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Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampon
The Black Diamond Contact Crampons' full-strap attachment works with nearly any boots or shoes, so you can use them for everything from mountaineering to winter hiking. Their steel frame provides solid purchase on glaciers, and the low 1lb 12oz weight won't make you cringe when you take them backpacking. The Contact Strap Crampons come with ABS plates to reduce snowballing in sticky snow conditions. Count on these simple, versatile crampons whether you take them on grade 3 ice or a spring ascent of an alpine couloir.
Bottom Line: You don't need ice boots to wear crampons. The Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons attach to nearly any footwear.
Talk shop with all the gear freaks out there: ask 'em questions, upload/browse photos, and give your 2¢.
I have it 2 or 3 years ago, but i use it just a few times and
I have it 2 or 3 years ago, but i use it just a few times and in a ground plane, so...here is the question: can i use it on a large slope? 50º maybe 60º degrees??
By: Facu
October 25, 2009
I've used mine with ski boots on 50 degree slopes, no problem. It's much better with a stiffer boot that allows you to front point, though.
By: Scott Pendleton
October 29, 2009
Definitely. It'll work best on a stiff plastic boot, but any hiking boot should handle that slope easily with these.
By: Angus Bohanon
October 25, 2009
Great for Ski Mountaineering
By: Scott Pendleton
July 31, 2009
These were my first pair of crampons and I loved them. I used them mainly for ski mountaineering but have done plain snow travel on them as well. They fit on alpine and AT ski boots as well as mountaineering boots just fine. In addition to moderate slopes, they actually handle steep snow very well. I tend to just keep them for the steeps and skin on the shallow. I have used these for front-pointing up 45-50 degree couloirs and they performed flawlessly.
Write your question here...hello i read a review that said these
Write your question here...hello i read a review that said these would not be good for lightweight hikers. i need something for walking through groomed trails with my dog, is that concidered lightweigth hiking?
By: namlakeside
October 11, 2009
These are way overkill for walking on groomed trails with your dog. I recommend something much simpler (and cheaper) like Due North Traction Aids (AKA Get-a-Grip) or YaxTrax traction aids. These cost between $10-15 and simply slip over your shoes. You don't need actual crampons unless you're dealing with extreme hardpack snow or actual ice, e.g., when mountaineering, ice climbing, alpine climbing, etc.
By: Jesse Lind
October 12, 2009
Good for a 10 point
By: Troy Rutledge
November 10, 2008
Good for a 10 point general use crampon...perfect if your crossing glaciers or running up a 35 degree slope...but for anything more aggresive than that get a more aggressive crampon...G12s, Vasaks, Sabretooths, ect.
High Sierra Slot
By: Jeremy Jones
March 17, 2009
I rode this last week thanks to my BD contact strap Crampons. It was a career climb do to the crampons.
2 Comments Last Comment: October 23, 2009 by: TomE
By: Braden Leonard
November 10, 2009
Jeremy, what size boots do you wear? Do you think these would work well with 10.5 Burton SLXs? Also, you are the man.
By: TomE
October 23, 2009
Think I saw a teaser for the Vid of you doing that yesterday and was pretty blown away by it. Today I'm looking for crampons to fit my snowboard boots snugly: I'd call this a recommendation!
- Our of interest, what boots were you using?
Any thoughts on how these would work with trail runners or approach
Any thoughts on how these would work with trail runners or approach shoes?
By: shadrock2339132
June 22, 2009
They'll fit on pretty much any shoe, but if you put them on a real soft shoe, you might impede circulation when tightened them properly. This can result in devastating consequences in extreme cold.
By: Jesse Lind
October 12, 2009
I have used them on my 5.10 Guide Tennies and they work fine. Those do not have a stiff sole at all. Prepare for wet feet if using them on approach/running shoes. They will work on literally almost any shoe.
By: William Roth
July 27, 2009
These crampons will not work on trail runners or lightweight hikers. Tried to put them on my Montrail trail runners and Lowa hikers and they will not work. A stiff sole and a harder toe area is needed.
By: Gregory Stamey
July 26, 2009
I think you need at least a stiff heel for these to stay on. They will work better on stiff soles. Hope this helps...
By: Nacho R
June 27, 2009
My First Crampons
By: Gregory Stamey
July 4, 2009
I strapped these onto a pair of Lowa Banff's and they worked great. Once you get them fitted, which took about five minutes, they were on and off within a few seconds and never had to readjust them once attached. I was completely confident while I was ascending a steep chute which is a good thing because you don't want to have to focus on gear at that point. I used these while climbing the Mt. Whitney Mountaineers Route on snow which ranged from hard frozen early morning crust to soft afternoon crud and I never had a problem or any difficulties. The ABS plates come with them and already installed and they worked fine. They are very well made and durable and I can see myself using these for years to come.
**I would only use these with backpacking boots, I tried them on a pair of Lowa Renegade hikers and they don't work.**
Has anyone tried these with La Sportiva Cascade GTX boots by
Has anyone tried these with La Sportiva Cascade GTX boots by any chance? They have a "thermoplastic urethane shank" which I am not sure is sufficient. The manufacturer says they are crampon compatible and they are pretty stiff.
By: jos3055875
June 4, 2009
I don't see why they shouldn't. I don't have those shoes but I have tried full strap crampons on softer hiking boots with no problems. Hope this helps...
By: Nacho R
June 27, 2009
Mt. Washington
By: reed
June 2, 2009
wasn't sure how they would play out on snowboard boots but they worked very well on the steeps at tuckermans and the various chutes at mt. washington. some parts are definitely in the 40 degree slopes and one in particular has to be near 50 degrees. its not the gnarly high sierra slot but it certainly made me feel far more comfortable than i have in the past. go get the goods.
I wear size 13 boots. Will these fit OK? Are there extension
I wear size 13 boots. Will these fit OK? Are there extension arms available?
By: Tye Herron
April 3, 2009
The standard center bars listed in the link below by
Andrew will not extend anything. They are merely replacement parts for the original ones. As far as I can see, Backcountry.com doesn't sell the longer one's, Black Diamond does though:
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/gear/center_straps.php
By: mge3082000
May 7, 2009
they are standard made to only fit up to a 12. But if you buy these with them
http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD1125/Black-Diamond-Stand
then you can extend them out to fit your boots.
By: Andrew
April 3, 2009
Simple Solution
By: The Cascade Kid
June 3, 2009
A solid 10-point. I use these for ski-mountaineering in the cascades, as well as general alpine climbing. If you're going vertical you'll likely want something a little beefier, but nothing beats the security of the strap on crampon for glacier and snow travel (I've used these up to about 55 degrees with no trouble). I also found that these fit perfectly on my Dynafit Zzeus, and they also fit nicely inside the BD Crampon bag.
ARe the ABS plates really that helpful??? cause i have the contact
ARe the ABS plates really that helpful???
cause i have the contact crampons but not the abs plates and am wondering if it is good to get them or if their just unnecessary weight???
Thanks
By: JD
March 26, 2009
Understand that the ABS only work in really wet snow as that is the only time it balls up under the crampon. I have a pair of crampons with ABS and a pair without. I make my descision on which pair to use based on what I am doing, not based on snow condition or the abs plates.
By: matthewtcox2257980
March 27, 2009
Well they're plastic, so they're not that much weight. And yes, in wet, sticky snow, they really do help.
By: Angus Bohanon
March 26, 2009
Easy on and off for a first timer on a split trip
By: Daniel Ochoa
May 19, 2009
I picked these up for my recent splitboard trip up Mt Whitney in the Eastern Sierras. I had never used crampons before but I was told to get some in my kit. They worked great on my board soft boots. I wear a size 11.5 in Salomon Malamute's and these fit fine all though just barely so careful if you have larger feet. They are light compact and will last for years in steel
contact straps on sportiva trangos
By: Gabe H.
August 12, 2009
Do these crampons work well with mountaineering boots???, the
Do these crampons work well with mountaineering boots???, the general hard plastic big boots used for backpacking on glaciers???
Thanks
By: JD
March 22, 2009
Perfect for that...I like using strap on crampons for the general mountaineering stuff.
By: Evan Stevens
March 23, 2009
Great Versatile Crampon
By: William Roth
July 27, 2009
These are super versatile and work great on steep snow/ice on everything from snowboard boots to approach shoes. I use mine all the time in the summer in the Tetons and the Cascades. They are steel also so they will not bend/break on rock like the lighter aluminum ones tend to.
Thinking about using BD's Contact Straps on my Merrell Outland
Thinking about using BD's Contact Straps on my Merrell Outland Mid hiking boots for a spring ascent on Whitney's Mountaineers route. Thoughts? Also, considering purchasing La Sportiva Glacier EVO boots. Would Contact Strap crampons be ideal for the Glacier EVOs? (Ideally only want to buy ONE set of crampons.)
By: Matt Doerr
February 28, 2009
The contact strap crampons would work fine on almost all 3/4 to full shank boots. I regularly use strap on crampons for general mountaineering routes like the one you mentioned.
By: Evan Stevens
February 28, 2009
Didn't Die
By: chr2449048
June 10, 2009
Great crampons for day hiking snow fields and obsructed trails. Easy on and off. Didn't die on Whitney last week so I guess they did ok. Pretty Cool.
Do you need special boots for these
Do you need special boots for these
By: Ryan Burrows
January 12, 2009
A stiff sole is recommended
By: Michael Kisow
January 13, 2009
Instant-On!
By: stanHetrick
April 9, 2007
Put them on going up a face at sunset. With a small snow seat, they laced up in no time!
What crampon would you suggest for snowboard boots ?
What crampon would you suggest for snowboard boots ?
By: Badgerruss100157080
January 6, 2009
You could try the BD Neve as well, but consider using a different boot for the way up if you haven't got a binding that'll take AT boots or the like.
By: The Cascade Kid
June 3, 2009
These are pretty good, but snowboard boots are quite wide for crampons. Nothing's going to fit very well.
By: Angus Bohanon
January 6, 2009
How is the fit with snowboard boots that have wider outsoles?
How is the fit with snowboard boots that have wider outsoles? Pretty comparable product to the G10 Classic?
By: do1254384
November 23, 2008
You would have a difficult time getting these to fit on snowboard boots. I can use them with Koflach plastics, but that is about the limit of them.
By: jp27
December 5, 2008
Do they come in a pair? I had to buy a pair seprate when i got
Do they come in a pair? I had to buy a pair seprate when i got some from black diamond.
By: Chase
October 30, 2008
they come in a pair. You really had to buy 2 individual crampons? thats strange to me.
By: Mike
November 7, 2008
Hi how tough are these? Bought a couple of sets of Grivel air
Hi how tough are these? Bought a couple of sets of Grivel air tech lights and broke points off within 6 hikes, Soooo don't want anymore of those but need to get two sets and would like something that will last.
By: lunkrrs2008198
May 5, 2008
these are steel the air techs are aluminum. these are strong they should last. make sure u sharpen them and take care of them
By: Mike
November 7, 2008
Would these work with a backcountry ski boot?Alex
Would these work with a backcountry ski boot?Alex
By: aslogar939071
March 17, 2008
I used these with Scarpa Spirit 3s just fine. You sometimes have to undo buckles and put the crampon straps under the buckle and then rebuckle the boot.
By: Scott Pendleton
October 29, 2009
I use these with my Dynafit Zzeus on the cascade volcanoes, and they fit perfectly. I found that they fit better and more securely than the BD and Petzl step-in crampons that I tried because the ski boot had a narrower profile, so those tended to wiggle a bit.
By: The Cascade Kid
June 3, 2009
You could, but you would be better off with the Neve Pro Crampons. Step in crampons are easier to use with ski boots.
By: BCBoarder
March 20, 2008
Change me.
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