Gear Review
Grivel Air Tech Light Crampon
Solid Performance
By jmdecoy12261508
Ranked #456 - Crampons
July 15, 2008
If you recognize the limitations of aluminum crampons, you will be happy with the performance of these Grivels. Just returned from Rainier, and I loved not carrying a heavy set to high camp. My route had no rock (I knew in advance there would be little to none). Turns out there was also very little hard ice, and none at much of an angle.
They performed flawlessly on this climb. The anti-balling plates did their thing - not a single curse or ice axe tap necessary. As stated by an earlier reviewer, these will now always find their way into my early season day pack as well.
One minor caution - I found the absolute limit of the adjustment range with a size 11 Koflach Arctis Expe. Boot sole length is almost 34 cm, and even with removing the quick adjust to gain the last bit of range I had to push hard and wiggle the boots into the bindings.
View Details: Grivel Air Tech Light Crampon
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Change me.
1 Comments Last Reply: April 17, 2010 By: Ageing Hiker
Take note of jm's comment re size - despite the claim 'fit up to size 12 US' on the Grivel website, they don't come close to fitting my size 12 Asolo TPS520 boots they miss by ~3/4 inch. There are extended extended flex bars available (190mm in place of the standard 160mm) at around $15/pr, but not everyone stocks them. If you take boots sized 11+ you will need them.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes