HEY CRAMPON PEOPLE!!

“Are these any good?

crampon

it says " Requires a rigid boot with full-length steel shank "

What does that mean?"
bbinkley
08:54:20 PM
02/19/03

"my montrail torres have a half steel shank in them and the crampons say a full steel shank.

will these work together?"
bbinkley
09:03:06 PM
02/19/03

"I don't own mountaineering boots so hopefully someone with more details will chime in. From what I have seen, a crampon compatable boot will have a notch in the heel for the "step-in" part of the crampon to slip into.

I own strap-on crampons that work with almost any hiking boot."
Pennsy Hiker
09:02:44 PM
02/19/03


WHAT DO YOU THINK? ANY ADVICE OR THOUGHTS? SHOULD I CANCEL MY ORDER?”

“The question is "what are you going to use these for?". Any crampon that requires a full steel shank and rigid boot typically is used for front-pointing either on very steep slopes, bergshrunds, or icefalls. That type of crampon would typically be used with a plastic mountaineering boot. I would suggest a hinged crampon that just requires strap on capability and no heel or toe bails. The Grivel G-10 is a good choice if you want a full blown crampon, but, again I don't know your planned use. I own 2 pairs, one pair for my Scarpas and the other for my hiking boots. Actually, I could strap the G-10's onto my running shoes if I wanted and they'd work just fine.”

“One other thing, if you're going to be on slopes requiring crampons, you'd better know how to use an ice axe...”

“just planning on hiking with them in the smokies and such no vertical climbing”

“If that is all you want them for then a pair of Yaktrax ought to work fine.”

“I think Twinkle Toes and I will testify that yaktrax suck!
Oh sure they work great while on your feet, but they FALL OFF into the snow never to be found again!
I have noticed that newer yaktrax come with a strap that goes over the top of your boot though. :)”

“AmyG, Dare, and the Adventurists had some little 4-point crampons that cost less than 10 bucks if I remember right. Just a single, simple nylon strap over the boot. Not as hardcore as 10 or 12 point crampons, but also a lot cheaper. I'm thinking the 10 or 12 pointers are only really needed if you have lots of ice and pretty steep climbing. Those little 4 pointers seemed to do well on relatively flat trails.”

“I have a bunch of those Artex. We call 'em creepers and use them for ice fishing or just winter yard work. Wal-Mart normally sells them for around 5 or 6 bucks, but I bought a bunch on clearance one year for sixty cents a pair. The straps on the ones I have is a rubber thing that loops on a hook on the other side. The strap doesn't go over my Scarpa's though. :(”

“Twig, think about where you are hiking and where binks is hiking.
Big difference.
Spikes in the smokies don't make any sense.”

“what? when did I say that???

Lessee, I said yaktrax suck (unless you like spending money of disposable gear) and then I commented on the little four point thingys.

I don't have crampons and I've never hikied in the smokies so I can't comment on either. Maybe you're reading more into my post?”

“Huh, I guess I am.
sorry.”

“no problem.
BTW - I have a quote you made here hanging in my cube "my employers rent my time, they did not buy my life"
words to live by...
:)”

“Yeah, I like to see their eyes bug out when I tell them that.

WA-WA-WA-WHAT!?!?!?”

“That quote has rung in my head also, HPM. So true! I love it.”

“I'd like to say I live it, but when we weren't allowed to leave until the budget was done, I stayed right here. 'Specially since the budget contained 300 layoffs - I didn't wanna be one of 'em! :)”

“Binx - these are the clip-on cleats that we use...




Campmor sells 'em for 8 bucks. The work well, attached to my Bugaboots or Solomon Snow clogs.”

“I use Camp K2 crampons on both my leather and plastic boots. I prefer strap-on bindings as I find them more reliable. I use them for waterfall climbing courses with my students, but they are flexible alpine crampons with horizontal front points and rails (very important - you will not get a hundred metres with ice climbing crampons and they don't grab on steep nevé).

My leather boots have full-length steel shanks, but no slots for step-ins. One of my buddies uses crampons on his Vasques which I suspect are half-shanked. His crampons keep falling off even though they are hinged like mine. I suspect the half shank is the problem.

I hope this helps.”

“I spent a lot of time backpacking in the warmer three months. In preparation for a long summer trip, I am backpacking more in the winter. This wkend, I hosed my self on Mt Mansfield (VT). My ice fishing creepers and high wind were a bad combo. Lesson learned! I have a buddy that can sell me his K2 crampons (7 yrs old). He lives out west. I would rather not puraches plastic boots. Will these crampons work?
Thanks
MTNWoodchuck”

“oops, I meant "three seasons"
Thanks”

“I'm not familiar with those crampons. If the straps pull down at the toes, leather boots may curl as they are not rigid. I have some plastics that I wear when the weather is really bad down here (SE US), or the Cascades and I'll need to wear my crampons (Grandfather Mt, the Blacks). They weigh about 1.5 lbs more than my leather Montrails. If I take my leather boots I have some 6 points that fit well. Consider some 6 points.”

“I don't know about the K2 set, but I wore my asolo 3-season boots with Grivel strapons, and they worked for me for 20+ miles on the snowy AT. The asolos had nylon breathe-able uppers and the bootoms were of rubber.

Hope this helps.”

“Like the others, I don't know those crampons.

What terrain are you hiking? How steep are the trails? I use 6 point crampons with my leather boots for icy trails in Colorado, but I don't do any ice or winter-technical climbing with them.”

“I'm not familiar with those crampons. For northeast trails, you are probably going to want a 10 or 12 point steel, strap on crampon that has a pivot hinge near the ball of your foot. You don't want a ridged crampon with flexible boots because they will pop off your feet or you will break them. I think steel is important for the northeast because you often end up hiking on mixed terrain and softer metals such as aluminum just don't hold up when hiking over rocks.”

“yep. I can attest to that. Mt. Cresent ate my Grivels.”

“I have Camp K2's and I assume those are the same. Mine have straps and they are adjusted to my leather boots. My clip-ins are adjusted to my plastic boots.

In other words, they should work on your leathers

BUT

Some boots are just too flexible for crampons - my buddies Asolo's (I don't know the model) just won't keep crampons on. Also, the straps will cut some blood flow and your feet will get cold sooner or later.

If the K2' have straps and not step-ins, try them out.”