Skip to content

Cookies 🍪

This site uses cookies that need consent.

Learn more

Zur Powderguide-Startseite Zur Powderguide-Startseite
gear reviews

Gear reviews | Petzl Ride & Leopard LF/LFF

Let the leopard ride

by Baschi Bender 12/14/2017
Petzl, known for climbing equipment and headlamps, has an ultra-light set of crampons and ice axes in its range that is perfectly suited to ski touring and ski mountaineering. I was allowed to test the Ride ice axe and the Leopard crampons last year.

Unfortunately, in the past I've seen someone fall over a snow or ice field because they weren't wearing crampons. Fortunately, no one died in this fall, the person survived seriously injured, but it could have turned out worse. It really makes sense to always have crampons and an ice axe in your backpack on steep or icy ski tours. Even if this paragraph has nothing to do with the test, I would ask everyone who reads it to always be aware of these dangers! Because I'm sure that many people have thought, "F*** now it would be really good to have an ice axe or crampons" Often it's just because you're too lazy to carry the heavy stuff with you...

First impression

So now to the facts. The two pieces from Petzl are really ultra-light and compact. When I held the combination in my hand for the first time, I could hardly believe it! I always felt really comfortable with them on my feet and in my hands. I tested the crampons and ice axe on ski tours and alpine tours. So on hard snow fields and also in combined terrain.

Test report

The crampons are available in the "LLF" version for ski touring boots or fully crampon-compatible mountain boots or in the "FL" version for boots without a sole edge. The crampon connection system, which Petzl calls "Cord-Tec", consists of a Dyneema cord that connects the two parts of the crampons and can be adjusted to the length of the shoe using a hook system. At first I was a little worried about whether the flexible system would really work well. But I was very pleasantly surprised and didn't even lose a crampon. You have to put it on tightly the first time, but the adjustment is really easy and self-explanatory. I tested both versions of the Leopard crampon on different shoes and it always fitted perfectly. Thanks to the small pack size and weight, the crampons can really be stowed away in any backpack.

gear reviews
presented by

About the Ride ice axe, Petzl says:

"The ultra-light, very compact RIDE ice axe accompanies you on all ski and glacier tours without significantly increasing the weight of your equipment. The steel head, the narrow tapered pick (3 mm) and the curved shaft ensure secure placement"

And that says it all! With a length of just 45 cm, the ice axe is of course a little short to use as a support when walking on a flat glacier, but that's not what it's made for. In steep, alpine terrain, it behaves similarly to an ordinary ice axe. The hardened steel pick is easy to drive into the ice and the slightly ribbed aluminum shaft provides a good grip. The slight bend in the shaft also contributes to a good grip. The bevel at the end of the shaft makes it easy to press into firn. Thanks to its short length, you can even stow the "Ride" inside your rucksack, which reduces the risk of injury, especially when freeriding. I have to say, this ice axe is pretty much perfectly adapted to skiing in steep terrain and, with its weight of 240g, is virtually unnoticeable in the backpack.

Conclusion

Actually exactly what I've always wanted. The Ride and Leopard set is of course not for anyone who plans to constantly scramble over rocks or climb vertical waterfalls. But if you want to have something in your backpack for tricky passages when skiing, I can highly recommend the crampons together with the ice axe!

Advantages & disadvantages

+ light
+ small
+ well thought out
+ you can always have them in your backpack
+ crampons can be adjusted without tools
- not an all-round tool or not for climbing steep ice
- aluminum crampons suffer quickly on rock

Information

Ice axe RIDE:
RRP: €84.95
- The ice axe with a steel head offers the same performance characteristics as a classic ice axe
- The tapered pick (3 mm) penetrates the ice well
- The curved shaft with ergonomic grip surface ensures a good hold
- Particularly lightweight: only 240 g
- Compact: only 45 cm
- Material: hardened steel, 7075 aluminum
- Certification(s): CE, UIAA
- Compatible with PICK AND SPIKE PROTECTION caps and with the LINKIN wrist strap

Crampons Leopard:
RRP: €129.95
- Lightweight (only 360 grams/pair)
- Compact design: flexible CORD-TEC connection system for space-saving storage in the transport bag (included).
- Length adjustment without tools.
- Number of prongs: 10
- Shoe size: 36-46
- Certification(s): CE EN 893, UIAA
- Material: aluminum, stainless steel, polyamide, Dyneema®
- Warranty: 3 years

Here is the link to the Petzl website with additional information on the ice axe and the crampons. Of course, you can find pickaxes and crampons in the FL as well as the LFF version at our partner store Bergzeit.de.

Photo gallery

ℹ️PowderGuide.com is nonprofit-making, so we are glad about any support. If you like to improve our DeepL translation backend, feel free to write an email to the editors with your suggestions for better understandings. Thanks a lot in advance!

Show original (German)

Related articles

Comments

gear reviews
presented by