Crampons and Snowshoes Advice

“What is the difference between the 2 and when would I use them.
When I purchase them, what should I look for?”

“Yeah, I need advise on crampons. I've slithered down a few steep icy trails in the Smokies not intending to land on my butt or face but I have. What's good for icy stuff? I've heard mixed reviews of Yaktrax, though I'm not sure if those are spikes or just springs.”

“I read a guy's AT journal who used instep crampons in the Smokies, and it was just enough for him. Somebody on this board used Yaktrax, and disliked them.”

“That was Twinkle Toes who had the Yaktrax, one slid off her foot and was lost forever. They don't look to be much good except for walking out and getting the paper.

Crampons are essentially spikes that strap on to your boot. You need these for icy trails.

Snowshoes are for.. well.. snow. Most are outfitted with crampons, for a better grip, but usually aren't as aggressive as the stand-alone crampons.

As for what to look for, I'll hold off on giving advice, since there others here who know more. However, I have the Black Diamond 10-point crampons and am quite happy with them, and just got a pair of Tubbs Altitude 36" snowshoes, that I'm also very happy with.”

“Crampons are just teeth for your boots...


Snow Shoes are really big feet with teeth..
”

“Snowshoes are for snow!
crampons are for ice!

When the snow becomes too hard or steep to kick steps, you'll need to use crampons on your boots. Whichever type of crampons you choose they need to be a good fit on the sole of your boots need to have a completely reliable method of attachment.
crampons
Northern Lites ”

“My vote for the Northern Lites!”

“Do they sell the Northern Lites at any store besides at that website?”

“Here's an interesting crampon link.


I've had a pair of these 'Stabil-icers' for a few years and they do well for light duty applications. You just replace the machine-head screws when they wear out. The new 'sport' models look interesting.”

“Are you hiking or climbing? Uh, I mean, are you doing things that require hand over hand in the summer. If so, get crampons. If it's mostly hiking with no hand over hand, snow shoes should be fine with the built in crampons. This is a bit of a generality. And bear in mind that as you buy a more expensive pair of snowshoes in the same line, you get more teeth on the crampons. If all else fails, get both!!!!!”

“I think that Nowslimmer said it right about them!

8)”

“The 3 going snowshoes here that I've seen over the last cupla years are as follows in order: Atlas 10 series, Denali Ascents with the tail attachment thingy (who makes these?I forget), and the Northern Lites.

Cramps are much less discussed here, yaknow not very PC, the dearest fems here thank we be tawkin' bout them....

Whatever ya get for crampons, get used ones, just try to get as light as ya can. I have the Stubai Ultralight Universals for just general glacier crossing and ice walking situations ..... but .... they still virgins, so I cain't give personal feedback. They do bring great praise tho, that's why I bought'em, and they are very light for a great, versatile cramp.

Hope this at least points ya in the right direction. If you can wait a cupla months (rent from now til then), you can easily land a bargain off Ebay or used gear websites in the spring if ya look for the above models of snowshoes.”

“I bought these clampons and they are tougher than they look, made of real solid steel:



Think they'll do for Smokies AT and surrounding areas in January or should I buy some of the all-out crampons?”

“I have some icewalkers that look alot like what car antenna posted. They work fine for the kind of ice you usually run into in the Smokies.”

“Do they sell the Northern Lites at any store besides at that website?
LyndyS

A good question. I did not see any at Campmor or REI.”

“Thanx for that link nowslimmer, MSR makes the Denali Ascents with the flotation wing thingies.”

“I started a thread for y'all about some great cramps I just saw on Ebay, the one's I have and spoke of above. DO check it out!”

“I have Charlet Moser 10-point crampons ...excellent! To keep the snow from balling up underneath the boot/crampon (a real nuisance!), I spent a few extra bucks for the anti-balling plates (actually they're a kind of flat rubbery material), that connect securely to the bottoms of the crampons ...money well-spent.”

“I have these crampons but have never noticed the balling. I've heard its a problem. Granted, I've only used the crampons twice.”

“Stubai's Lightweight cramps have aluminum anti-balling plates. MSilver, ya reckon' I ought to consider gettin'em?”

“naked ape, I'm not familiar with that brand. But hey, whatever works, works.

I fabricated a set of anti-balling plates once for ice cleats... made 'em from a plastic milk carton (gallon size)... they worked okay a couple of times, but then I got my Charlet Mosers, so I'm not sure how well the home made plastic ones would hold up in the long run.”

“Two words...horizontal rails!”

“I'm pumped! After reading all your advice, and that on other threads, combined with my past experiences in Alaska and most recently at FYAOIII, I plan on getting more involved with mountaineering. After researching the gear needed, I found it to be beaucoup expensive, but I've peiced together the following basics to get me started....

Black Diamond Bionic Crampons - on sale at local gear store for $80.

Atlas 1233BD - On sale at Moosejaw.com for $115 - allow me to have, along with crampons, dual purpose, top of the line gear.

Peak Mountaineering Boots by Technica - On sale at STP for $109 - crampon compatible, can be used to rock climb, and as hiking boots as well.

So for around $300, I have my feet squared away. Picks, axes, harnasses and rope are next.... waiting for more experience to justify the expenditure.

I'm kinda pumped, and looking forward to this coming winter already!”

“Very nice price on dem Atlas 1233's BB!”

“Yeah Ped, I was pretty pumped about all the savings.... usually it takes me about a year to find good quality gear at the price levels I'm willing to spend.

So, are you ready to bag some peaks with me this winter ped?”

“As an old timer, I used wooden snowshoes for many years. I like them, but the newer metal ones with the mini-crampon base are nicer. They appear not to sink as much in heavy snow & climb/descend better straight-on. The wooden ones do tend to stand up to heavy usage better, but you had to crabwalk (sideways) to climb/descend. Snowshoes work well in deep snow in lower elevations & keep trails relatively pleasant. Potholing the trails are impolite. Crampons are great for packed snow, ice or generally treacherous conditions in the higher elevations. For a first pair of 12-point crampons, I'd get the universal type that will strap unto your present hiking boot. I did without these for many years until a lady ranger pressed me to use them. I thought that I would constantly have to put them on & off but that isn't the case. I love crampons for winter hiking”

“Good stuff at great prices...the crampons would be overkill for general use, but if you are going to get into mountaineering they should serve you well, especially at that price. Be sure they fit the boots well, sometimes the front bail needs to be modified for some boots.

I'm jazzed for ya.....I'll keep my eyes open for good deals.”

“i\\\\\\\'ve learned the hard way that snowshoes are no substitute for cramp-ons and any reputable snowshoe vendor will be very forthright about that as well. i will say that one snow shoe company that is getting very good at trying to come as close as they can to offering the best of both worlds is MSR. They have a backcountry snowshoe line that have teeth running the entire length of the platform, as opposed to the Atlas and Tubbs setups. You can see the difference in the Atlas Snowshoes and Tubbs Snowshoes setup compared to the MSR Snowshoes listed above.”

“I just bought some new boots (EMS Arete) for winter hiking. The souls are very stiff; if I put all my weigh on the soul I can’t get them to flex. Is it ok to use my crampons in the ridged setting or should I continue using them in the hinged setting?”

“If the boots have the formed welts for the crampons to clip into you can probably put the on rigid, otherwise i'd leave them hinged. plus, if they pop off the boot in the rigid setting, put them back to hinged.”

“If you are ice climbing use the rigid setting.

If you are hiking, use the hinged setting.

Even a very small movement with the rigid setting will break the crampons after a couple of miles.”

“Hinged it is. Thanks”

“ok.. I read thru all of it. I know most of winter is gone... but other than ice-walkers, I don't own a pair of snowshoes, or crampons.

BRMS has a pair of Grivel crampons. Crampomatic style.. they claim the model (on the phone) is 2-S, but I can't find it on the Grivel website.

I'd like to buy me a pair of crampons with my gift certificate I still have. Would the 2-S be a good choice?.. How do I know?

I realize this is pretty much a luxury item, but next winter, I'd really like to join the "LeConte over Christmas" crew, and i can't see trying to do the Alum Cave trail that season without a pair of good crampons.

Somebody please advise me?”

“Crampomatic are for rigid plastic mountaineering boots, like ski boots.
Will not stay on flexible boots.

Better to get a classic or strap on binding unless you have plastic boots.”

“aHh.. thank you. Thats part of what I needed to know. So that's not the right kind of crampon for me then. Can you recommend me anything.. ??..”

“I just tried out a pair of Kahtoola crampons this past weekend doing a 6 mile winter run race. The trail was 70% ice and they worked great even did a full sprint with them to the finish line. They are designed to be used with either boots or trail running shoes and they flex in the middle to accomodate the shoes/boots flexing.
www.kahtoola.com”

“IMO, I wouldn't use the Kahtoola's - at least not for what I use them for.

First off, I winter hike and backpack mostly in the Adirondacks and I use crampons when it is not only icy, but steep. Ninety percent of the time I use the front points - if not actually doing technical front pointing (technical ice climbing). On the summit dome of many Dack peaks the ice is quite thin on the rocks and parts can be bare rock. Alu crampons will just not do there.

I have a pair of Camp K2 12 pointers with straps and Charlet Moser 10 pointers with step-in bindings. I keep the pair with straps adjusted for my leather boots and the others adjusted for my plastics. I have no experience with hybrid bindings, but, that being said, I would only use full strap-ons with my leather boots.

10 pointers are lighter, but both pairs have fronty points and both are steel.

All makes that are CE certified (for the love of God [not not wanting to meet Him right away] use only CE equipmnent) are good, buy what's in your catalogue, or in the nearest shop (that offers good service), or what's on special (www.campmor.com). Camp, Charlet Moser, Black Diamond, Trango are all good and they all have websites.

Doug”

“BTW, I would use hybrid systems on full-on mountaineering leather boots.”

“Thank you!

Now I feel a lot more knowledgeable.”

“Hey TD, I just got a pair of Black Diamond Contact crampons for use with my "winter" hiking boots (not plastic mountaineering boots). Based on my one usage, they worked really well and never tried to loosen up from my boot.

Got them at EMS, if your out looking around.”

“TD, I saw a guy doing part of the AT over Christmas. He had some Black Diamond Crampons, not sure which ones though. Have you looked at insteps..a lot cheaper for sure.”

“Towndawg, where are you planning to use them?”

“insteps are really only beneficial on a light snowpack. If its real ice they don't help much.”

“stubai makes a nice pair of strapon cramps thats cheaper then the kahtoolas and weighs a few grams more. The Al in them is pretty tough and seems to handle mixed terrain well. I havent tried the front points out yet but they do seem to stay in place well and have enough flex to walk comfortably in them.”

“I would recommend steel rather than aluminium.

Unless you are a serious lightweight hiker and can afford frequent replacement.”

“I suspect the Kahtoola's and other alu ones are made for glacier travel lower down, or for snowpack out west.”

“Gremlin: Yo.. I don't know where I am planning on using them.. I just had a $100 gift cert that I thought I might spend on crampons.. since I didn't own a pair.

Ewker: Ya, after reading thru most of the comments I have a better idea of what to look for in regards to my specific needs.”

“Kahtoolas are now also available in steel.

http://www.smcgear.net/products.asp?cat=4&pid=71”

“Grivel G-10's from Summit Haus. $88.65 and free shipping. I couldn't resist.”