Lightweight Crampons

A snowHead

Has anyone got any experience with the Camp Race 290? I like the way they are light but also fold v small. I tihnk they will fit my boots - Maestrales 280.

Or are they too flimsy and should i consider the tour 350 or the Grivel Haute Route.

I plan to use these for the Silvretta Traverse / Haute route etc. I've got heavy mountaineering crampons for summer activities!

Thanks

Matt

A snowHead

I have their XLC390 which is an older model. I don't know how it compares.

They seem reasonably robust but with my new TLT5 boots (and their tiny toe lip) I have to do them up damn tight otherwise they drop off very quickly.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Don't know about the 290's but I've been using the Grivel Haute Route crampons for a couple of years and find them excellent. I use them with my Scarpa Maestrale's (the orange ones) which they fit very well much better than my G10's.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

When we did the silvretta we included a couple of easy peaks and my lightweight crampons were struggling a bit. It's worth really checking the fit too, a well fitting one should stay on the boot with the straps undone! If you do the traditional hlr there can be a steep section where the grivels might be better.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I looked at the 290 as I really liked the idea of it. However I read a couple of reviews where a number of people said they thought the fit was a little loose and with the fabric strap you have to keep tightening it as it slacks off as it gets wet. They are also not exactly cheap. Have a look at the Black Diamond Neve, they have them on Bergfreunde at £75 for the C3 version.

Alternatively I saw @offpisteskiing, (I think) did a partial review of some special super light weight ones that attach to the front part of dynafit style boots.

You'll need to Register first of course.

https://www.wildsnow.com/14513/tech-crampon-250-techpon-skiing/

These are the tech crampons. I really fancy a pair but wouldn't want to rely on them for something like the hlr.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

There the ones @jbob, I was just about to post the same link.

After all it is free

The Camp Tour-350 and Race-290 are only recommended for boots up to size 10 (US):

http://www.camp-usa.com/products/crampons/

Above that use the XLC390.

I have a pair of the camp xlc390, but would only use them if I was sure I was just going to be on névé and no rock or real ice (having had a couple of hair-raising experiences on them on some quite big lines...).
I do have a pair of the Tech 250s sitting here but haven't had time (or conditions) to take them out yet. Again quite a specific tool in my mind - couloir-booting etc
I also have a pair of the Grivel Haute Routes which seem like a reasonable compromise between weight and performance, but again haven't had them out in anger much yet. Only drawback for me on these is that the front points don't protrude all that far beyond the toe rand of the boots...

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll look into the bd's or the grivels

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I'm just looking at picking up some crampons for ski touring and maybe winter walking. Is there a lightweight \ durable option that fits 'normal' boots in addition to Tech ski boots ?

Or is it that case that all crampons are for specialist mountaineering boots or ski boots ?

snow reports

What do you mean by "normal boots"? most crampons fit a wide range of boots. Tech crampons are very new and specialist not the kind of thing for general mountaineering.

@AndAnotherThing.., as far as I know, proper crampons will fit proper mountaineering boots or any ski boots. I think you'll either get properly lightweight or properly durable e.g. you wouldn't want to climb mixed rock/ice/snow in alloy crampons but you'd be more tempted to always keep them in the bottom of your bag with your harscheisen and skins. With 12 point steel crampons, unless you enjoy punishment, you'll always be making a conscious decision to pack them or leave them behind.

You know it makes sense.

@AndAnotherThing..,

Crampons come in three grades C1, C2 and C3. Walking boots come in four grades B0, B1, B2 and B3. B0 boots are not rated for crampons they flex both laterally and torsionaly too much plus the uppers are not substantial enough for the strapping.

B3 boots will take full on mountaineering crampons C3 and normally these crampons have a heel bar that is like some old touring/ski bindings that you lift to lever and lock the crampon to the boot and then use a strap round the ankle to prevent the lever disengaging.

These boots are not suitable for anything but serious winter mountain walking/climbing.

B2 boots are a step down they can be used for winter mountain/hill walking have a bit more flex to make them more comfortable for longer walks and normally weigh just a bit less than the B3 boots. The C2 crampons again have a bit more flex are a bit lighter normally they generally have plastic retainers at the front rather than the metal bar of the C3 crampons. They can still be used for climbing but I would recommend the C3 if that is going to be the main use.

B1 boots are good 3-4 season walking boots they can not take a C3 crampon at all but are a great all round boot that has enough flex to make them comfortable for long walks yet still stiff enough to use on loose rocks/scrambling. They make just take a few C2 crampons dependant on the crampons fastening method ( if it has the lever then no as B3 boots have no heel lip for this to lock to ).

For ski touring boots with front and rear lips the best option would be a C3 crampon with metal bar to the front and lever to the rear, some C2 crampons may fit the boots as well but you need to try specific crampons for compatibility. This limits the boots you can use to B3 and possibly B2 ( B2 would be the best all round boot for hiking in for ski touring but a B1 boot may do the job if nothing technical only you will know which is best for you).

Another option if you do not need full on winter B3 or even B2 boots is to buy some micro spikes ( they are very light and fold up to about the same volume as a can of coke ) from company's like Kahtoola ( you can buy copy's for well under £20 on fleebay) and have proper crampons for the ski touring boots (C3).

So to sum up normal walking boots at best will take a C1 crampon or only microspikes but your ski touring boots are better suited to C3 crampons.

EDIT.

Forgot to add that B0 rated boots will take the micro spikes as will almost all other walking boots. Micro spikes also work well with quite a lot trainers/normal footwear.
There are many different types of micro spikes some are pretty good for walking in winter others are just very basic and just about work on a snow covered footpath.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@AndAnotherThing.., it's very important that you choose the right crampons for the boots you are using and the type of climbing/walking you will be doing. Boots are in 3 grades of stiffness,
B1 which are bendy walking boots and can only be fitted with C1 crampons or the crampons will break.
B2 semi stiff boots, where you can use either C1 or C2 crampons
B3 boots are ridged, designed for more technical climbing and best fitted with C3 crampons although you would get away with bendier ones at a push.

Read this link for more info.
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/crampons-for-mortals

A snowHead

Thanks all for the comprehensive replies. In my mind I wondered if I could buy lightweight crampons to fit both my (basic) walking boots (so B0 I guess) and my Ski Touring boots.

This came about after a walk up Helvellyn last week which involved climbing some steep snow \ ice of swirl edge. After reading reports I took an axe and micro spikes and they did the job, if slightly sketchy. It did get me thinking about 'proper' crampons, hence the question.

Thinking about it the answer if probably to keep the micro spikes for walking and get some proper ski touring crampons for the ski boots - I'm thinking along the lines of the Grivel Haute Route which is a mix of alloy and steel. It seems unlikely that in real life I'll avoid scrambling over rocks.

It's also about strategy when walking up. In the UK the walk in can be quite long so walking boots with boots attached to ski's are the order of the day. Perhaps swapping into ski boots before any climbing will help. At least there will be less weight to balance on the pack. Last week I kept the walking boots on, but with hindsight swapping to ski boots at the snowline may have been a better choice.

http://www.grivel.com/products/ice/crampons/16-haute_route

Help!!

Lightweight Crampons

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Equipment Reviews/Questions