Ice climbing, mixed climbing, alpinism, mountaineering, high-altitude mountaineering – all these mountain sports have one thing in common: ice axes are part of the absolute basic equipment. It’s for good reason the ice axe is the universal symbol of alpinism. They can be used for a wide variety of purposes and aren’t just for hanging vertically from a frozen waterfall. They can serve as a crutch, you can use them to probe snow, or you can use them to cut footholds in icy ground. Climbing on ice is no problem with certain ice axes, and they're also often used as anchors or belaying tools. In general, you should look for ice axes that are as light as possible and suitable for how you want to use them. Ice axes for ice climbing, for example, differ significantly from versions that are designed exclusively for high-altitude tours.