Black Diamond Viper Ice Tool

I've been using the original Vipers for 3 years and they are strong, a tad heavy but very framing-hammer like in top balance. I believe the shaft is rotated 90 degress on the new ones for a sleeker bend. I warn people when buying vipers to ensure you get the new ones - I've heard of people getting old ones (not on BC.com though). I also mounted the leashless elements on mine (shrike and fang). It comes automatic on the new ones. I bought 2 hammers as I never cut steps, playing 99% on steep ice or preferring crampon maneuvers to old style mountaineering. All in all a solid tool. Not the lightest if that's what you want. Honestly, though well served by them, I would probably buy a lighter tool like if I had to switch. As others said, can be hard to pull out, but you do get first swings in often due to the top heaviness.

The viper tools are very good tools over all. The new hydroformed shaft is much stiffer than the previous generation vipers. The shaft also has very good clearance over bulges. The leash system works the same as the old vipers except they removed a little stud from the leash, I'm not sure why. I'm not 100% positive but I think you could use the older leashes if you just cut off that little stud on the bottom of the leash. The laser picks are great on pure ice but you have to learn to use them, they are very sharp and will be a little hard to get out of the ice. The picks are also not very wide so mixed climbing is not the greatest for these picks. Going to a titan pick will be a good idea if you plan on doing any climbing involving rock. The laser picks also dull easily. The fang and strike on the handle are awesome. The do a very good job of protecting your hands and also make the grip very steady for leashless climbing. If you have large hands you will have a hard time using the tool with both fang and strike if your gloves are heavy. I have medium BD ice gloves and its a squeeze to get my hand on the tool. They are also made out of plastic and I doubt that they will last that long, they seem pretty tough but cold weather and being hit constantly won't be good for them. The tools are very natural to use for making placements. If you turn the tool around to use the adze or hammer however they can be quite awkward to use. The strike and fang get in the way a bit and make the tool a bit hard to handle. The adze I also feel curves down too much. I thing it would be easier to use it if it were a little more flat. Overall I think these are great tools and are quite versatile.

Started using these tools leashless, and they've been great. Can easily adjust the modular items (ie two hammers for stuff in Ouray, add back the adze for the mtns). The pinky grip and upper grip are easily removable, but have been very nice to have. Cons: Kinda heavy compared to the Grivel Matrix tools, picks can be hard to remove from the ice when overdriven (duh). Pros: easy swing once you get used to it (no more overdriving the picks); easy to change out adze, hammer, and grip; plenty of clearance, pommel spike and head have holes that take a carabiner easily.

Great tools, used in the UP of MI on single pitch routes. Great swing, light, sharp picks, easy placement and super over bulges and mushrooms. You can choke up on the viper strike attachments for improved reach. Overall very nice tools and worth the investment!

The viper has great geometry for all ice, including clearing ice bulges or reaching to an overhang. The fang makes for easy leashless climbing, and dry tooling is comfortable as well. My only gripe is how difficult it is to get a leash for the 2007 model.