Cortex

Pre-release information.
Coming autumn 2024.

The Cortex is a premium tool well suited to the most out-there mixed, ice, and dry tooling routes.

The exoskeleton I-Beam profile is CNC'd from a single aluminium billet, achieving an optimal strength-to-weight ratio and delivering a perfectly balanced swing. This fully 'Type 2' (T) tool utilises a modular pick system. Choose from an Ice Pick, Ice Tech Pick, or a burly Dry tooling pick depending on the task ahead.

One piece design
CNC milled from a single aluminium billet creating a very strong, lightweight, and superbly balanced Ice tool.

I-Beam design
Mirroring the technology used on our premium I Beam carabiners we have removed unnecessary metal creating the striking exoskeleton I Beam profile, distributing the weight carefully. The result is a perfectly balanced swing.

Ergonomic moulded handles
Upper and lower handles have a textured polymer over moulding helping with insulation and grip. The handle has a clip-in hole for Shadow, Phantom or Phantom HMS screw gates, and an attachment point accommodates cord up to 5mm for clipping leashes.

Modular pick system
The Type 2 T rated picks are modular and customisable to your needs. The Cortex comes with
the Ice Tech pick, Micro Hammer, and pick weights. DMM offers three interchangeable picks, two hammers and one adze that are compatible with the Cortex, Apex and Vertex.

PICK FEATURES
1: Head
Ice: Smooth head to improve in-hand comfort.
Ice Tech and Dry: Chicken head for additional bite and stability during stein pulls and
when the axe is inverted on less steep ground.
2: Chamfer
Ice and Ice Tech: Full top edge chamfer to improve penetration and removal from ice.
Dry: Chamfered at tip to improve penetration and removal from ICE at tip, but not running full length to improve durability when use against rock.
3: Modular pick system
Ice, Ice Tech, and Dry: Washer free, trochoid tool interface for long lasting secure and precise hammer and adze connection.
4: Pick tapering
Ice and Ice Tech: Thickness tapers from 3.9mm at head to 3mm at tip.
Dry: No pick taper. 3.9mm thickness throughout for strength, stiffness and durability in aggressive use. The dry pick also has 1mm extra depth for added strength.
5: Tip
Ice: Optimised tip for penetration and durability.
Ice Tech: Pointier tip to compensate for steeper pick angle.
Dry: Hooked tip for stable placements on small edges.
6: Cauliflower spike
Ice Tech: Additional large spike for hooking large ice features.