crampons as traction for shoes

Ask questions and share your experiences with hiking & backpacking gear, and share trail recipes and gadget tips. Please see classifieds forum for buying/selling stuff.
Post Reply
zee
Posts: 99
Joined: November 22nd, 2012, 8:13 am

crampons as traction for shoes

Post by zee » November 22nd, 2012, 9:01 pm

Kind of a survey question here about the safety of wearing crampons on shoes. I've done quiet a few mountainous miles in Sorel Caribous (http://www.sorel.com/Men’s-Caribou™-Boo ... lt,pd.html) with 3/4" 10-pointers that had a flexible bar. I'm tempted to use them on some sturdy hiking shoes instead of shucking out for some kahtoolas or some such. But I am concerned about the risk of breaking an ankle. So the question is, What's the longest set of points you'd be willing to put on your shoes, say sturdy low-top hiking shoes? 3/8"? 1/2", 3/4", 1"? How about 3/4 height 'boots'? Light weight full height hiking boots? How do Europeans consider this issue?

User avatar
bobcat
Posts: 2764
Joined: August 1st, 2011, 7:51 am
Location: SW Portland

Re: crampons as traction for shoes

Post by bobcat » November 27th, 2012, 6:24 pm

I have a pair of expandable crampons that will fit almost any shoe/boot. The teeth are about 1/2 an inch. You just have to walk differently and if you have crampons on, you're not sprinting anyway - just the opposite. They would not work on vertical faces, but on steep ice slopes they are fine as long as I've strapped them on correctly. Go to any store that sells that kind of gear and they will help you with a selection.

The only problem I have is packing them away when I've cleared the ice. Those teeth can tear. I've resorted to wrapping them in a towel and putting them inside my pack. Leaving them hanging outside can result in injury when doing, say, a glissade.

zee
Posts: 99
Joined: November 22nd, 2012, 8:13 am

Re: crampons as traction for shoes

Post by zee » November 28th, 2012, 7:34 am

@bobcat: thanks, Are your's adjustable width-wise? The flexible ones i've been using on pac boots are adjustable lengthwise only, but they do retract enough to fit my shoes. What i like about full crampons are the points at the absolute toe tip, heel tip, and along the perimeter. If i buy something to get shorter points, i'd likely buy another pair with long points and then grind down the points on my existing pair since the metal has fatigued no doubt. Question is, Are my current 3/4" points safe (e.g. breaking an ankle) for use with shoes? I'd be interested in both the American and European perspectives.

zee
Posts: 99
Joined: November 22nd, 2012, 8:13 am

Re: crampons as traction for shoes

Post by zee » November 28th, 2012, 8:06 am

"The Pain and Pleasure of Crampons on Approach Shoes"
http://alpineinstitute.blogspot.com/201 ... ns-on.html

Stubai 10pt Aluminum
Review:
http://www.sierradescents.com/reviews/s ... ersal.html

Black Diamond Neve 10pt Aluminum
Review:
"ten-point aluminum crampon with what I'll subjectively call 'shorter' points. Both these features make the Neve suitable for hiking/trekking. ... not intended for waterfall ice or rock"
http://www.sierradescents.com/reviews/b ... e-pro.html
BD Website:
"The Strap version features a new softer strap that better accommodates trekking and trail running footwear"
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en ... ve-crampon
Tech Specs PDF:
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/up ... IS_WEB.pdf

User avatar
bobcat
Posts: 2764
Joined: August 1st, 2011, 7:51 am
Location: SW Portland

Re: crampons as traction for shoes

Post by bobcat » December 1st, 2012, 3:42 pm

@zee: My crampons are Charlet Mosers, adjustable lengthwise. They have a shallow toe and heel but are flexible widthwise because the overstraps are adjustable. There are four teeth on the heel section plus another four on the front section with two additional toe teeth at 45 degrees. The teeth are all one inch (I wasn't actually looking at them when I said half inch). I've walked on rock, including loose rock with them, to get between ice patches. No problems with balance, just care that you don't chop down through your calf or something. If they're strapped on securely, it's really your footwear that determines the stability in my opinion. Only use them three or four times a year, though.

Post Reply