The Salewa Alpine-Tec Hammer axe is a lightweight, hybrid ice axe for general to more technical mountaineering in steeper environments. As such, its ideal for snowy couloirs or steep slopes. It is slightly more curved and shorter than our straight shaft Alpine-X axe and comes with a sharp, aggressive 3 mm blade and a minimalist handrest that adjusts without requiring tools. Its ergonomic shaped head makes it especially comfortable to carry in the hand, when used for support on ascents and descents. Its strong, aggressive steel blade gives improved penetration in steep alpine couloirs or for glacier work. And it has a sharp, replaceable carbide tip at the bottom of the shaft for better contact when moving over hard snow or ice. This version has a nut-shaped hammer.