During Ice Fest our headquarters is the ultimate “toy shop” that a climber can dream of. From clothing to gear if it is made for ice climbing, you’ll find it here! All of the leading manufacturers will have booths set up displaying and selling the latest and greatest gear with sales representatives on hand to answer any questions you might have. And that’s not even the best part! As a participant at the Michigan Ice Fest you are entitled to a 20% discount on all purchases made during the festival.
From now until Ice Fest we will be giving you a sneak peak on a small sampling of what you can expect to find in the sponsor booths!
BLUE ICE WARTHOG 40L
The Warthog 40L is tough and light like its little brother, the Warthog 28L, but added volume and features make it suitable for longer adventures. Like its smaller sibling, it features a helmet holder, rope carrier and a handy quick-release skirt opening system to access to your gear. The lateral compression straps can be used to transport skis and the ice tool holders are perfectly designed for carrying a set of technical tools. The thermoformed ergonomic back panel and shoulder stabilizer straps are designed to provide maximum comfort when carrying loads, and the front haul loop proves to be highly convenient to hang the pack at belays. The Warthog 40L is incredibly durable and its compact design ensures maximum freedom of movement when you’re climbing. It is the perfect companion for all of your most demanding alpine adventures.
STERLING HOLLOW BLOCK
Built from Sterling’s RIT 900 cord, the Hollow Block 6.8mm x 13.5in is designed to function as a pre-sewn prusik or climb heist. Made with aramid fiber and sewn with Sterling’s proprietary sewing pattern, this ultra-strong cord is designed to provide excellent griping power on climbing ropes with diameters of 7mm or larger.
GRIVEL G22 CRAMPON
Grivel took its revolutionary G20 crampon, celebrated for its unprecedented lightness and quick-climbing, technical design, and added a second front point for versatility when contacting the ice. The result is the semi-rigid Grivel G22 Crampon. The G22 comes with either a Cramp-O-Matic binding for use with plastic-soled boots that have substantial welts or the more adaptable New-Matic binding for use with virtually any boot, including those with shallow front welts or overboots.
PETZL ERGONOMICS
The ERGONOMIC ice axe is designed for steep ice and for dry tooling. The sharp angle of the handle is ideal for prolonged hanging and increases power when pulling. The double handle offers multiple grip modes and stable hand switching. At home on rock or ice, the DRY pick optimizes inverted positions and the weights facilitate slotting of the pick in cracks. Featuring a minimalist hammer, the head is protected and allows the user to hammer a piton back in. It is entirely modular and can be configured for the requirements at hand.
BLACK DIAMOND ULTRALIGHT SCREW
Black Diamond’s Ultralight Ice Screw was designed because weight matters for those serious fast and light missions. Looking to shave weight wherever they could, Black Diamond constructed this specialty ice screw out of aluminum with a steel tip so as to not compromise drilling efficiency while also dropping weight in critical areas. The hangar geometry has been updated to provide the strength required and still boast the double openings that come with Black Diamond’s express ice screws. A folding handle shaves more weight when you thought the product developers couldn’t keep finding ways to cut back, and the handles are color coded so you can choose the correct length and drill the screw on the fly as you fight the pump.