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do-it-all crampons

Original Post
george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

I'm looking for a pair of semi-auto crampons that will perform well on anything from glacier travel to moderate ice(WI3-4)

suggestions from experience would be appreciated. thanks!

divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90

G12.

D S · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 26

What you describe is the definition of general mountaineering crampons (i.e. with twelve points). I use Petzl Vasaks, which is in the same class as Grivel's G12s, and the Serac/Sabretooth from BD.
Any of these will get you up pretty much anything - snow climbs, glacier, mixed, hard ice.

Steve Williams · · The state of confusion · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 235

I can't speak to the Grivel's, but the BD Sabretooth crampons
are what I used for years. (I've even got a pair for sale
if you're interested, in excellent shape, not the newer type).

george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

I've had mountaineering crampons for years, now I'm trying to get into ice climbing so I'm looking for something a little more aggressive. I'd like to cut loose the mountaineering crampons and just have one pair that does it all. been thinking about the petzl sarken or the BD cyborg. I've heard the sarken was a good all around crampon, would love to hear how the cyborg does on glacier/alpine stuff with fairly stiff boots. lookin for semi-autos (leverlocks)

Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

Petzl Sarken sounds a lot like what you are looking for

Joe Palma · · Stouffville, Ontario · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 35
Max Forbes wrote:Petzl Sarken sounds a lot like what you are looking for
This.
Bang Nhan · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 35

This Cassin Blade Runner will solve all the problems you have thealpinestart.com/2013/07/…

interchangeable front points (vertical and horizontal)

george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

I'm intrigued by the blade runners, but I notice they don't tell you what those puppies cost.

Bang Nhan · · Charlottesville, VA · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 35
george wilkey wrote:I'm intrigued by the blade runners, but I notice they don't tell you what those puppies cost.
Ha at least $350 gearcoop.com/Cassin-Blade-R…

fair price...
Sunny-D · · SLC, Utah · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 700

I think there are do it all crampons out there. The Grivel G12 and BD Sabertooth are in that catagory. They work great for mountaineering and steep ice climbing. I can climb up through WI5 in my G12s. Do I- not very often because I have other "pons" for steep ice specific climbing. If I only had one pair of crampons to do everything in, I wouldn't flinch at climbing everything in a G12 or Sabertooth type crampon. They are great do it all's
Dallen

Dane Burke · · Seattle, Washington · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 85

Another vote for Sarkens...the semi-auto version paired with a boot with good sensitivity (no toe welt) is pretty ideal for general mountaineering.

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

I have a pair of the Blade Runners.

They really will do anything you need a crampon to do.

george wilkey · · travelers rest sc · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 235

I think I'm going with the sarken, so if anyone has a slightly used pair with leverlock bindings at a reasonable price, pm me. thanks everyone!

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
george wilkey wrote:I think I'm going with the sarken, so if anyone has a slightly used pair with leverlock bindings at a reasonable price, pm me. thanks everyone!
You can't put a price on the confidence the Bladerunners will give you on WI. Cough up the loot for those Cassin pons!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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