You might opt for bluebird days to tackle steeper ski mountaineering lines, but you don't necessarily have to; the Blue Ice Bluebird Ice Axe, on the other hand, is an absolute necessity for such routes. This classic axe boasts a hot-forged head and adze that lend an edgy grip on icy terrain. The straight shaft has a sandy feel to give your gloves the grip they need, and the angled spike provides extra purchase during glacier crossings.