Brand: Black Diamond

Purpose: Ice, Alpine, Mixed Climbing 

Price: $309.95 USD 

Specs: 

  • Length: 50cm 
  • Weight: 610g 
  • Materials: 
    • Pick: Chromoly Steel 
    • Head: Forged Aluminum 
    • Shaft: Hydroformed Aluminum

 

Some background on this review: I’ve been ice climbing for five seasons, primarily using Petzl Nomics. While I’ve tried other tools, such as the CAMP X-Dreams, Petzl Ergonomics, Black Diamond Fuels and Reactors, I have yet to find one that suits my needs as well as the Nomic does. 

I was excited to see BD releasing a new tool this year, and I couldn’t help but notice the similarities to the Nomics. From the overall shape of the tool down to the price point, it was hard to find big differences in these tools. In hand, the tools feel very similar to each other, so I knew I had to get them out on the ice to see how they truly compared. 

Lecsi Glenn cruising steep Canadian ice with the BD Hydras.

I just took the Hydras on a fall trip to the Canadian Rockies, testing them on area classics around the Banff/Canmore area. They have a very satisfying swing to them that inspires confidence; I found myself getting them stuck more than I do my other tools. I was using the tools with no modifications (head weights and stock pick), and I think if I had more time with them, I would’ve played around with different head weight combinations to dial them in further.

Multiple grip-extenders can be installed on the Hydra to fit a wide range of hand sizes.

One of the best features of the Hydras is their adaptability: the ability to adjust the swing weight to the user’s preference is awesome, and they did this by integrating them into the head rather than attached to the picks themselves, which comes in handy when you need the few extra cm’s of the pick for a hold. The grip, aside from being comfortable, offers a wide range of adjustability for a range of different hand sizes, and I have even seen competition handles being used with the tools, making the Hydras a tool that really does it all. 

Testing the Hydras on November ice climbs in the Canadian Rockies.

While I don’t believe the Hydras are a revolutionary tool, they are very solid, customizable, and if I didn’t already have a nice pair of tools I’d buy them. They’ve carved out their place in the world of modern ice tools, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time climbing on them. Compared to any Black Diamond tool I’ve used in the past, they’re worlds better from the perspective of comfortability, swing feel, and geometry. Overall, I think the Hydras make for a great ice tool that will be a strong competitor to other brands and should be on the radar of anyone looking at getting a new set of tools. 

Interested in trying them out? Demo a pair today at the shop and see for yourself!

 



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