EliteClimb makes a huge selection of picks for the Kruk, Salamandra and Raptor tools, and a few for the Morpho tools. But with this many models, choosing the right pick is not obvious. This guide brings together the details of every EliteClimb pick we carry: shape, angle, tip thickness, weight and intended use.
Standard silver steel and hardened black steel
EliteClimb offers most of its picks in two distinct versions. The standard model comes in a natural silver finish, while the hardened version is black. Forged from a tougher steel, the hardened pick showcases noticeably finer craftsmanship. The tip is sharper and more slenderly tapered, the bevels are perfectly symmetrical on both sides, and the point sits dead-center along the pick’s thickness. It’s easily my personal favorite. That said, the silver pick still holds clear advantages: it’s more affordable, and because the steel is slightly softer, it sharpens faster and files down effortlessly when you want to customize the tip profile to your liking.
How to read the specifications
See the table below
- Angle — a lower (flatter) angle penetrates delicate ice with less damage; a steeper, more aggressive angle hooks better on rock, roofs and dry tooling features.
- Tip thickness — thinner tips displace less ice and feel more precise; thicker tips are more durable on rock.
- Weight — pick weight changes the swing of your tool; heavier picks and pick weights add punch, lighter picks save energy on long routes, especially on tender ice and when dry tooling.
- Fits — the tools each pick is made for.
| Pick | Angle | Tip | Weight | Fits | Accessories compatible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New picks | |||||
| Pure-Ice Pick | Very low | 2.9 mm | 141 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Dry Pick | Mid-low | 3.3 mm | 151 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| The classics | |||||
| Alpine Pick — no spike | Medium | 3.3 mm | 140 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Ice Pick — spikes on bottom | Medium | 3.3 mm | 144 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Ice Pick — Hammer | Medium | 3.3 mm | 194 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Ice Pick — Adze | Medium | 3.3 mm | 193 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Mixt Pick — spikes on both sides | Medium | 3.3 mm | 145 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Light Alpine Pick — no spike | Medium | 3.3 mm | 123 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Alpine Pick — Hammer | Medium | 3.3 mm | — | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Alpine Pick — Adze | Medium | 3.3 mm | — | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Ice Pick — spikes on bottom | Medium | 3.3 mm | — | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Ice Pick — Hammer | Medium | 3.3 mm | 170 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Ice Pick — Adze | Medium | 3.3 mm | — | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Light Mixt Pick — spikes on both sides | Medium | 3.3 mm | 121 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Trango Raptor Head Weights |
| Discontinued picks | |||||
| Mixt Aggressive Pick — Low Volume Tip | Very steep | 3.1 mm | 144 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Mixt Aggressive Pick — High Volume Tip | Very steep | 3.1 mm | 146 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| All-Ice Pick | Low | 3.1 mm | 144 g | Kruk, Salamandra, Raptor | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Morpho picks | |||||
| Morpho Ice Pick | — | 3.2 mm | 134 g | Morpho | Morpho Pick Weights (104 g) |
| Morpho Mixt Pick | — | 3.2 mm | 131 g | Morpho | Pick weights + Petzl masselottes |
| Morpho Dry Pick | — | 3.9 mm | 107 g | Morpho | — |
* If a link or a spec is missing, it means we never had these picks; they are currently not available at Verti Call.
* A missing link or a piece of missing information simply means we have never carried those picks; they are currently not available at Verti Call.
The Classic Picks
With so many models to choose from, here's how to make sense of all the options.
- Alpine — no spikes on top and bottom elbow, for optimal comfort when holding the pick in cane mode. Optimised for mountaineering, alpine, high mountains.
- Ice — spikes on the bottom elbow only. Optimised for ice.
- Mixt — spikes on top and bottom elbow. Optimised for mixed climbing.
- Light — lightweight design that can be Alpine, Ice or Mixt. Optimised for mountaineering and high mountains.
My take
If you climb waterfall ice above WI3+, you might want the Pure-Ice Pick. If you dry tool, you might choose the Dry Pick or possibly the lightweight Classic Light Mixt Pick. The Light Alpine Pick would be best for technical mountaineering or high-altitude mountain climbing. Choose an Alpine Pick if you plan to use the tool mostly in walking cane mode. Remember that you can also take a Light pick and add the Trango Head Weight for more punch if needed, making the Light pick a standard weight pick.
We hope this guide has taken some of the mystery out of choosing your picks. If you still have questions, leave us a comment below or write to us at info@verticallstore.com, it will be our pleasure to help you choose the right model for your tools and your projects. Have a great alpine and ice season!