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Longer axes are just a bit easier to self arrest with and useful as a walking aid....that's it really. Oh, and much better for using as an anchor for crevasse rescue or rapells as they tend to stay buried in a trench more easily under load.
I use a petzl glacier for walking. It comes to around the top of my (pretty high) boots. I wouldn't stress about exact size too much. Anything longish, straightish and comfortable to hold and carry will be fine. Knowing how to use it in a self arrest is more important than the axe itself.
We found a ~90ish year old ice axe that had melted out of langtalferner in Austria in July. The handle was over three feet long!
Stonehedge
@EB
Ice axes for Winter Munros walking. I'm getting one for Mrs EB and couldn't remember how I chose the size of mine when I bought it about ten years ago but thought I'd used the old adage of holding it by your side and the tip just about at your ankle.
That made me get mine out (DMM Cirque 55cm) and its a fair way off being near my ankle, maybe top of my boot at a stretch.
I know there's been move towards shorter axes where longer used to be favoured, but I'd like to get her the best size and now confused. I bought mine primarily for using for ice axe arrest rather than an out and out walking aid (use walking poles for that), only using walking uphill or downhill as an aid when gradient calls for it.
Has anyone got one for sale also?
Thanks