Crampon Question

[GoddessOfGuinness]

Bionic, or standard?

[Dave Reynolds]

1. I vote for bionic.

With a name like that, it has to be good.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. It sounds like

it'll do your walking for you.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Crampon!

(clap clap)

Crampoff!



(etc.)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Until they invent that

I guess the bionics will have to do. :rofl:

[Left Is Write]

13. Damn. Here I thought I was being original!

You scooped me.

:rofl:

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Dunworry

It'll prolly be the only time all year. :blush:

[DS1]

3. Are those meant for Extreme Cavern Exploration?

:hide:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Aye...with exceptionally frigid conditions

:evilgrin:

[skygazer]

4. Bionic

The six million dollar crampon.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. That's the most absorbant one.

[Elidor]

5. Are you treading on thin ice?

Or thick?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. The thicker the better

:woohoo:

[Left Is Write]

11. Crampon, crampoff

The Cramper™!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. That'd come in handy once a month

or so...

[Cobalt Violet]

12. How much vertical ice do you do?

I have a preference for standard. But then again I don't do a lot of vertical ice(and I hate those plastic boots too).

With standard you can still flex your foot.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. That's what I was wondering

The bionics look like you would still have to essentially "penguin walk". And I would think that flexibility would be good on vertical, too...to keep your foot from getting stiff.

Ok...It really started as a copycat thread; but when I saw the different types, I was genuinely curious. :hi:

[Cobalt Violet]

16. Umm...

Flexibilty is not your friend on vertical ice. Rigidity is your friend there. The bionic ones would be better for that.


Here is something I copied and pasted from REI's web site about chosing the right crampon:

Crampons are typically available in 3 styles: hinged, semi-rigid or rigid.




Hinged crampons are best for climbing on snowfields and glaciers. The hinge allows the foot to flex for walking. One of the best things about hinged crampons is that they fit on either plastic boots or leather mountaineering boots with a full shank. With a stiff-enough boot, hinged crampons will even work on vertical ice. If you buy only 1 pair of crampons but want to do a variety of climbing, this is your best bet.


Semi-rigid crampons give more support on occasional vertical ice, such as the sections found on alpine climbs. These versatile crampons can be used for a wide variety of snow and ice climbs. Some have a plate under the forefoot and side rails that run the entire length. Others are hinged with an adjustment that locks the hinge in place. For example, the Grivel 2F crampons flex at the balls of the feet for mobility and comfort, which is helpful for glacier climbing. Add accessory bolts and they're rigid enough for vertical ice climbing.


Rigid crampons are the most technical. They are used primarily on vertical ice. Their stiff structure not only provides support for front-pointing, but also vibrates much less than a hinged construction. For thin or brittle ice this can be a significant advantage. Rigid crampons make glacier walking somewhat awkward, however, because they don't allow your feet to flex for natural striding. They also need to be used with stiff (preferably plastic) boots, as wearing them with flexible boots will eventually cause them to bend and weaken.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Thanks for the info...

I'd probably not do vertical, since I'm a low risk-taking type; but I really would like to visit Alaska and check out some glaciers before they all melt!

[Cobalt Violet]

17. Just because you may want to do some climbing. Copy cat or not.

It's fun up there in the ice.

[seemunkee]

18. Scary as crap though

Never again for me, at least not the vertical stuff.

[Cobalt Violet]

20. I'm not a big fan of vertical ice either.

But I love snowy mountain trails. They ice up so I like to use just strap on crampons that can be worn on any boot. I try to get out there every week end.