Crampons are multi-purpose spikes that attach to climbing boots or skis to help enthusiasts grip icy or snowy surfaces. There are different types of crampons for different purposes, and choosing the right one is important for a climber’s safety. The two general classifications of crampons are hinged and rigid, and instep crampons are popular with backpackers. Ski crampons are commonly used in the Alps.
Show business has always capitalized on America’s love of danger. Sports that drag players to the brink of realism and pivot their fate on nothing but one wrong step are so popular that good sports shops don’t know how to keep up with the demand for equipment.
In no other sport is a missed step as important as in climbing. Enthusiasts from all over the world regularly scale the world’s highest peaks with nothing more than a rope, strong hands and the will to stay alive. For these people there are crampons.
Crampons are multi-purpose spikes that attach to climbing boots or skis to help enthusiasts grip icy or snowy surfaces. They were invented in the early 20th century, but mountaineers of the time weren’t interested in losing circulation to their feet due to the tight leather straps of the crampons. Fast forward to the era of plastic and heat sealing and crampons are once again acceptable accessories for climbers.
There are crampons for different purposes and not all types of crampons are useful for all climbers. In general, vertical climbers need more traction control than smooth-slope alpinists, and alpine skiers, who spend all their time on the move, need lightweight, versatile crampons made from aluminum rather than hardened steel. Choosing the right crampon can be one of the most important tasks in a climber’s life, because a wrong choice here can lead to death or at least a very difficult journey.
The two general classifications of crampons are hinged and rigid. Hinged crampons are flexible, allowing the user to walk naturally; as a result, general climbers use this style best. Rigid crampons don’t buckle and are meant for vertical climbers who need foot support to dig their toes into the ice. These crampons are usually too heavy for mixed terrain. Climbers who have doubts about choosing the correct style can tell the two types apart by looking at the angles of the first two rows of points on the crampons. If the first row is bent down and the second row angled towards the toe, it is used for vertical climbing. General climbers just need to look for straight spikes.
Instep crampons, those that have only four to six prongs, are popular with backpackers, who will occasionally come across a slope of snow that requires better grip than traditional walking boots allow. In addition, skiers become familiar with another variant of the crampon: ski crampons. These are commonly employed in the Alps, where alpine skiers sometimes have to navigate slopes with lower angles. They are best known by their European names, which vary by country and include harscheisen, cortelli and couteaux.
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