lightweight aluminum crampons

[dbconlin]

Which are the best?

 

The bd ones are on sale. Are these good? Any firsthand experience or conjecture?

 

Compared to Camp XLA 390 or the Stubai ones? Any others?

 

Thanks.

[Weekend_Climberz]

Got a pair of Grivel Air Tech Lights from the "Yard Sale". Hey, Fred uses 'em, so they must be the best

[TREETOAD]

I have a pair of bd neve pro's and they are light, easy to put on etc but..if you look at the points at the back of the front section they are sideways across the foot as opposed to being parallel to the foot and as a result bite poorly into side hills while traversing They are narrow and the point sits under the boot so that your boot sole is the first contact with the snow. I think the grivels have points that are angles in that position. I have taken two slides as a result of this. Maybe I am just clumbsy.

Edited June 1, 2007 by TREETOAD

[Blake]

get the stubai or camp ones

[TREETOAD]

Agreed.

[ericb]

have Stubai....just bought air tech lights after floundering down sloan peak GL last summer with snow balls on my feet while my buddy in grivels skipped down with his anti-bot plates. He swears by them over the stubais. I've yet to try them but looking forward to trying them out. I also think they are lighter than the stubais.

[Weekend_Climberz]

Air Tech Light: ~17 ozs

 

Stubai Ultralight Universal: ~20ozs

 

Camp 390 Hyperlight: ~14ozs

 

The extra weight of the anti-bots on the Grivel is well worth it IMO.

[DPS]

I have the Grivels and my only complaint is the points are a bit short.

[sprocket]

I have the Stubais and like them plenty but snow balls up to the point that I debate bringing my Grivel Air-Tech steel crapmons because the anti-bot plates are so good. I would buy the Grivels personally.

[Blake]

it seems like for most of the times when you'd use these crampons, you are going to put them on a tennis shoes or trail runner or light hiking boot, not something with a front welt and back crampon attachment point. If that is the case, then you want something with a universal attachment, meaning those grivels and CAMP ones would not work.

 

What's the point in savings 3 ounces of crampon weight if you have to wear or carry big clunky boots that weigh a pound more than some nice trail running shoes?

[OlympicMtnBoy]

CAMP with the universal binding, never had any probs. I've worn em on my tennies, hiking boots, and big clunky boots. No antibott though, gotta make your own. The Grivels have always looked nice to me too.

[Weekend_Climberz]

it seems like for most of the times when you'd use these crampons, you are going to put them on a tennis shoes or trail runner or light hiking boot, not something with a front welt and back crampon attachment point. If that is the case, then you want something with a universal attachment, meaning those grivels and CAMP ones would not work.

 

What's the point in savings 3 ounces of crampon weight if you have to wear or carry big clunky boots that weigh a pound more than some nice trail running shoes?

 

The Grivels I have are made with the New Classic bindings and fit my tennies just fine:

 

[rhyang]

I see that usoutdoorstore.com is selling camp antibotts - wonder if these would work ... (though probably not as well as the grivels)

[Weekend_Climberz]

Yeah, the active anti-bots are pretty freaking amazing.

[pms]

stu, we have the new antibott's for that crampon in stock. $8 a pair.

[Jopa]

If I recall correctly, the stubai pons have a stiffer spine than the camp model, which can be nice when wearing tennis/approach shoes. I think the spine on the stubais are steel rather than aluminum, but maybe PMS or someone can verify?

[Bill_Simpkins]

I still reccommend the steel ones with tennis(G10's). I like trashing on them and not feel like I'd bend a tooth on rock or take them off for a short bit of scrambling. Most likely, the time of year when you can wear tennis, there is a lot of rock of talus around too. I also like to use them on steep, wet heather slopes. I'm a light freak though and cut my weight elsewhere. Sometimes I'll just bring the front half of them and strap them on with ninja tricks.

[RogerJ]

I use the Grivel AirTech Light (New-matic) with my AT boots. They do the trick well, although I wish there was a Cramp-o-matic version.

 

-r

[Chad_A]

I see that usoutdoorstore.com is selling camp antibotts - wonder if these would work ... (though probably not as well as the grivels)

 

I have a set of them on mine; they work just fine.

[dbconlin]

Thanks for all the input. I am not going to jump on the BD sale. Right now I would be most likely looking at Grivel AirTech LIghts. Anyone know of these on sale anywhere?

[rhyang]

moosejaw.com + coupon codes you can google for

backcountry.com + coupon codes you can google for

[robpatterson5]

Thought that I would bring this thread back and ask about useing aluminum crampons on Rockies summer routes?

Were looking at some routes like the East Ridge on Temple, The 5.7 on Alberta, Edith Cavel, ect. Routes where either you may or may not need crampons -- or your going to be carrying them for most of the climb.

I was wondering about useing a pair of Grivel Air-Tech Lights vs. my Saberteeth. With some of the easier and less snowy climbs the disadvanatge is that I'll have to use my Trangos rather then climb in aproch shoes.

I'm wondering what peoples thoughts of aluminum crampons are for Rockies summer alpinism, am I better of with steel?

Thanks all.

[robpatterson5]

bump