Black Diamond Fusion

This is going to be a bit of a comparison between the Petzl Nomic and the Fusion. I have been using both now for the last three years, these are my conclusions.

For pure steep ice I prefer the Nomic. It swings less like a battle ax (Fusion being the battle ax) and the pick sticks more securely but yet is easy to remove. BD has some catching up on with their pick tech. The Fusion alway seem to take more effort to get a solid stick, and when it's in it takes a bit to get the pick dislodged.

For mixed climbing I prefer the Green Fusions. They are very stable at hooking and the grip (for me) is easer to hold and more comfortable for susstained holding in very overhanging terrain. I like the ruberized grip up the shaft of the tool as well with the Fusions. I find after a season the grip tape on the Nomics tend to loosen and roll down and need replacing.

Now for ice climbing the old BD red Fusion are a really close second to the Nomics. If you find a deal on the old red style get them. I miss the pair I use to have.

My Nomic is a Fusion.

When leashless became the new game and all the companies started pouring out new axes to go outside and overhang on mixed routes, and when we all started needing more clearance from our ice axes Black Diamond invented the Fusion. 

For 5 years now (give or take) they taken me everywhere. Perfect? Untrue. Best tool ever made for dry tooling? Yes, after a few tweaks.

I started by adding micro hammer heads, always useful for putting in the "once in a while" pitons. And hockey tape on the shaft which was recently replaced by plumber's tape made on some sorta "stick to itself" sorta silicone-jelly-fabricky thing.

People around me have been telling this and that about the Nomic being better than a Fusion and everything... And if so? There's too much bickering and naysaying in climbing circle about what works best. Use what works for you.

For me the most important feature of an ice axe is to let me climb ice. Period. The Fusion does that and more, after a fashion.