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Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe

$79.95

(15)

Item # 767353

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A traditional axe for legendary ascents, the trusty Black Diamond Raven delivers quality you can feel.

7075 aluminum shaft keeps weight down without sacrificing strength
17-4 investment cast stainless-steel head and spike are great for self-arresting, glissading and chopping steps
Pick's curve and teeth securely bite into snow and ice
Comfortable, ergonomic hand platform provides a secure grip

Please note: Black Diamond products can only be shipped to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Imported.

Item 767353

View all Black Diamond products

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Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe

4.6

(based on 15 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Good balance (13)
Lightweight (10)
Ergonomic (9)
Safe (9)
Comfortable grip (7)

Cons

Best Uses

Mountaineering (14)
Climbing (9)
Glacier climbing (9)
Everyday (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid mountaineer (10), Casual/ recreational (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (7)

Reviewed by 15 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Jul

2008

(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Good Ax

By snowhiker

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Balance
Safe

Cons

Too Heavy

Best Uses

Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

Its a good Ax. Safe and reliable. Its a bit heavier than the pro version, thus if you can spend the extra few dollars and upgrade. Otherwise a great ax.

Mar

2011

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

None better for alpine travel

By JP18

from KIrkland, WA

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Ergonomic
Good Balance
Lightweight
Safe

Cons

Best Uses

All Terrain
Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

I have both the Raven and Raven Pro. I actually prefer the Raven, it just feels more solid,and safer. The Raven has a longer pick, and a wider grip area, making more comfortable to carry and more secure in my hand. Even though it is a couple ounces heavier I just feel safer with this solid piece of gear in my hand. Works great on steep snow fields and glacier travel. I've used mine on Rainier, St Helens and many other peaks in the Cascade mountains. I'm somewhat of a gear hound so I am always looking at new stuff, but right now there is no other axe on the market that I would own over this one.

Feb

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great Axe!

By tetonattacker

from Yellowstone National Park

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Balance
Lightweight
Reliable

Cons

Best Uses

Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

A Great Axe for the mountains. I have climbed many times in the Tetons and this axe has always been there. For nontechnical climbing this axe is perfect.

May

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Plenty good for not much money

By RustyCoyote

from Out in the backwoods

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Good Balance
Lightweight
Safe

Cons

Best Uses

Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

Brought this axe up with me on a trip to Mt Washington NH, took her up the Huntington Ravine. And have to say both my partner and I had to rely on it heavily on the last of the snow on the mountain. At one point this axe even stopped both of us after I had to dive after her from sliding back down the ravine into some jagged rocks after a 75ft slide. For my money, well worth it, and it will be a mainstay in my mountaineering set up from now on. Not as light as the pro, but I think that adds a bit more confidence to it. Attached is a pic of the bottom of the ravine, it got too steep after this picture for either of us to think about a camera.

Apr

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

gets the job done

By play outside

from Bellingham, WA

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Ergonomic
Good Balance
Safe

Cons

Best Uses

Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

very simple design, sturdy excellent for crossing snowfields, and glacier travel, excellent at self arresting and works well when glicading. I use mine regularly and it has taken a beating and nothing is loose or bent.

Sep

2011

(1 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Happy with the purchase

By lkpbri

from Lakeport, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Balance
Safe

Cons

Best Uses

All Terrain
Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

I'm getting pretty serious about mountaineering and have made the plunge with purchasing equipment vs renting. I just climbed Shasta and this was part of my arsenal. Simple and effective, this was the second most used tool I used (crampons being the other). Purchase a leash for the axe and you're good to go.

Aug

2011

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Best buy for price

By EricS

from oceanside ca

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Good Balance
Lightweight

Cons

Sling attachment

Best Uses

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

Good
Used it in late spring on sierra hike, good for step cutting, self-arrest ease, glisading and ability to dig into the ice.
Bad
Not easy to attach a sling and the one they sell for it isn't worth the price.

Definately would recommend this to anyone needing a general purpose ice axe

Dec

2011

5.0

Great axe!

By alpineaddiction

from Tacoma, WA

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Ergonomic
Good Balance
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

All Terrain
Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

This has been an awesome axe for the time I have owned it. It is fairly light compared to others I have checked out. Balance is great and the axe is easy to place when needed. The shape of the adze seems to take some finesse if the need arises to step-cut but great tool overall.

May

2011

5.0

Nice and Strong

By MountainSlayer

from Vancouver, Wa

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable Grip
Ergonomic
Lightweight
Safe

Cons

Best Uses

Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering
Snow Climbing

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

I use this while climbing or while on extremly hard snowshoe routes. Its ilght and very strong. Its held up for over three years oh heavy use with minimal signs of abuse. Excellent ice axe for glacier travel or snow climbing.

Feb

2011

5.0

Good Axe and Great Price

By CLIMBitSKIit

from Shepherd, MT

About Me Avid Mountaineer

See all my reviews

Pros

Ergonomic
Good Balance
Safe

Cons

A little heavy

Best Uses

Glacier Climbing
Mountaineering

Comments about Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe:

This axe is great for its price. I've used some others axes that were just not of the same quality as this one, and they were more expensive. It has a very ergonomic head and adze, and I really like the slight heaviness to it, it kind of adds a better sense of security. I don't plan on ever having to replace it in the future.