The Blue Ice Hummingbird is as capable as it is light. Would I choose this axe to tool through an icy, rocky choke? Nope, but I would absolutely pack it for any frozen diurnal spring mission, high mileage endeavor or pack it on a whim when I am unsure if I will need an axe or not.Ī non-technical axe is an important part of the touring kit during the spring diurnal and should be light enough to be forgotten on the pack. A dual textured zone on the lower shaft gives a modicum of added security when used in traction position. Swing weight is understandably minimal, but the pick is durable and dependable when needed.

Having never used a titanium headed axe before, I was impressed with its performance in firm placements. In terms of performance, the Hummingbird is a much more capable tool than other ultra light aluminum headed offerings of similar weight on the market. The weight savings are largely attributed to an exquisitely crafted titanium head (pick and adze) with all the requisite ‘speed holes.’ This is the Holy Grail for non-technical skimo axes forget it ‘til you need it. At 200g (in 45cm length), it is easy to forget that you even have an axe on/in your pack. Two things are immediately apparent when in the presence of this axe: its minimal weight and fine craftsmanship. The Hummingbird is a high achieving, purpose built problem solver in the light and fast ski mountaineering category.

The following is meant to guide you towards an appropriate tool (or two) for your chosen level of radness. A wealth of axes with different relative strengths and weaknesses are available to modern ski mountaineers. There are no right or wrong answers, only right or wrong tools. Are you going to be climbing pitches of water ice to access hanging snowfields in the Interior Rockies, or are you simply looking for a secure point of contact and the ability to self-arrest on a mellow volcano in the Pacific Northwest? Do you anticipate thousands of feet of frozen front pointing, or do you need a backpack-queen of an axe for spring missions that may or may not be used over the course of the day? How awesome are you really? How wild can the climb up get, and still be safe for you to descend on skis? These are the fundamental questions one has to honestly ask oneself when selecting an axe for ski mountaineering. The line up as tested from left to right – Petzl Sum’tec (adze, 55cm), Black Diamond Venom (hammer, 50cm), Grivel Ghost (adze, 50cm), Petzl Gully (hammer, 45cm), Blue Ice Hummingbird (45cm).

Adze ice axe