has a carved (pinched) shaft that adds a lot to the performance of the tool; for example, it gives you more clearance for swinging over ice bulges and it reduces vibrations running through the shaft that would disrupt the ice. The bi-material grip comprises rubber emerging from within the shaft metal. The result is a thin, yet durable, grip that you can easily hang from. The dual mode Trac'Up leash is without peer. It has an ice climbing mode (one-handed release, you don't even need your teeth, and it is far superior to a detachable leash) and a traditional mountaineering mode (more secure).

Like all Simond technical tools, the forged pick is thick where it attaches at the shaft for strength and tapers thin at the tip so it displaces (shatters) little ice when swung. If you are like me, you may have to teach yourself not to swing so hard when first using the Najas; the pick enters the ice so easily. The front teeth are semicircular (rather than saw-tooth), which reduces the chance of a thin pick tip cracking, and bevelled so the pick can be quickly pulled up and out of the ice (saving you energy when on the steep stuff). 600g

naja axe with Trac’Up leash NZ$295
naja hammer with Trac’Up leash NZ$295

Simond Vautour

An ice climbing axe / hammer similar to the Naja and having the same leash; however, the carved shaft is less angled, giving less clearance from the ice. This straighter shaft allows you to make greater use of the hammer and adze attachments, and hence the Vautour is more a specialist tool for climbing mixed (ice and rock) terrain where you may be doing a lot of chopping of ice and pounding of pitons, icehooks, warthogs and snargs – the sort of terrain you'll find in the Darrans in winter. 660g

vautour axe with Trac’Up leash NZ$310
vautour hammer with Trac’Up leash NZ$310

Simond Anaconda

An ice climbing axe / hammer that you can configure for your style of winter alpinism. The Anaconda can be used in conjunction with its detachable Power Trac leash on technical mountaineering routes, or it can be set up for leashless climbing.

When leashless climbing, the leash is detached and a second finger rest is attached to the grip to allow the swapping of hands. Attaching the second finger rest requires a drill, but it is the only way to customise an axe precisely; ideally, the second finger rest sits between the first and second fingers when gripping the axe conventionally and wearing gloves, although some prefer it to sit above the first finger if they typically wear mitts. The adze / hammer can be removed (which requires the insertion of a plate into the head of the axe) for sport routes.

The double density grip gives more insulation. 600g

anaconda axe with Power Trac leash NZ$360
anaconda hammer with Power Trac leash NZ$360
second finger rest NZ$20
head plate NZ$15

Simond Coyote

A leashless tool for modern mixed climbing. The Coyote has a high-clearance carved shaft, a finger rest on upper grip, a double density lower grip, and it can be fitted with hammer / adze attachments if desired (not included).

The Coyote essentially swings the same as a typical technical axe, but the pick has a more downward profile, which allows you to hook rock or ice features with more security. The main (bottom) grip is more angled than is usual for a technical axe, and this means that when you are pulling yourself up it is more like pulling up on a horizontal bar than pulling up on a vertical pole.

In addition to the stock we keep, there is a pair of demo tools you can trial. 600g

coyote NZ$360

Simond 820 MXC

Simond's premier mountaineering axe with a one-piece hot-forged stainless steel (no rust) adze and pick. The 820 MXC has a carved shaft with moderate clearance from the ice, a durable rubber grip, and it comes with a leash. The entire axe is bomber, T-rated (which means you can subject it to all kinds of abuse). This axe pretty much made me want to give up ice climbing and get back into traditional mountaineering. It is so beautifully crafted you'll cry when it gets its first scratch.

Despite the 820 MXC pick being classically curved, the pick is aggressive and will do quite nicely on ice. We chose the curved-shaft version of the 820 (rather than the version with a completely straight shaft) because it gives some clearance for climbing ice bulges yet the bend is high enough on the shaft that it doesn't prevent you plunging the shaft into snow. 60cm, 550g

820 MXC with leash NZ$255

Simond Ocelot Hyper Light

A walking axe with lightened straight shaft and cold forged classic pick. The Ocelot Hyper Light is for your first alpine experiences on Mt Ruapehu or at Arthur's Pass, or for your 2-week alpine traverses. 60-68-75cm, 435g

ocelot hyperlight NZ$115

Simond Ice Axe Leashes

Long leash (pictured) for the Ocelot Hyper Light NZ$20

The Trac’Up leash is also available for a technical tool you already own (see the description for the Naja axe) NZ$40