Best Ice Axe Leash
If you love braving the cold weather and rugged terrain when the ground is covered with ice and snow, then you know you’ll likely be carrying an ice axe with you to use when you need it. Whether you fish with it or decide to bring it along with you for safety reasons, you’ll want to make sure you secure your axe with a leash. Using one can prevent you from losing your much-needed tool in the snow or ice when you really need it most, keeping you going throughout the day with your activities.
While getting a good leash is important so that you’ll never lose your axe, there are so many options to choose from that it can be difficult to make a decision. To help save you time, we’ve compiled a list of ten products you should consider, and we’ll also cover a few criteria points to help you make the best decision possible.
- Grivel Single Spring Leash
-
Our rating - Durable spring system
- Price: See Here
- Black Diamond Slider Leash
-
Our rating - Easy to use
- Price: See Here
- Camp Alpina Leash
-
Our rating - Fully adjustable
- Price: See Here
10 Best Ice Axe Leashes
Grivel Single Spring Leash
Durability: Grivel’s Single Spring Leash gives you a lot of durability, and is so strong you won’t have to worry about replacing it or losing your axe. You’ll be able to use it for a while, and it’ll give you great performance whenever you need it.
Ease of Use: This leash is very easy to use, and doesn’t require much maintenance to continue to perform well. It’s also designed to be comfortable, and its performance really does the job.
Value: Grivel’s Single Spring Leash is a bit more expensive than some of the other products on our list, but it still performs very well. Considering how strong it is and how well it does the job, it’s certainly a solid product to invest in.
-
Easy to use
-
Durable
-
Spring system
-
Can adjust length
-
Expensive
Black Diamond Slider Leash
Even though this leash is lightweight, it is still durable. And it is a webbing leash that will keep you securely connected to your piolet. Numerous reviewers have had experiences of this leash securing their ice axe, so they did not lose it.
The cinching wrist loop also provides a secure connection that feels comfortable. Along with this, it is an easy leash to attach to your ice axe.
To help you customize your experience with this ice axe leash, it comes with a slider buckle that allows you to adjust it to the ideal length for yourself. However, some say that there can be a lot of slack on this leash.
Overall, this is a great leash that is compatible with any ice axe, and it is rated 2kn. Reviewers have stated that this leash has saved their ice axe numerous times.
-
Lightweight
-
Easy to use
-
Won’t tangle
-
Good materials
- Some find that there is a lot of slack on the leash
CAMP Alpina Leash
Durability: This leash is durable and built to last, and can even be used as a cane when you are hiking upwards in the mountains. With so much versatility, this is an excellent product to consider if you want something extra in your ice leash.
Ease of Use: CAMP Alpina’s leash is made with a wrist loop that is adjustable, so that you can attach it to your wrist with the wrist strap and fit it comfortably on you. That makes it very easy to use, and the tool can also be used as a cane, which makes it a pretty nice product.
Value: Considering how versatile this product is, and the fact that you can also use it as a cane, it’s pretty affordable. You won’t have to worry about burning a hole in your wallet if you are shopping on a budget.
-
Can be used as a cane
-
Lightweight
-
Versatile
-
Wrist strap could be more durable
-
Not the perfect cane design
CAMP Touring Leash
Durability: This is an affordable leash and it’s made more for functionality than durability. However, it is still moderately durable by design, which means you’ll get plenty of use out of it should you decide to purchase it.
Ease of Use: You can use this leash to slide and hold the top shaft area, which helps propel you through difficult climbs. Also, you won’t need to worry about the leash totally sliding away since the stopper on the bottom will prevent that from happening.
Value: This leash is very affordable, so it’s a good choice if you are shopping on a budget. While it isn’t as durable as some other options, it’s still a very functional product.
-
Affordable
-
Easy to use
-
Simple design
-
Not fancy
-
Could be more durable
Petzl Freelock Leash
Durability: This leash is moderately durable, and will last for a while, but it isn’t manufactured to be quite as durable as some of the other products on our list. However, it will give you the functionality you need as you need it.
Ease of Use: This leash is designed to be easy to use, and can be loosened and tightened just by turning your wrist, Plus, you can also easily adjust the length of the leash when you need to lengthen or shorten the leash.
Value: This leash is priced affordably, and it is a good product offering a good value. As already noted, you won’t get as much durability with this leash, but you’ll still get a nice product if you purchase this leash.
-
Easy to use
-
Comfortable
-
Affordable
-
Could be more durable
-
Adjustments can sometimes be difficult
Grivel Double Spring Leash
Durability: The Grivel Double Spring Leash is moderately durable, and will last for some time. It isn’t as strongly made as some of the other products on our list, but it still is capable of giving you great performance.
Ease of Use: It’s very easy to use this leash, since it’s designed to prevent tangles and make switching your tools over very easy. It’s simple to change out what you need or what you are using without having to worry about the leash bunching up.
Value: The Grivel Double Spring Leash is priced on the expensive side of things, and does offer a lot of great features. However, it’s not as durable as some of the other products we’ve listed here, so you’ll need to balance out any decision you make about this product with that.
-
Holds two axes
-
Flexible
-
Easy to use
-
Expensive
-
Could be more durable
Petzl V-Link Leash
Durability: The arms on this leash are designed to be very elastic, so you’ll get a lot of flexibility packed into this design. However, the flexibility and lightweight functions on this product don’t make it quite as durable as some of the other products on our list.
Ease of Use: It’s easy to use and manipulate the arms on this product even while you are wearing gloves, which is a nice benefit. Also, the product is so lightweight, it’s easy to bring along with you and quite simple to use.
Value: This leash is on the expensive side of things, and while it is very easy to use and can handle up to two axes, it isn’t as durable as some of the other leashes on our list. So, while you will get a good product if you purchase it, you need to factor in the fact that it won’t last as long as some of the other leashes.
-
Can hold two axes
-
Flexible
-
Lightweight
-
Could be more durable
-
Expensive
Black Diamond Android Leash
Durability: Made with a lot of easy use features, this product does have more bells and whistles than some of the other leashes on our list, but it is still very durable. However, with so many mechanisms on it, it can experience parts breaking more easily than some other products on our list.
Ease of Use: This leash is designed to be easy to use, and you can utilize its quick-release clip whenever you need to. You can also detach it from your tools without taking the wrist straps off of your wrists. Plus, the wrist straps that come with this leash are also very padded and comfortable.
Value: This leash is very expensive, and much of that has to do with the extra features you’ll get with this product. If you do want a leash with a lot of bells and whistles, however, and you can afford it, then feel free to spend the money. Otherwise, if you are shopping on a budget, this might not be the leash for you.
-
Easy to use
-
Comfortable
-
Quick release
-
Expensive
-
Mechanisms can break
Grivel Long Leash
Durability: The Grivel Long Leash comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know you are getting a product that the manufacturer stands behind. Build to last for a long time, this product is very reliable and you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing it.
Ease of Use: Designed with a wrist support system, the ice leash is easy to attach to your wrist and the wrist strap is very comfortable. Plus, the wrist support is made from a natural rubber material so it is very easy for you to grab it when you need to.
Value: This is one of the more affordable ice leashes on our list, and for its price, you get a nice, easy to use ice axe leash. Since it is priced so affordably and has such a great warranty, you are really getting a lot for the amount of money you’d be spending should you decide to buy this product.
-
Affordable
-
Lifetime warranty
-
Durable
-
Easy to use
-
Rubber tip can come off
Black Diamond Lockdown Leash
Durability: Since this leash is made from aluminum, it’s quite durable and can handle a lot. It does function well and does what you need it to do, and it balances out well. You’ll be able to use it for awhile since it is built to last.
Ease of Use: This is the one area where the Black Diamond Lockdown Leash could do better. While it’s a good ice axe leash, it isn’t very comfortable, and the directions that come with it don’t help much. So, there is a bit of a learning curve with this product.
Value: The Black Diamond Lockdown Leash is priced affordably for what you get with it. It’s a solid investment, and it should last you for a while.
-
Versatile
-
Durable
-
Can be used with any ice tool.
-
Could be more comfortable
-
Could have better directions
The Criteria We Used To Find The Best Ice Axe Leash
Purchasing a good leash for your ice axe can be a difficult decision, since so many products are available on the market today. However, while getting the right one can take some time to figure out, once you are able to figure out which one is the right one for you, you’ll be happy you made that decision. A leash can help you more easily use your tools and access them, and also prevent you from losing your axe when you are in the mountains and need to be able to use it efficiently. So, to help you make a better decision about which leash is right for you, we’ll provide you with an overview of some of the criteria points we used to evaluate each one of the products on our list.
With a better understanding of the criteria you’ll need to know how to evaluate, you’ll be able to make the best decision to fit your needs. So, to help you out, we’ll cover each one of our criteria points in a bit more detail below, including materials, durability, and ease of use.
Materials
Materials are an important factor to consider when you’re looking into what leash you want to purchase, mostly because materials will dictate a lot about performance and quality. Different brands use different features in the development of their leashes, and we’ll cover some of the more common materials you’ll see here.
Many leashes on our list use nylon in their leash design. One reason for this is that nylon gives you the flexibility and stretchiness you’ll need when you are using your leash. Also, nylon is a durable product that can be used to make adjustments in length with most leashes, and that can be a useful factor if you want to give your leash a lot of slack, or keep it close to you. Nylon does have a downside, however, since it does tend to retain water, although it can still work effectively even when it is wet.
Some leashes use a combination of polyester and nylon to add some durability to the quality of the leash. Polyester helps the nylon to keep its flexibility while also adding some extra strength to the leash. Not all leashes combine both polyester and nylon, and the amount of each type of material in the leashes can also vary. Of course, the quality of the nylon and polyester used in these leashes can also affect the durability of the leash.
Some leashes feature aluminum as well in their design, or other metals to add strength. Most of the leashes that use aluminum in their designs also feature springs to help you more easily access your axe when you need it. Leashes with springs also usually feature clips. Sometimes these clips are stainless steel or aluminum, depending on the way the leash works. Aluminum is more popular than stainless steel, however, because it still helps keep the leash lightweight while retaining durability.
Durability
The durability of a leash’s design often times goes hand in hand with the type of materials that are used in the leash, but not always. As stated before, some brands use different mixes of materials of various strengths, so even if you get a leash that sounds like it has durable materials in it, depending on the quality of those materials, it can be difficult to tell. You might think that leashes with stainless steel parts might be more durable than those with aluminum, but that’s not always the case. A lot of the durability you’ll find in your leash will depend on the way the leash is designed. Typically, the more bells and whistles on a leash, the more prone the leash will be to those things breaking, even if you wind up purchasing an expensive leash you think should be durable.
So, with leashes, durability isn’t always measured by price and is sometimes difficult to tell when looking at the materials used by the leash. Design is a huge factor here, and if you want to be able to check out the durability of the leashes you are interested in, it would be a good idea to read up on some customer reviews to see how long the leashes last and how well they perform. Doing a bit of research can really tell you a lot about how long the product will last, and what you’ll be getting out of the leash.
Ease of Use
When we took a look at the ease of use behind the leashes we listed on our product list above, we considered the comfort of using the leash, and what the leash had on it to make its use more available. Some leashes come made for two axes, while others can only hold one. Most of the leashes on are list are made for one axe only, but we did include a couple of products that can hold more than one axe.
Several of the leashes on our list feature wrist straps that allow you to cinch and adjust the leash to easily fit your wrist, and many of these types of leashes also allow you to adjust the leash right from your wrist. The wrist straps on these leashes are designed to be comfortable and accessible, and are typically the easiest leashes to use.
Depending on how much experience you have using a leash and what you really need, you might need to consider the features you really want and need, and how functional you need your leash to be. If the leash comes with too many bells and whistles, it can be difficult for you to operate if you don’t know what you are doing. Some leashes like this require learning curves, and if you are just getting used to using a leash, then you should go for something simpler in design.
Value
We also examined the value you would get out of each one of the leashes we listed in our review. Some of the leashes we’ve provided you with are very affordable, while others are more expensive. Whether the leashes are pricey or not, all of the leashes we’ve reviewed have some kind of value points to them, and we made sure to cover that in this guide.
If you are shopping on a budget, just remember you can still get a good leash for a decent price. You might wind up sacrificing from durability, but that can still work well for you depending on where you are at with what you need. So, don’t worry about price if you don’t mind letting go of some durability, since you can still wind up with a decent leash regardless.
Other Things To Think About
Purchasing a good leash for your ice axe does require a bit of time and thought. Some of these leashes offer a lot of features that can take some time to get used to, so you’ll need to figure out your skill level, how comfortable you are with the leash you pick, and make sure it’s something that is easy and simple for you to use.
If you are new to using a leash, then you should opt for something that isn’t overly difficult to use. Some leashes feature so many bonus additions on them, they can be difficult to learn or figure out. Having something with a learning curve is okay even for a newbie to leashes, as long as you are able to figure out how to use it effectively before you start climbing. So, make sure you get something you are comfortable with and that is simple for you to use.
Also, you need to decide whether or not you want a leash that has a spring system designed into it. Spring systems are great for giving you some choice and adjustability when you are climbing, but are not always necessary for everybody. They also typically require more maintenance, since you’ll need to make sure you get the debris out of the springs when you use your leash often. Not all ice leashes comes with spring systems in them—some do and some don’t. Whether or not you feel you need a spring system is something that will come down again to your personal preference.
Also, it is important to look at how comfortable the leash feels when it is attached to you. Many leash systems feature wrist attachments that adjust, but some are more comfortable than others. Since the comfort level on leashes can be a matter of personal preference, this is something you can always test out at a store. Or, if you can’t do that, at least spend some time reading reviews on the products you are interested in so you can understand how comfortable they are.
Reliability and ease of access are also important issues to consider. You want to make sure you can use your leash when you need it, so you want something that will work effectively for all of your needs. Also, you don’t want to have your leash break so you lose your axe, or you will be defeating the whole purpose of purchasing a leash in the first place. So, make sure you focus on something that will be reliable for you, and give you the access you need to your axe or other tools when you need them.
When you are able to factor in these ideas, you should be able to come to a good decision about the type of leash you want. Once you have your leash, you should be set.
FAQ
Q: Should I purchase a leash that can hold two axes?
That really depends on what you plan on doing with your leash. Leashes that can hold two axes can be very useful if you plan on using them with extra tools as well, since some of these leashes are compatible with all ice tools. Some climbers prefer to have two axes, while others do not. Really, that will depend on your climbing style and comfort level. So, make sure you take into account what you know you’ll want to carry and feel comfortable with, and make your decision from there.
Q: What do I need to look for with wrist attachments?
If you purchase an ice leash that attaches to your wrist, you want to make sure you check that feature out for comfort and cushioning. You don’t want something that’s going to rub your wrist or make you feel uncomfortable when you are busy in the mountains, so check the functionality of the padding. Good wrist attachments have cushioning as well as features that help you easily adjust the tightness around your wrist. Some wrist attachments also allow you to give the leash more slack or shorten the slack. While you may or may not be worried about that, you do want to make sure the wrist attachment is comfortable so it doesn’t bother you while you are active.
Q: Should I worry about a leash with metal in it?
Not really, if rust is something you are worried about. Many leashes that feature metal parts like springs or clips are made with corrosion-resistant materials, and depending on the type of leash you buy, you shouldn’t have to worry about the metal rusting for a while. Most of the leashes we’ve listed use nylon cords or a combination of nylon or other materials in the cord design, and leashes that do use springs and metal parts are still very durable. So, if you like a leash, you shouldn’t let metal pieces in it deter you.
Q: If I am shopping on a budget, what do I need to know when selecting a leash?
There are many good leashes on the market today that are very affordable and should fit in your price range. Most of these cheaper leashes won’t have as many features on them, but they still work well to do their job. Also, if you wind up having to go cheaper on a leash, you’ll probably be sacrificing some amount of durability with your leash. However, if money is really an issue, then don’t let that trouble you—you can still get a good leash on a budget.
Q: Do I need to maintain my leash?
As with any product, leashes do require some maintenance, and typically the more features you have on your leash, the more maintenance you may need to consider. You want to make sure you don’t let your leash sit tangled or covered in cold snow if you can avoid it, and also make sure you clean out any spring systems if you use the leash a lot and some grime or debris starts getting caught in the spring system. If you want to get the most out of the money you spend, you should consider how to properly care for your product.
Q: If I am new to leashes should I go with something simple?
Yes, you should. You want to make sure that you know how to use the leash correctly, so try to get something that is easy to use and simple in design. If you are just starting out, then functionality of your leash should really be a priority. So, consider how easy the leash is to use, and make sure it has an easy learning curve so you won’t have issues when you need your leash.
Final Thoughts
An ice axe leash can be a bit of a hot topic among the mountaineering crowd. This is because some feel that a leash is not necessary to protect yourself or your axe. However, if you are just starting out, or if you just feel safer having a leash attached to your ice axe, it’s well worth the investment.
Remember a few key points when you look for your leash. You want the leash to feel comfortable, be easy to use, and be durable, so that it lasts for the long haul.
Sources
- , No More Dropped Axes, Informational Outdoor Website, Dec 04, 2008
- , Ice Axe Leashes, Informational Outdoor Website, Aug 19, 2017
- , Ice Axe, Jun 18, 2017
