Touring Questions - Ski Crampons

[Marc]

This may or may not be better suited to gear discussion, but since it involves the use of the equipment as well... well I wasn't sure. Mods can move it as necessary.

Just saw this post on Wild Snow last week, and thought it was interesting:

http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=531

While Lou prefers the fixed crampon, most of them sold are binding specific so I assume they are binding mounted. Anyone who has used one or both styles, sound off.

I can see a lot of advantages to a ski mounted crampon, as Lou points out, not losing your hold when you pivot your foot, not having hold issues when using a heel elevator, being able to mount the crampon bracket actually forward of the binding if need be. The only downside I could see is you have to lift the ski when taking a step a few inches off the snow if you're on hard pack.

Is that a major concern?

As was brought up in the comments, I'm curious why there aren't more (or any) crampons sold with the option to attach either to the ski or the binding.

 

[JimG.]

This may or may not be better suited to gear discussion, but since it involves the use of the equipment as well... well I wasn't sure. Mods can move it as necessary.

Just saw this post on Wild Snow last week, and thought it was interesting:

http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=531

While Lou prefers the fixed crampon, most of them sold are binding specific so I assume they are binding mounted. Anyone who has used one or both styles, sound off.

I can see a lot of advantages to a ski mounted crampon, as Lou points out, not losing your hold when you pivot your foot, not having hold issues when using a heel elevator, being able to mount the crampon bracket actually forward of the binding if need be. The only downside I could see is you have to lift the ski when taking a step a few inches off the snow if you're on hard pack.

Is that a major concern?

As was brought up in the comments, I'm curious why there aren't more (or any) crampons sold with the option to attach either to the ski or the binding.

I would never use them.

When I'm hiking, I might need crampons for grip.

When I have skis on, I have edges for grip. To me, ski crampons are redundant.

 

[dmc]

My crampons for my splitboard are easy to put on.. One pin.. And they have two modes - Fixed and mobile.
Fixed for those exposed moments and mobile so you can slide still..

 

[Marc]

My crampons for my splitboard are easy to put on.. One pin.. And they have two modes - Fixed and mobile.
Fixed for those exposed moments and mobile so you can slide still..

Yeah, one poster on WS mentioned that you can get split board crampons that will do either, and how strange it is that no one makes them for skis.


Just out of curiosity Doug, if you had to live without one mode which would it be, fixed or mobile?

 

[dmc]

Yeah, one poster on WS mentioned that you can get split board crampons that will do either, and how strange it is that no one makes them for skis.


Just out of curiosity Doug, if you had to live without one mode which would it be, fixed or mobile?

Probably mobile.. If it's really bad - I'll switch to my real crampons and climb..

they do come in handy.. We've used them on an icey Hillmans at Tucks once... Crawled right up to the top of the Xmas tree...

 

[JimG.]

Probably mobile.. If it's really bad - I'll switch to my real crampons and climb..

they do come in handy.. We've used them on an icey Hillmans at Tucks once... Crawled right up to the top of the Xmas tree...

I remember doing that myself...with you and Paul. I remember how confident and secure I felt climbing up with the crampons on, always looking over at the sunny side of Hillman's and saying "the snow looks good over there".

Except the snow was frozen solid "over there" too. The one instance I remember where the climb up was alot less terrifying than the ski down.

 

[Marc]

I wonder why Lou so much prefers fixed crampons.

I do like wearing boot crampons though... those are fun. If you're wearing them around someone that isn't, that other someone treats you very nicely.

 

[riverc0il]

i suspect there may be more of a need from cramps on touring skis out west. not much need here in the east unless you are planning on skinning up an ice bulge or super steep angle on firm snow. the fritsche freeride has a cramp attachment that swings down when needed but is sold separately. i have not had the need to make the purchase for the additional equipment.

 

[Marc]

i suspect there may be more of a need from cramps on touring skis out west. not much need here in the east unless you are planning on skinning up an ice bulge or super steep angle on firm snow. the fritsche freeride has a cramp attachment that swings down when needed but is sold separately. i have not had the need to make the purchase for the additional equipment.

Taken out of context that last sentence would be a complete lie.

 

[dmc]

i suspect there may be more of a need from cramps on touring skis out west. not much need here in the east unless you are planning on skinning up an ice bulge or super steep angle on firm snow. the fritsche freeride has a cramp attachment that swings down when needed but is sold separately. i have not had the need to make the purchase for the additional equipment.

You suspect wrong.. As least for me with a splitboard setup - I've used cramps to get up hard stuff before... Early morning - before things corn up... I want those fresh corn tracks.. you bet I'm usng them on steeper accents... I mentioned Hillmans but also the upper snowfields.. Even inbounds when I'm skinning before the mountain opens I've used them before things soften up..

If it gets too steep I'll switch to my boot crampons..

 

[riverc0il]

oh, i got the right equipment... no need to purchase any additional equipment at all.

 

[dmc]

oh, i got the right equipment... no need to purchase any additional equipment at all.

funny...

 

[riverc0il]

You suspect wrong.. As least for me with a splitboard setup - I've used cramps to get up hard stuff before... Early morning - before things corn up... I want those fresh corn tracks.. you bet I'm usng them on steeper accents... I mentioned Hillmans but also the upper snowfields.. Even inbounds when I'm skinning before the mountain opens I've used them before things soften up...

actually, i have considered them for steeper ascents but i do them so infrequently that i haven't considered it worth the cost. for example, i start to slide a bit too much on something pitched like the upper section of the jet at jay unless the snow is nice. but it just isn't worth the cost (and extra weight to have them attached) for the little bit of steep skinning i do. didn't mean to suggest there is no need for them around these parts... just it is pretty rare that i find myself thinking i wish i had a cramp attachment.

 

[dmc]

just it is pretty rare that i find myself thinking i wish i had a cramp attachment.

I use them and my boot crampons a couple times a year.. But to me - I guess it's worth it.. I'd probably never really miss them until I needed them...
It's just another facet of the sport I guess.. $60 well spent..

 

[scharny]

Ski crampons are a very good thing to have, especially in the Spring. If you have strong quads, they make it possible to do early AM stright-line climbs on steep icy frozen corn trails at resorts. A lot faster than zig-zagging back & forth on a blue or green trail to get up the mountain when you have to make it to work by 9AM.

There are a number of approaches in the Whites or Adirondacks where I would have killed to have ski crampons - Tux trail any time of year, the Marcy & Phelps ascents on the steeper hiking portions, and the Ammonoosuc trail when approaching Oakes Gulf. All of these can be very icy and having your A-framed skis whack snow off of the trees onto your head is never fun.

A few years back in the Gaspe, a number of us were heading up a skin track on the Patroller's Wall on Mt Albert in the Chic Chocs. It's well over 50 degrees, and has a lot of exposure. During mid approach the sun dropped behind the ridge and things completely froze solid, and everyone started freaking out (yeah - I know - poor planning). I was better off than the rest bcs I had an ice axe ("Whippet") on the end of my ski pole, so I was able to hook in and help people around some of the sketchier parts. While all of this was going on, a local Canadien came marching by us with a big grin on his face, the crampons on his AT skis "crunch-crunching" into the bulletproof skin track. "I said to myself - I need those!"

Most of the companies that make AT bindings also sell crampons that attach to said binding. Crampons for a free-heeled setup are harder to come by.

 

[AHM]

Excellent equip if you tour serious terrain or just want some extra stability........

The crampon rocks, especially, on serious sidehills, where you are traversing vs going up straight up where you could switch to a boot crampon. The things are really pretty cheap overall. I have the fritschi unit, and think it works quite well when I am accessing steeper terrain. Some think they don't need them, but when it starts to get steep, and you are on a side hill and it is exposed, you'll be pumped to have the crampon.

The cost often reminds me of when I started MTB in 1989. I had simply spent too much $ on gear and could not afford the extra 8$ for a chain tool. Later that week my chain broke about 9 miles from car. The nice walk clued me in to the fact that I probably needed a chain tool. Take a serious slide and you'll wish you had the ski crampon.