I took this axe up Skiddaw on Sunday. Walking and scrambling, the axe did brilliantly. I bought it initially based on price (I paid about £65 for it) although there are a lot of advantages to this axe over other walking axes.

The 'ergonomic' pick appealed to me. Holding a walking axe when using the spike can be really uncomfortable on some axes though the Raven's pick goes in where it joins the shaft making it more comfortable to hold with fingers either side of the shaft. This neat little feature is not quite as useful when wearing really thick gloves, though still more comfortable than the other axes I have used. The design of the pick can also be useful for some snow belays too where other axes may not.

I have the 60cm shaft which is comfortable for walking with in my opinion but others may prefer a shorter and therefore lighter axe or, on the other hand, a longer axe may be wanted for taller mountaineers - try before you buy! It isn't the lightest axe I've used but it does feel very durable and swings well with the weight. The rubber grip also makes it much easier to swing than the gripless model.

I'll add more thoughts when I have more experience with it but nothing to complain about so far.