I stay off trail and also do a lot of very steep but non-technical climbing. I also hike creeks and rivers all the time. Walking in these is like walking with little army tanks on your feet. They grip everything - cascading slate waterfalls, round wet rocks, steep dirt hills, and of course snow and ice.
I put tons of miles on em. I love em and highly recommend em but if you're going to beat on them continuously make sure you have an extra set of center bars with you and some small nuts and ...bolts in case the rivets pop. In two years I've had one rivet pop and one center bar break, not because these aren't built well, but because I tortured them for months on rock, snow, ice, and up and down steep hills. I tend to use things until they're completely dead.
These crampons take an incredible beating, feel great, stay tight on backpacking boots, and are built super tough. Even after months of hiking creeks walking on the rocks I've never had the first bit of rust either and I've never had a strap break.
Highly recommended.
I bought these three years ago. They've been to many Cascade volcano summits, across glaciers, up steep ice, on hundreds of miles of ice and snow, and even through the rocks and scree. I've sharpened them, but after all of those hard miles they barely show any other signs of wear. They are solid and stable on any stiff boot. The length adjustment is simple. The orange silicone anti-balling plates still look like new and they keep my crampons clean on days when other folks are having big probl...ems. The harnesses and straps are holding up beautifully and they are easy to get on even in bad weather with cold fingers. I have the all-straps version, but have them on and off just about as quickly as folks with automatics. They are really great gear.
Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampon Best designed for ice and snow travel, the light-weight Black Diamond Contact Crampon is ideal for mountaineers, skiers and hikers. Not only will it not rust because of its stainless steel construction, but it also preserves the environment. As no rust wears off, no environmentally toxic coatings will be deposited in the mountains. It is more durable and more resistant to snow balling. The compact, 10-point light-weight design offers easy walking, while the fast-adjust attachment system (flexible toe strap) accommodates almost any footwear. It has a new lower-profile fit for better contact with modern boots. With the Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampon, one is assured of having a quality product that meets international standards. It is highly recommended for your alpine trips, ski mountaineering, trek/day hikes, backpacking, and when going on expeditions. The next time you travel icy and snowy areas, equip yourself with the Black Diamond Contact Crampon.
Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampon Features
Distinctive stainless steel construction does not rust for an environmentally-friendly product that resists snow balling
Designed for ice and snow travel, it is light-weight and ideal for mountaineers, skiers, and hikers
Is features a new lower-profile fit for better contact with modern boots
The flexible toe strap fits most footwear - one size fits all
Its compact, 10-point design offers easy walking
Hold and stability on snow and glaciers are expected through the horizontal front points
Secondary points create a stable platform while walking; serrated points bite into snow and ice to maintain balance
Dual-density ABS plates are included to ensure that snow will not stick to your foot
MARK C
Yes they are. They're quite adjustable, tough, and light weight. Highly recommended.
LESLIE B
Hi Wayne,
I bought these for my nephew, who went to REI first, to see what he wanted. He told was looking for a set of crampons that are one size fits all and he said these fit the bill, so I believe they are.
Hope this helps,
Lesli
