Crampon Fit: Nepal Cube & BD Stingers

Hey folks,

Just got a new pair of Nepal Cubes and BD Stingers, took them out for the first time today and had a crampon come off during the rappel. Thankfully not on the way up.

So when I got got down I realized I can get them one position on the linking bar tighter, but it is a real effort to get them to close.

This raised the following questions:

1. Is the pin which holds the crampon length supposed to look like the below?
Seems like it could possibly get dislodged and cause a crampon to fall off?

Cube and Stinger1
close up of the linking bar pin

2. Am I in danger of collapsing the midsole with the crampon this tight on the boot?
Think I heard of this happening to someone
Lever on boot

If it helps the boots are size 45 and the crampons are set to the length pictured.
Linking bar length

Thanks everyone!

It looks like the rear fins fit well. That means the length is good.

If they're really tight, try adjusting the heel. You just want a satisfying "clunk".

It's too tight. The retaining/sizing pin is going to get messed up. You can fiddle with the heal bail, toe bail, and adjusting bar positions to dial in the fit. From the pic, it looks like shifting the toe bail to the forward position will fix most of your problem.

Adjust the length so that when the heel is up against the rear tabs, you can just barely lift the toe nail up onto the boot. Then play with a combination of rear heel bail holes and the micro adjustment inside the clamp.
Don't make it too tight. You should be able to lock the heel with one hand and feel a solid thud.

For the front bail set it in the forward position for mixed climbing and lower angle ice. For steep ice, set it in the rear hole.
The idea is to have your heel slightly down and the secondary points engaged when standing up.

Also, some crampons just don't fit well on some boots. Noodle with the adjustments, the fit should allow the crampon to stay on the boot without having to close the rear bail. (not while climbing) The front adjustment sometimes works best in only one hole, either front or back., which might not be the best option depending on how you like your front points. I've also offset the front bail at times with some boots, If you can't get it dialed, you will have to try some other crampons. Crampons falling off=bad...

Ive got this same set up. Never could quite get an awesome fit. Ended up putting grivel toe bails on and since then haven't had a problem

Z.St.Jules wrote:Ive got this same set up. Never could quite get an awesome fit. Ended up putting grivel toe bails on and since then haven't had a problem

I had to do the same with my Grivel cramps on my Zamberlan boots. They came with a really wide bail, I needed a narrower radius. Happened to have an old pair of Rambo's for parts, bails were perfect. Got lucky.

Hey guys thanks for the input.

I played around with them and my original setting are the best I'm gonna get.

Little tight to get into but definitely won't fall off!!

You can also replace the link bar tab with a small bolt and nylock nut, now that you have your size dialed (a Steve House trick).

I'm not sure if this is your problem. But at the Ouray Ice fest more than a few boots didn't match up perfectly with my stingers. I noticed the front bail was too big. The BD rep told me they do make a smaller bail for like 15 bucks or something. So Just FYI

Stingers should come with the smaller sized front bail. Cyborgs (and I would assume other BDs) come with the larger size. The smalls are $10 and the large are $7. I just ordered smaller ones for my crampons because the big ones were too big for my leather boots.

Bails

yea I actually just tried my stingers out on my new nepal cubes and they seem to fit great no troubles.

On a side note, do the Stinger Small toe bail fit on the Grivel's G20?
Just got a replacement pair of Baturas 2.0, THANK YOU SPORTIVA!
The bail on my Grivels leaves a lot of slop with the narrow toe on the boots...
blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

Linnaeus wrote:You can also replace the link bar tab with a small bolt and nylock nut, now that you have your size dialed (a Steve House trick).

Hey all thanks for the ideas

I really think BDs design for the linking tab is pretty bad so I replaced it with a stainless bolt and nylock nut.

bolted

Luc wrote:On a side note, do the Stinger Small toe bail fit on the Grivel's G20? Just got a replacement pair of Baturas 2.0, THANK YOU SPORTIVA! The bail on my Grivels leaves a lot of slop with the narrow toe on the boots... blackdiamondequipment.com/e…

The G20 bails is one of the better on the market, the Stinger bail on the G20 is a step backward.

Spencer V wrote: Hey all thanks for the ideas I really think BDs design for the linking tab is pretty bad so I replaced it with a stainless bolt and nylock nut.

Can I ask what you think is bad about the design? It can break which would suck on an expedition but that should be pretty rare. I adjust crampons all the time depening on the boot I'm wearing and A. I've never broken one and B, that would be a huge PITA for me to have to use tools to change the sizing.

Ray Pinpillage wrote: The G20 bails is one of the better on the market, the Stinger bail on the G20 is a step backward.

They're the same thing with some minor geometry differences unless I'm missing something. I'd go with the one that fits the boot better.

You shouldnt have to worry about your bar and link tab, new crampons once your bar gets articulated to your boot that tab will settle down. have the same set up and I had the same concern no worries.

B-dog wrote: Can I ask what you think is bad about the design? It can break which would suck on an expedition but that should be pretty rare. I adjust crampons all the time depening on the boot I'm wearing and A. I've never broken one and B, that would be a huge PITA for me to have to use tools to change the sizing. They're the same thing with some minor geometry differences unless I'm missing something. I'd go with the one that fits the boot better.

G20 bails are not the same as BD bails; they are shaped differently. Certainly go with what fits best though.