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With its open pick angle and leashless design, the Reactor is optimized for pure ice climbing. The tool features a steel head with an aluminum side plate. The tool’s extruded aluminum shaft is combined with a dual density grip that is adjustable to fit all sizes of hands. The Reactor comes ready with the BD Natural Ice Pick, so get stoked … because winter is coming
REVIEWS
19 Reviews
Eldon J.
I grabbed a pair of these sweet tools to compliment the Fuels I already had. While I still love my Fuels there Reactors certainly swing a bit better into pure ice.
Matthew R
Picked these up to ice climb in Alaska and they were fantastic. Even as a beginner with a lot of technique to learn, the axe has great weight and maintains a good balance. I was getting great sticks on the first swing routinely. I like that the axe is rated for dry tooling to allow me to use it in mixed climbing situations. Just have to grab the right picks for it. I will say that these will probably be too heavy for any extended mountain use, but for hitting technical routes outside of town it's perfect.
Molly G
The Reactor is one of the best tools I've used on pure waterfall ice when paired with the new Natural Ice picks. The tools have a perfect swing.The adjustable handles work great when changing gloves to accommodate cooler or warmer temps. Used without hammer heads in softer ice and the addition of hammer heads for boiler plate ice was perfect for penetration. I prefer the weight with the addition of the hammer heads. The angles on the shaft and pick worked flawlessly when hooking cauliflower or pulling overhanging bulges. Just love hearing that “thuck” every first swing.
Martihn B
These tools are better than I am. I upgraded from gen.1 Quarks, which I've used for about 15 years. These come with a learning curve. It's hard to swing them straight at first, plus I kept hitting the handle. But with practice, they place easy and secure. They're light and have a super comfortable grip. I've tried the Nomics and find these to be about the same, and maybe even better for my grip. It takes longer to get pumped for sure. Definitely a worthy upgrade.
Lance P
These sweet tools swing similarly to the over rated nomics. Feel really comfortable and efficient. My technical tool of choice.
Scott P
Just finished 5 days in the ice park in Ouray and climbed a lot of routes each day. A+.
Yves T
This is my third pair of ice axes. I personally own the Grivel North Machine with carbon shaft and before that the Petzl Quarks. I definitely prefer the BD Reator. Blades are open enough for regular terrain and the curved handles are aggressive for steeper routes. I tried one set of Reactor last year and felt in love with the swing. The pure ice blades penetrate well with less ice diversion than my Grivel. Now so happy to own one. So eager to try it this winter!
Nathan F.
I have big hands and sometimes struggle to find tools that fit me. Once I changed out the shim, these are great for me, even if I am climbing with heavier gloves. Fit aside, these are really outstanding. The new picks penetrate really well, especially in hard ice, and I had no issues with cleaning them. I have used a lot of tools in my 20+ years of climbing ice and these are right at the top of the list for me. I'm not a big mixed climber, so there may be better things out there for those climbers, but for me, these tools are tip-top.
John729
Having climbed with tools from the other major brands, the Reactors are solidly at the top of the pack. I like the option of hot forged, tapered ice picks which place and clean well. The handle is exceptionally comfortable, easy to hold, and has a massive grip rest at the bottom which reduces pump. Beginner climbers often swing with the lower handle then immediately switch to the upper handle once the tool is placed, which isn’t best practice and puts more outward force on the pick. I’ve been guilty of this too, but I’ve found I don’t need to switch hands with the Reactors as much because the lower handle is so easy to hold. That in turn allows me to use smaller pick holds since I’m pulling down instead of out. The Reactors are (seem to be?) a solid, one piece construction without any gimmicky moving parts which tend to break. I’ve had the adjustable pommel snap off a competitor’s tool - not fun. I don’t feel like shaving 10-20 grams off a tool is important relative to how effectively you can place/clean the picks, but for what it’s worth, the Reactors are within +/- one carabiner weight of the other popular models (excluding the newest carbon tools, which have their own issues). For me the tools swing intuitively and didn’t require any adjustment period. The tool geometry allows the tip of the pick to contact the ice first when swinging, which seems to provide good sticks. The steel head plate (rather than aluminum) functions as a head weight which produces a center of gravity almost identical to the head-weighted designs on the market. Possible drawbacks to be aware of - as shipped, there is no way you’ll loosen the picks with the provided wrench. The bolts are crazy tight, although I’d rather that than too loose. The wrench would be a lot better if it had a little nut attached to it for turning the bolts. Also, no spare bolts are provided, even with replacement picks, so be very careful about NOT cross threading them. Finally, the cut out on the handle sort of fits BD umbilicals, but not all that well. A loop of cord might be necessary if you like to climb with umbilicals. All in all, a great tool choice that provides both durability and excellent performance.
Olin J.
Needed to replace my old BD Rage tools and decided on the reactor after testing everything I could find. LOVE THEM!
Bert D.
Generally love these tools. Balanced, natural swing. Easy sticks. Innovative handle adjustment. Fit and finish only ok.
Outdooryves
This is my third pair of ice axes. I personally own the Grivel North Machine with carbon shaft and before that the Petzl This is my third set of ice axes . I presently owns a pair of. Grivel North Machine and my first set was Petzl Quarks. I definitely prefer the BD Reator. Blades are open enough for regular terrain and the curved handles are aggressive for steeper routes. I tried one set of Reactor last year and felt in love with the swing. The pure ice blades penetrate well with less ice diversion than my Grivel. Now so happy to own one. So eager to try it this winter!
Topher
These really have a great swing and feel natural when placing. If you have xlarger hands (with gloves) even with the large adjustment, it can seem a little snug but nothing that gets in the way of a good stick. Angles great and seems to help you from getting pumped as fast. Well worth it! Great Job BD!
Topher
These really have a great swing and feel natural when placing. If you have xlarger hands (with gloves) even with the large adjustment, it can seem a little snug but nothing that gets in the way of a good stick. Angles great and seems to help you from getting pumped as fast. Well worth it! Great Job BD!
Benjamin
Light but really precise, offset of the handle feels great in hard climbs, balance is great and the pick is the nicest goes really smooth into the ice.
Read All Reviews (19)
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