Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Crampon Advice

Hi,
I was hoping for a bit of advice about crampons. I'm taking a crampon/ice axe course this weekend and I just purchased a pair of Grivel G10's (universal fit). I know the plastic moutainerring boots w/steel shank are the preferred footwear for crampon use, but I was wondering how plausible it is to use a good pair of waterproof hiking boots (specifically, a pair of Lowa Renegade GTX Mid II, no steel shank). I currently have no aspirations beyond using them for trekking/backcountry travel with a full pack, climbing some steep slopes (hopefully no vertical ice walls or crevasses )
Have you found that hiking boots just don't provide enough support for crampons in these conditions? Should I fork out the extra dough for yet another pair of boots???

Thanks for your help!

Actually the Grival 10 strap on crampons work well on a variety of good hiking boots. We have used them on many different midweight leather type hiking shoes.

A much better option this time of year when you don't need heavy plastic boots.

Thanks Kashcraft,
That's what I had assumed. The folks at the gear shop were nearly insisting that I purchase a pair of their $300 mountaineering boots when I bougth the crampons, seemed like overkill for my purposes and this time of the year.

I have used Stubai Ultralight crampons (10-point) with the universal bindings with my New Balance 806 trail runners. They worked great.

grival 12 crampons with Vasque Sundowner GTX
on the first weekend in May were perfect for me..
enjoyed them!!!

The Grivel G10 and G12 crampons are excellent and will work on quite a variety of boots. I've used them on both lighter and heavier stiffer boots.

Be a little careful with shoes that don't have at least some stiffness. Two problems can occur.

Earlier this year I witnessed an individual whose crampons (a different strap-on brand, not Grivel) that kept pulling off his boots that were essentially rubber snow boots that had no stiffness. A short time later they pulled off and he took a slide down Mount Baldy and hit a tree (dislocating his shoulder). Thus, be sure they don't come off.

Also, if the flex bar is flexed too much it can break. This can leave you with a non-functional crampon. Someone showed me a broken flex bar from a pair of G10's just this last weekend.

I'm definitely happy with my Grivel G12's. Plastic boots are definitely not necessary. I think I might carry an extra flex bar though just in case.

-Rick

Thanks for all the great advice. It's nice getting pointers from people who aren't also trying to sell me a pair of expensive boots.

Rick, sounds like carrying an extra flex bar is a good idea, I think I'll pick up an extra one myself. I noticed there are actually two flex bars per crampon (one on top of the other). Do you know why this is? I keep thinking they have two there for some sort of adjusting purpose that I can't figure out, but maybe it's just for added strength....

One other potential issue with softer boots and strap-on (versus snap or clip type) is that you can pinch your forefoot trying to make sure the crampons on tight enough so that they do not slip off. I think I exacerbated a Morton's neuroma that way.

Have a great trip.

As has been mentioned, Grival 10 or 12 strap on crampons usually work well on a midweight semi stiff hiking boot. They have a better strap system then some of the older strap on crampons.

The only issue we have seen is the problem with larger feet. Bigger feet like 12-14 sometimes create a problem with flexture in the middle. For those with jumbo feet the center metal piece which holds them together can flex enough in the center to separate from the other side. Sometimes you can place a small bolt through one of the holes so they can't pull apart.

For feet 11 or smaller they seem to work well.

I have on a dozen or so occasions used Grivel G-10's with Raichle Gore-tex boots with a 3/4 steel shank, and it works quite well on medium to soft slopes up to about 40 degrees. The bindings take a lot of strain on hard, steep slopes, though.

I'll also repeat the caution against using too flexible a boot.

Wavy,

Sounds like you have the newer ones that are in two pieces and supposedly flex better. The two pieces probably also increases reliability since if one breaks you still have the other. Mine only have a single more rigid flex bar. Sounds like Grivel continues to improve their crampons.