Sabertooth Clip Crampons

By f. Major Ranked #132 - Ice Climbing April 26, 2006

These new "clip" Sabertooths were exactly what I needed. My older step-in Sabertooths are awesome for when I’m strictly on hard snow/ice, but the transition areas were always a compromise - leave 'em on or take 'em off?

I used my new "clips" this weekend (4-23-06) up a long bit of steep, hard snow on a mountain in Bosnia. I put them on as the snow steepened and needed the grip immediately (should've put them on earlier - lotsa exposure!). The "clip" style attachment allowed to me put them on right where i was - a very precarious place - without all the trouble my step-in's require. I simply put my boots (LaSport Nepal Expremes) in the cramp, weaved the strap through the toe bail and tightened. Done. Maybe 1 minute for the whole process - it was nearly unbelievable how easy, fast and secure getting them on was.

I was initially concerned about the strength of the poly(?) toe bail, but it is very stiff and strong. I am usually overly concerned about things like this (Murphy's Law), but the new "clip" toe bail felt no less-secure once on than my step-ins. I was really kicking in pretty hard and there was no shift, movement or anything that made me feel less secure. They may not be the best for water ice, but for general mountaineering, they're G-R-R-R-E-A-T!!!!

View Details: Black Diamond Sabretooth Clip Crampons

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