lol i mean i hate trump , but you really think $ 15 K of stock is going to influence his decisions on this ? <| sep |> I agree with the other poster ' s answer . In terms of picking gear crampons come in horizontal and vertical front points , generally horizontal ones are better for things like Mountaineering whereas vertical front points are better for ice climbing . You also have to choose between dual points or mono points . Dual points offer more stability but are often harder to place , whereas mono points are better for things like dry tooling , and are easier to place but less stable . I prefer mono points . You also have to determine what type of ice tools you want , a less aggressive tool like the petzl quark will be better for a less steep ice and is more versatile as a mountaineering tool , general purpose etc . On the other hand a tool like the black diamond fuels will be more aggressive , better for dry tooling and steep Ice . Also , it ' s important to remember that the progression in ice climbing is a lot different than in rock , you should probably spend at least a season or two on toprope before you do any sort of leading . Even as a proficient trad climber , you should only lead ice where you ' re 100 % certain you won ' t fall . Here ' s a good article . c l i mbingisnotrockclimbingFyi Will Gadd is one of if not the the best ice climbers everNot to discourage you , ice climbing is amazing , really rewarding stuff . Go take a course , or find a buddy who is already a good climber , and have fun !