A modern mountaineer's piolet still connected to the roots of Chouinard's original curved-pick mountain axe, the Raven Ice Axe is the standard for glacier travel on mountains all over the world.
the Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe is a classic mountaineer's piolet that has been used on climbs all over the world for decades. Lightweight with an investment-cast, ergonomic, stainless-steel head, the Raven axe sits in your hand comfortably while glacier walking. The pick and adze geometry allows for secure placements and efficient chopping, while the spike plunges on icy placements. The durable aircraft-grade aluminum shaft has a comfortable grip thanks to a trapezoidal cross-section.
From clean climbing, to conservation, Black Diamond is committed to protecting the people and places we love.
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We trust what we make because we use what we make. All Black Diamond products are covered by a two year warranty policy.
You can’t tell the history of climbing and mountain sports without telling the history of Black Diamond. Born from the ashes of Chouinard Equipment in 1989, Black Diamond thrives today as a leading innovator in climbing, skiing, and mountain equipment.
Overall rating: 4.9148936 / 5 from 47 reviews.
Review topics: ["weight","feel","price","service","axe","tool","choice","mountaineering","terrain","section","light"].
"Used this axe to summit Timp in winter. Did its job. Would say a little that it was a little weird to sharpen with the shape of the grooves and it has a little nub in the middle. Nice tie in spot for a leash if needed. I liked the feel in my hand, felt secure even with thick gloves. Tested self arresting as well and it did its job without letting me slide too far…No complaints, price is a great plus. 10/10 for sure."
"I'm not a beginner. I'm happy to have switched to this as a mountaineering axe after figuring that the more technical tools used to carry contributed nothing but extra weight. It's a solid all-purpose snow tool. You could use on ice as long as it's not steep or technical. 65cm has been the sweet spot for me since my days of carrying a Chouinard piolet (they made that length custom for me)."
"Works as intended and I always recommend this axe to beginners starting out. Light, durable and dependable."
"Grabbed this for skimo approaches and 7 summits. Works great. Light and durable. Get the proper sling, attach it correctly, size the axe correctly, use it on the proper terrain, and you won’t be disappointed. This is a trekking tool not a climbing tool."
"I bought this for use on the pacific crest trail. So far I feel pretty confident with my new toy!"
"The Raven is a sturdy, no-frills ice axe that does exactly what you need it to—secure self-arrests, reliable balance on steep snow, and durable construction for repeated alpine use. It’s comfortable to carry, well-balanced in hand, and the pick and adze bite into snow and ice with confidence. It’s not the lightest option out there, but the tradeoff is a solid tool that feels trustworthy in the mountains. A classic choice for general mountaineering."
"I used it on a winter hike and it was not too bulky, very sturdy, and as a bonus looks quite cool!"
"Great axe for backcountry splitboarding."
"Solid"
"I love the 90 cm ice ax"
