I have loved the feeling of this axe, at 65 cms its a little long to carry but when you push it into the snow you feel real secure, looking down sketchy slopes feels much better with this baby in hand. It will last a lifetime and is strong and durable, can be boot belayed with and is all around great for its size and weight.

Got this about a week ago very light fits nice in pack .
head is tight perfect for a long slog like Rainer .

The new 2009 version has a larger hole at the head that fits a carabiner which is great for providing anchor and belay to your ropemates while still leaving a smaller hole above to tie on your leash. Weight is perfect and ergonomics of either this years or previous years makes it just feel perfect in your hand with our without gloves. I would recommend spending the money on this quality tool to anyone.

Honestly, my use with the Raven Pro isn't all that extensive, but for the few snow climbs that I've done, I can't complain with its performance. At 5'10", I bought the 65cm which has been a good height for me while using the axe as a walking instrument. Like most Black Diamond gear, construction on the Raven Pro is second to none and you'll immediately feel confident while gripped in your palm.

Any of the Raven series ice axes are great. The heads are very comfortable, fitting in the hand perfectly. No other ice axe is more comfortable to carry. My friend has the Raven and it's a good axe, but the Raven Pro is lighter weight while still feeling just as solid. I have a 50cm axe because I use it for ski mountaineering and it only comes out for the steepest snow slopes. It's great for stability and self arrest.

We've only known each other a short time, but we will be friends for the rest of our lives. Being my first ice axe, the Raven Pro and I got along real well. When you carry something which you rely on to be a major factor in possibly saving your life at an unexpected time, you must have confidence in it. The Raven Pro fit very well in my hand, the weight was balanced perfectly, the materials strong, and of course Black Diamonds trustworthiness all played a factor in why this is a great tool. After a day of mountaineering it now holds a few indelible scars which will be associated with the first of many MAJOR outdoor accomplishments in my life. So grab this ice axe and head for the summit.

The best compromise between weight and durability out there. Indestructible and so lightweight. The best for a traditional axe.

After retiring my charlet-moser, the Raven-pro was the only way to go. Black Diamond is ultra-reliable, so I knew I'd be getting a quality product. I almost went for the Raven Ultra for the cool piolet, but when I considered how often I go on unroped-rappels, it made sense to stick with the spike. After a season of climbing, it's a little scratched up, but no worse for the wear.

This is the standard for a general mountaineering axe. The weight and durability are excellent. You will not be disappointed with this purchase.

I replaced my 10 y.o. BD Ultralight (hah) with this axe, mainly to reduce my pack weight. I used it on an all day (16 hour) climb this last weekend.

Because the handle is rounded, this axe does not 'grip' as much in the snow/ice. When climbing up steep slopes, it wants to pop out easier than a square/rectangular handle. It is easy to compensate for this by turning the axe sideways when you plunge it in.

While not nearly as 'burly' as my old BD axe, I have used it to dig a dead man anchor and it is sufficient. I arrested with it once and it did the job. It made for a great rudder during a 3 mile glissade.

I got this axe to climb Rainier in July. For self-arrest and balance, its pretty perfect. I'm 5'6" 135lbs and I got the 60cm. I would have preferred a touch longer, since it has a lot of use on the downhill (as well as up). For a basic mountaineering axe it really can't be beat.

To see me using this axe for self-arrest check out my Rainier video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j99yIFgndc&fmt=18