Camp Corsa review

Comments from Ice Axe users?

Sent to you by Roleigh via Google Reader: Camp Corsa review via
Bedrock & Paradox by DaveC on 9/17/12



The Camp Corsa is light. 10oz flat in 70cm. It self-arrests and belays
pretty well. If that is all you need in an axe, which is to say you’ll
carry it a lot, use it occasionally, and climb with it hardly at all,
then the Corsa will suit you well. If you plan on climbing with it,
which might include cutting steps or self-belaying in any position
other than piolet canne, you will want a different (real?) ice axe.



Fixing any of the shortcomings of the axe would require adding weight.
See the difference between the pick and adze of the Corsa, above, and
the Black Diamond Raven. The short Corsa pick doesn’t self-arrest any
worse, but the lack of length and thickness does mean that the Corsa
hardly works in piolet ancre. Rather than locking, the pick shears out.
The adze is also useless, save as a hand rest or for digging catholes.
The lack of heft in the axe is part of the problem, but the shape shows
that for Camp this part of the tool is largely vestigial. You could
clip in to the head of the Corsa, but if you’re ever in that position
you’ve done something wrong.

A good rule of thumb is that if you’ll be wearing a harness, you should
have something else in hand.



The spike of the Corsa, again compared with the Raven, is meant to save
weight. For dragging while glissading it works dandy. For plunging in
softer snow the simple design is quite adequate. When plunging in
harder snows you’ll have to work pretty hard, in conditions where the
Raven penetrates easily. Sharpening the aluminium helps, but that job
will dull quickly. No clip in point for the Corsa, obviously.

The Corsa claims to be the lightest certified ice axe on the planet,
and as of this writing that is the case. It fulfills its spec
admirably. The question to ask is whether the weight savings are for
you worth the price and performance compromises. While fine for most of
what I do, my answer on the last count is no. I’m selling the Corsa,
and will replace it with another Raven.


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