This tool works really well on alpine ice. It is much lighter than traditional ice tools yet plenty durable and the X-Monster pick excels. Due to the straight lower shaft it can be also used for plunging into the snow but here it does not perform as well as a traditional ice axe: The shaft bend is substantial so the tool tends to rotate around its shaft axis when pulled on. (In contrast, Air Tech Evo does not do it.) Also, the pick is very tall so it is harder to grip if you have smaller hands. Of course none of these matter much if you plan to use it mostly as an ice tool.

...does not swing as nicely as Grivel Air Tech Evo. I also have a concern about the durability of the rubber grip when plunging it repeatedly into hard snow because the grip is not completely flush with the shaft. I really like the replaceable blades though.

I have used it over two dozen times and it shows only minimal signs of wear. Plunges and swings nicely and the shaft bend is handy on ice. Works well on steep alpine ice. (I have used a pair of them on a 70 degree ice slope and had no funny feelings about it.) The pick comes already sharpened, unlike some other axes.

This backpack is really loaded with great features. Way too many to name here so just read the PDF flyer on Grivel web site. Before I get into the negatives let me emphasize that I have looked high and low and did not find a mountaineering backpack with better features. Now about the issues: (1) A major problem for me is that it does not fit my long torso. When positioned properly on my shoulders the hip belt ends up at my waist and there is no way to adjust that. In comparison, Deuter Guide fits well. (2) The tool carry sleeve on the back is too wide to accommodate axes with pronounced shaft bend (think Grivel Matrix and to some degree Grivel Air Tech Evo). The sleeve will force the picks to be pretty much horizontal so the tool shafts are in turn leaning towards each other (instead of standing upright), which precludes using the loops to tie down the shafts. The sleeve would work well with straight shafts. (3) For some reason the lid is cut slightly narrower than the back frame so it cannot easily cover the entire top of the backpack. The fabric of the extender tends to "leak" from under the lid. (4) The yellow fabric of the extender is very light and not waterproof and this fact, when combined with the previous bullet, is partially reducing the advantages of the great fabric used on the main body. Again, the review might come across as if I am slamming the pack but that is not the intent. If it fit my long torso I would still go for it.