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Grivel’s Ghost range is well established, in fact we reviewed the Ghost axe back in 2018 as part of a winter running article. The standard Ghost has been joined by a hammer version as well as an improved ‘evo’ version with a more functional spike addressing one of the few criticisms I had of the original Ghost. The addition of the Ghost Tech sees a more technical pick, interesting new hammer configuration and most significantly (in my opinion) a deployable hand/finger rest.
Lightweight tools such as the Ghost have seen a growth in popularity probably aided by the increased participation in ski touring alongside the growth in more extreme mountain running challenges. Both these mountain sports favour lightweight kit, especially when that equipment is only going to see intermittent service in a ‘normal’ day. The original Ghost range is aimed at moderate mountaineering where you are not likely to experience truly steep hard nevé and certainly not ice. With the Ghost Tech Grivel has sought to extend the Ghost remit;
“The Ghost Tech is designed for technical mountaineering. The laser cut steel blade has a shape suitable for use on very hard and cold snow and ice.”
With no UIAA standard for ‘technical mountaineering’ you will have to choose your own definition but clearly the Ghost Tech is designed to be more capable on steeper train and harder nevé, even perhaps the odd ice step – something that is becoming more common even on moderate classic alpine routes as the summer snow cover retreats. So what has been changed? Starting with the shaft the slight curve that was introduced with the Evo models has been increased significantly which not only increases the relative pick angle but improves knuckle clearance in piolet traction mode as well as keeping your hands out of the snow when daggering up moderately steep slopes. The pick itself is now steeper and more aggressive with teeth for 2/3 of its length with the hammer/adze combo sitting flush with the top of the pick which improves comfort. Finally at the end of the shaft is a flip out wire hand rest reminiscent of a wire gate carabiner.
Having used the Ghost Tech for a little over 6 months it is clear that the changes do indeed make it a more technically capable tool. However there are aspects of the design that you need to be aware of before choosing the Ghost tech for your next outing. Firstly this is a short tool which obviously saves a bit of weight and makes it easy to stash but mean that piolet cane is only possible on pretty steep terrain and I’m only 173cm tall! It would be nice to see it offered in a 50cm version at least but I suspect Grivel see it as an additional tool to pair with a ski or trekking pole. Talking of piolet cane there is no spike like the Evo just the shaft cut at an angle and plugged with foam like the standard Ghost, this saves weight but reduces versatility, perhaps again signaling that the Ghost Tech is not intended for piolet cane work. The adze/hammer combo is in my opinion a bit of wishful thinking. It works brilliantly as a hammer given its light weight but as an adze it is pretty hopeless. You are not going to have much fun cutting steps (especially with a 45cm shaft!) but even cutting a resting foot hold in hard nevé was hopeless and I resorted to the pick, likewise excavating a T slot axe belay (just for fun). However the ‘wings’ of the hammer form a nice comfortable level rest for your hand in piolet cane mode – much better than the original Ghost. So a decent light hammer but not an adze. The finger/hand rest was very useful, easy to deploy even with cold fingers it gave tremendous reassurance on steep steps and hooking rock flakes etc. on short mixed passages. With light running gloves on it was certainly not the most comfortable finger rest and even with heavier gloves probably not the best for sustained climbing but for short steep sections of five or six moves perfectly acceptable. Finger rest like Grivel’s own G-Slider will be more comfortable for prolonged use but as a just in case solution that is effortless to deploy the Ghost Tech’s hand rest is pretty much perfect. The weakness of pop out rests is obviously they get trashed when plunged in hard nevé and caught between rocks but so far the Ghost Tech’s hand rest is holding up admirably. Self arrest was OK with the Ghost Tech but a bit more grabby than I recall with the standard Ghost and I don’t know if this is just me but I find short tools less comfortable to self arrest with.
Overall I found the Ghost Tech a great little axe for a bit of glacier travel, winter runs in Scotland and as a bit of a back up for some single axe days when iffy conditions might mean a second axe proves very welcome. The Ghost Tech would be a good choice for runners, climbers facing a glacial/snow slope approach and descent from a big alpine rock route and ski mountaineers. The Ghost Tech also proved to be the axe of choice for a certain Killian Jornet on his last foray in the Himalayas – check out the article here.
Update. Killian has again opted for the Ghost Tech again on his awesome Alpine Connections traverse!
Pros
- Lightweight
- Tough
- Technical pick for steep steps
- Excellet trigger rest
Cons
- Only one short length
- Adze/Hammer combo only works as a hammer
SRP 117.95
Disclaimer – CGR reviewers are never paid to provide a review and the website does not take advertising. We are a bunch of keen climbers and outdoor enthusiasts that accept sample products and offer an honest and independent review of the item. The reviewer will often keep the sample after reviewing it for both hygiene reasons and more often they’re in no fit state to return!
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