FAQs
Should I get the Beartooth or Alpine Pitons?
The alpine piton's priority is being the lightest weight full strength beak piton you can get. While the alpine piton is still durable and covered by our lifetime warranty, it has a smaller placement range and does not withstand the same levels of regular abuse as the Beartooth Piton. For general purpose use and breaking through choss, go with the Beartooth. For pushing it in the high mountains, go with the Alpine.
Are the Beartooth Pitons light enough or should I get the Alpine Pitons?
The Beartooth Pitons are lighter than both BD and Moses beaks at the equivalent blade length. The Beartooth Pitons are the bread and butter of your beak rack. The Alpine Pitons are meant for pushing it in the alpine where cutting weight is a top priority in your kit or for rounding out your piton rack with something that only protects very thin cracks.
I thought people don't use pitons anymore! Aren't they bad for the rock?
Pitons fell out of favor for general free climbing as removable gear improved, but they've never left the racks of mountaineers, alpinists, and adventure rock climbers. Pitons protect terrain that nothing else will, especially in iced up cracks and poor quality rock. Whenever you're facing a dangerous runout or can't get a safe anchor on a descent, reach for a piton and get home safe.
Does a lifetime warranty mean your pitons are indestructible?
Nothing lasts forever, including our pitons. You should check every single piece of your climbing kit regularly for signs of wear and tear. That being said, we back all of our pitons with a lifetime warranty against breaking/snapping that renders the piton unusable.
How would you compare your sizes, small, medium, and large, to another brand of beak pitons?
For the Beartooth and Alpine Pitons, the small blade is roughly equivalent to a BD#2 Pecker and the large blade is ~ a BD#3 Pecker. The medium is in between.