Petzl RIDE Ice Axe Review

The RIDE is the lightest ice axe in the Petzl range — at 45 cm long and just 240g, it’s ultra-compact and designed to go easily on your pack.

While it was designed as a compact and lightweight ski mountaineering axe, the RIDE is also a very functional summer mountaineering tool.

The shape of the RIDE’s pick strikes a very nice balance between self-arrest performance and steel snow prowess. It’s quite tapered for a lighter axe and was able to penetrate firm snow and ice surprisingly well relative to its weight.

the pick still happily sinks into frozen turf and hard snow, but the angle is more suited to less steep terrain than the Petzl Gully.

Holes in the pick provide the lightest possible weight and the option to connect a carabiner

The adze is open with metal cut out to save weight, which makes it more time-consuming to clear snow, as it tends to pass right through.

The slight bend in the RIDE’s shaft increases leverage on the head while self-arresting, as well as when climbing in low and mid-dagger positions.

Testers appreciated the curved shaft and found it to be a boon over more traditional designs — most notably, it provides better leverage when mid-daggering in steeper terrain while also keeping the user’s hand warmer and drier.

Like most European-made ice axes, the RIDE is most comfortable in piolet-canne (pick forward) position. Petzl removed all the teeth on the pick close to the adze, allowing for a smooth, comfortable place to hold on to — a small design detail that adds up over long carries.

The RIDE was above average in its self-arresting ability, even when compared to non-ultralight models. Its pick struck a nice balance between providing security in steep terrain and executing a smooth self-arrest.

It was slightly less comfortable than other models in the self-arrest position, though average among ultralight axes — and hardly uncomfortable; testers carried it for hours with thin gloves on.

The spikeless design is one reason the axe achieves such low weight — it features a 45-degree cut at the bottom, though Petzl plugged the end to minimize snow filling up the shaft.

the beveled spike makes it easier to carry on your pack without damaging your gear

Among ultralight models, if you could only have one weight-conscious axe, the RIDE is a standout — nearly the lightest in its class and offering the highest across-the-board performance of any sub-12-ounce model tested. It features the best combination of steep snow climbing performance, self-arrest ability, and weight of any model in that category.

Testers could even pound the occasional snow picket with it and would consider using it for basic glacier climbs — something they wouldn’t consider with the majority of other ultralight axes.

The RIDE is a perfect choice for alpine adventures where every ounce matters but the terrain isn’t too technical — great for steep booters, technical ski descents, approaching alpine rock climbs, or basic snow and glacier climbs.

It works well for winter mountaineering and summer routes that involve only secondary snow and ice — and it’s worth considering as part of a quiver, paired with a burlier tool for more sustained technical terrain.