Just in time for the high-altitude touring season, I put the Akila ice tool from the French manufacturer Blue Ice through the works. Blue Ice is still a very young and ambitious company with its headquarters based right at the foot of Mont Blanc. Their passion for our sport shines through in their development and production of mountain sports products, which set a standard.
With the Akila ice tool, Blue Ice has created an ultra-light product in category B/ TYPE 1. It is ideal for high-altitude touring/moderate ice climbing and skis touring.
First impression of the Blue Ice Akila ice axe
When I opened the box, I was greeted by a shiny, dark red ice tool. Its weight and minimalism make a first impression. I found the excellent quality and the fine detailing, such as fastening eyelets and an adjustable trigger finger, to be excellent features right from the get-go.
The Akila – a real hybrid ice axe
First, it is essential to note that the Blue Ice Akila is a hybrid ice axe. This mixture is between a classic ice axe and a pure alpine ice tool. The difference lies in the slightly curved shape in the upper part and the adjustable trigger finger.
This shape is used for more efficient and effort-saving driving into the ice. The adjustable handle allows the straight shaft in the lower part to be used as a regular ice axe. The pure ice tool has a firm grip in the lower shaft to get a stronghold when setting a placement in ice.
The possible uses of a hybrid pick are vast: at its core, it is found in the demanding mountaineering segment, where the pick is increasingly used for climbing. Of course, it can be used as a standard pick, but the shorter length should be considered.
The Akila from Blue Ice in practice
I tested the hybrid ice axe during various tours on the Blaueis glacier in Germany, high-altitude tours in the Ötztal and Pitztal valleys, and a few climbs around the Valais.
The ice tools from Blue Ice are supplied with protective caps and impress our tester with their simple design.
The focus was on the handling during the first use: the slim design makes it very easy to stow the ice tools next to each other on the backpack. The weight is only marginally noticeable when carrying them. A balanced weight distribution allows optimal and secure placements when moving up ice. Blue Ice has done an outstanding job combining the handle’s shape and the tip’s angle. The ice tool adapts with ease to slush, corn, hardpack, soft and hard ice depending on the ice conditions. Sharpening the picks is also possible due to the hardened steel used. It should be noted that this is a category B/type 1 ice tool and should not be compared with a technical ice tool per se. However, the range of use still remains impressive.
Practical add-on: a leash can be attached with ease.
Personally, I have become very fond of the individually adjustable handle. Depending on the steepness, the grips can be adjusted very quickly to the different conditions and use on the ice becomes a real pleasure. The handle rounds off the grip with its different surfaces. In the head area and at the lower tip, a leash can be hooked in as a safety line. This makes practical use possible for different requirements. The shovel is good for uncovering ice areas for the use of ice screws. The hammer, on the other hand, is very good for driving pitons into rock. If you use both ice tools in the shovel/hammer combination, you can get up the odd mixed pitch with ease.
Be sure to know in advance what you want to use the ice tools for. These are classic ice axes which are only suitable to a limited extent for glaacial hikes. When I plan a tour, for example, I always ask myself in advance what gear I will need. Here and there, for example, I use an Akila in combination with a normal ice axe. This at least gives me the opportunity to react as flexibly as possible adn react to the conditions on the mountain.
Teck Specks:
- Ergonomic head made of chromoly steel
- Curved shaft made of anodised, sandblasted aluminium
- Handle with two different surfaces for more grip
- Protective caps for pick, shovel and tips included
- Weight: hammer 345 grams, shovel 330 grams
- Certification for ice axes according to CE/EN 13089
- Developed and produced in Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc
- Ideal for mountaineering for ski touring and moderate ice climbing
Bergzeit author Andi tested the ice tool on extensive tours.
This included alpine romps in the Valais, but also high altitude courses in Ötztal and Pitztal.
Summary
If you are looking for an ice tool for mixed terrain, you are very well equipped with the Akila. For me, it is an ideal companion for alpine tours, ski tours and technical mountaineering. Due to its simplicity, the hybrid pick does not tempt you to experiment. The slight disadvantage mentioned below, the non-adjustable/interchangeable head, is thus not a deal-breaker. All the necessary features are there! I was more than impressed by the quality you got for the fair price!
Advantages
- Low weight
- Balanced weight
- Individually adjustable handles without tools
- Ergonomic shape
- Attachment options for a safety leash
Disadvantages
- Head not changeable
- Head not adjustable