As winter approaches and temperatures drop, thoughts turn away from warm rock climbs to frigid frosty faces, cauliflowered columns, pencil pillars and drooping daggers. Then there’s strenuous steinpulling, tenuous torques and hero hooks – the world of the mixedmaster.
CGR have a technical ice tool extravaganza coming up for you in November with an in depth article and a vast number of reviews. But in the meantime, feast your eyes upon 3 new and updated tools from one of the main players, Petzl.

Petzl Quark
Petzl Nomic
Petzl Ergonomic
The ERGO is renamed ERGONOMIC, and is arguably the most changed of the three ice tools. The ERGONOMIC (£280.00) uses the same hydroformed shaft as the NOMIC, but its more radical reach is achieved via a new angled grip. The sharp angle of the handle offers multiple grip modes, helps withprolonged hanging, and increases power when pulling. There’s no TRIGREST supplied as per the previous version, but this can be retro-fitted as an accessory. The DRY pick is optimized for slotting and torqueing, with the serrated top edge designed to stabilise inverted positions; ice picks can also be fitted, or the new PUR’DRY pick designed specifically for dry tooling. Fitted MASSELOTTES weights are optimised for slotting in cracks, and like the NOMIC there’s a ‘minimalist hammer’ supplied on the hammer version.
The common platform of accessories available across all Petzl’s technical ice tools, including the SUM’TEC and GULLY, designed to give as much flexibility as possible.
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