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Ice Climbing Boot Features

Original Post
Kai Larson · · Sandy, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 436

The Under Armour post (which has got to be a troll, right?) got me thinking about ice climbing boot design.

What are some features that you wish that ice climbing boots have that they don't?

One that was mentioned already in the other thread was tech inserts for Dynafit type ski bindings. Makes a lot of sense for using tech bindings on skis for climbing approaches.

Another thing that I wish that ice boots had was some sort of non-lace closure.

I hate it that ice climbing boots don't stay tight-laced for very long. I crank my laces at the beginning of a climb, but by the 2nd or third pitch, they get sloppy again, due to laces loosening. Having to take gloves off and re-tie laces mid-climb is a pain.

Why not use the lightweight magnesium buckle tech from Ski-Mo boots on ice climbing boots. Or, use the BOA-type cable closures (like the Scarpa F1 ski boot) on climbing boots? Seems like it would be so much more user friendly than having to deal with laces.

lukeweiss · · St. Johnsbury, VT · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 30

I like the BOA idea. Better than the big buckles. Then you can easily keep it loose for the approach and then dial down for the climb.

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

If we're dreaming I want a locking crampon interface. Kinda like detachable pons that lock onto the bottom of the soles.

How bout retractable micro spikes? Or boots that breath really well.

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,492
Bill Kirby wrote:If we're dreaming I want a locking crampon interface. Kinda like detachable pons that lock onto the bottom of the soles.
Montrail tried that several years ago and it wasn't a secure connection and folks were having potentially serious accidents. More recently, Grivel and Scarpa came up with a proprietary interface called the GSB (Grivel-Scarpa Binding) that was, as near as I can tell, a total commercial flop (could only use the crampon with select Scarpa boots and no others).
Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

Tech binding compatability would be awesome. Although it seems unlikely because companies are probably scared to have people skiing in their mountaineering boots.

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

Microprocessors.

Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Imagine if the boot-crampon interface was via tech fittings. No more welts to wear out in summer...

Jon Rhoderick · · Redmond, OR · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 966

I've thought about the tech crampon idea. If you got some sort of wire that went from the heel lever all the way to the tech fittings. It would be loos as your boot stepped in, and when you flip the heel lever, the pins close in on each other and interface with the tech fittings. You could make the cables pass through a stiff tube around the instep to provide the rigidity.

Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0
Jon Rhoderick wrote:I've thought about the tech crampon idea. If you got some sort of wire that went from the heel lever all the way to the tech fittings. It would be loos as your boot stepped in, and when you flip the heel lever, the pins close in on each other and interface with the tech fittings. You could make the cables pass through a stiff tube around the instep to provide the rigidity.
I was thinking more of a snowboard binding style toe strap. But yours could be a better solution.
Stagg54 Taggart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 10
Bill Kirby wrote:If we're dreaming I want a locking crampon interface. Kinda like detachable pons that lock onto the bottom of the soles.
tried and flopped
rockandice.com/lates-news/g…
Brie Abram · · Celo, NC · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 493
Beean wrote:Imagine if the boot-crampon interface was via tech fittings. No more welts to wear out in summer...
http://www.proguiding.com/tech-crampon.html

I reckon it's a start.
Beean · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0
Brian Abram wrote: proguiding.com/tech-crampon… I reckon it's a start.
Hot damn! Thanks for that link. If those had two more points at the back they'd be a dream product.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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