Petzl

Laser Speed Light Ice Screw

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"The Laser Speed Light is the screw I rack when weight is a real consideration — alpine routes, long mountaineering days, or any objective where the ice protection is supplemental rather than the main event. The aluminum tubing keeps individual screw weight under 4oz across all three lengths, and the steel tri-toothed drill still bites well enough to place efficiently. The flexible crank is a genuine handling improvement over a rigid hanger in cold conditions, and color coding by length means you're grabbing the right size by sight. If you're primarily waterfall climbing and placing screws in quantity on steep ice, a heavier dedicated ice climbing screw will serve you better — but for mountaineering use, this is a well-considered tool."

Who It's For

Mountaineers and alpinists who need ice protection without carrying full ice climbing weight

The Laser Speed Light is aimed at mountaineers and alpine climbers who encounter ice on mixed routes and glaciated terrain and need reliable screw protection without the weight penalty of a dedicated ice climbing rack. It's a strong fit for ski mountaineers, alpinists on moderate to technical mixed routes, and climbers who want to supplement a trad rack with ice protection for variable conditions. Waterfall ice climbers placing screws frequently on sustained vertical ice will want a heavier, faster-placing dedicated screw.

What It's For

Ice protection on mountaineering routes, mixed alpine terrain, and glaciated approaches

The Laser Speed Light is designed for contexts where ice screws are part of a broader protection strategy rather than the primary gear — glacier travel with crevasse exposure, mixed alpine routes with ice sections, and mountaineering objectives where conditions can shift. The three length options (13cm, 17cm, 21cm) cover thin ice, standard glacier ice, and deeper placements, and the color-coded hangers let you identify length on the harness quickly.

Why We Like It

Aluminum tubing, steel drill, and a flexible crank that handles well in cold conditions

The material split is the key design decision: aluminum tubing keeps per-screw weight between 3.2oz and 3.9oz depending on length, which adds up meaningfully when you're carrying multiple screws on a long alpine day. The steel tri-toothed drill handles the work of starting and seating the screw without aluminum's tendency to dull or deform under repeated ice contact. The flexible crank improves grip in gloved hands and provides better mechanical advantage than a rigid hanger — a practical detail that makes placing screws faster when you're pumped or working in awkward positions. Color coding across the three lengths means no squinting at size markings to grab what you need mid-route.