![]() ![]() It quickly began to peel however, this was an easy fix, and I ended up replacing it all with rubber sealing tape from the local hardware store. The only thing I found to be a flaw was the grip-tape they use on the shaft. It was very easy to maintain a openhanded grip. Due to the combination of its light weight, penetration, and comfortable natural grip, I never found myself death gripping the tools. At the same time, soft placements onto bare rock feel extremely stable and secure. It is super comfortable to hold and hang on to, providing a lot of confidence for both the brute force and delicate balance needed on mixed routes.Ī swift confident swing into the ice feels like poking a sharp knife into an apple it just bites right in. Everyone first comments on how much lighter these tools feel compared to their own, followed by how easy it is to make the tools stick. ![]() So far, everyone who has picked it up has really loved how it performs. Here they're almost as popular as the Nomics.Ĭheck this out too: youtube.The Cassin X-Dream really lives by its name. I guess in the UK they may look like something "exotic". At least here (NW Italy) they're priced in line with all other top end axes. Id go x-dreams if you are primarily an ice climber and TMs if you do 50/50. They are more stout and burly but perhaps less exact with placements. Tech machines feel like thin steel pipes comparatively. I think it's a valid option, by no means a second choice. X dreams are a bit less rigid which means damp purchases but a little funkiness when hanging. Taping the axe shaft is a good idea anyway if you're the type that bites his axes (I am). It's super grippy, but it will trash your gloves in no time. Another thing that is good, but also bad is the sand paper grip. I guess that's not a massive deal, that's obviously something more to think about, but also the one cool feature that no other axe has (in fact there will be another model from another manufacturer with a similar feature just moved from the handle to the head.). The bolt was tightened to death (factory) and after having changed from mixed to ice and from ice to mixed few times the bolt looked already stripped a little. Obviously the first thing I've tried as soon as I got them was to rotate the handle. If I were to really look for some "defects" the only thing I've noticed was that the pick (the X-Dreams come with the "mixed" pick, two more picks are available as optionals) seemed to wear out faster than, for instance, the Cryo's (curiosity: Cryo's picks are B-rated, X-Dream's picks are T-rated). Providing the fit is right, and having the patience to adjust to the different models, they're all ace and it's really down to personal preferences. It would be like comparing top end rock shoes. ![]() With respect to how they swing and work on ice/rock, they're as good as the two other axes I've tried. ![]() The change of configuration of the handle is the real deal, which paired with the three picks available makes the X-Dream a true all-rounder. Triggers can be adjusted or removed and the hand grip can be made larger or smaller. With respect to versatility, adjustability and general ergonomics, I think they're really good and possibly have an edge with any other ice axe I've hold in my hands. The high-end range at the moment is ridiculously wide, I can tell you that much. Whilst most handles are fixed in place, the X-Dreams handles can be removed, replaced and rotated the standard 'ice' position, to a more aggressive 'dry' position (12 degrees more aggressive to be precise). axes, although I've seen all available models at Friedrichshafen only weeks ago. If it were that simple we would all use the same axes And I've never even climbed on Grivel's, Edelrid's, BD's etc. It's really hard to say whether one is better than the other. Needless to say, we're talking about three of the high-end axes in the market. None of my mates have X-Dream axes, so I was able to very roughly compare Cassin's axes with E-Climb's Cryo and Petzl's Nomics. I'll start saying I'm no expert having climbed only a handful of lines up to WI5+ and M7 only (terrible season by the way.). I have used a pair last winter for my first "real" season ice & mixed climbing. ![]()
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