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In Praise of Ski Crampons

By

Jason Albert

Spring sharps

The spring essential sharps: lightweight axe, crampons, and…ski crampons.

I like to think that, when it comes to gear, there are a few basic, agreed-upon pieces. Bring the avalanche safety gear and know how to use it. Have a splitboard or skis with functional bindings and skins, and occasionally wax the ski base, especially in spring. Boots, they are key, too. Hey, because we…

Responses

  1. John B

    Coming into spring the scramps are always in the pack!

  2. leonardthedog

    The only real down-side of ski crampons is their unpackability. Got any tips for how to pack them without jangle, tears in jackets, and unused deadspace?

    1. Jason Albert

      Small sample size here, but I nest them and keep them in the small bag they come in (for the ski crampons above, that is a mesh bag), and usually keep them at the very top of my bag (it’s a roll-top). That does the trick. Also, in spring, when I know they might be on and off, I clip them to the outside of the pack. An easy, light, and cheap (it’s free) extra protective bag for either crampons or ski crampons is a USPS Priority Mail envelope (it seems to be made of Tyvek) about 12” x 9″.

    2. Michael Dunning

      Vivian Bruchez has a good space saving technique. Stops the jangling too – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W_tbzZzGQBQ

    3. Rich B

      Wrapping them either side of a water bottle works well – assuming you have one

  3. Whit

    Here here!
    Amazed you’re the first to post something about this! Also have to bring up the custom risers people make to get more purchase when using the heel risers.

    The G3 ski crampon system deserves a callout for their sweet design IMO and they seem to rattle at a less annoying frequency.

    For carrying, I got a small zipper bag made by Alpine Luddites that can attach to the hip belt or back of the pack, out of the way but quicker to access. It’s made out of that bombproof white fabric found on the new light packs.

  4. Slim

    Since this is a 101 piece, it might be good for (newer) people to know that lack of skill in skinning and wider skis both increase the need for ski crampons.
    In other words, if your buddy tells you “they never needed them in 10 years of spring trips”, like mine did, it might not mean that you don’t.

    The other factor in deciding to bring them or not is that every guided trip packing list I have seen (for spring type trips) requires them.

  5. Steve Bohrer

    For many years I toured without them because of friends poo-pooing them. Then I used them and saw the light. The idea is to have energy for actual skiing, and the ski crampons drastically reduce the full-body tension that inevitably accompanies firm spring mornings. I’ve converted a couple of friends back now.

    Side question, ever tried Skeats? I was curious and bought a pair. My take is that dedicated ski crampons are best when you’re planning to need them. But the Skeats have been good as an “emergency” option on icy old winter skin tracks and short duration spring sections. There’s zero glide, but they’re compact and fit on any ski.

    1. Jason Albert

      Hey Steve, I’ve never used Skeats, but have been interested. In Tahoe recently, a well-known splitboarder pulled a pair out of his pack, and they were compact, light enough, and praised by the said splitboarder.

  6. Kam DH

    Used mine yesterday and saved a lot of energy on one climb

    1. Kam DH

      Oh, and I like the German “harscheisen” or Spanish “cuchillos de nieve”.

  7. Scotsman

    I love and use ski crampons for spring skiing but sometimes forget the cardinal rule which is , ” put them on before it gets steep and you need them ”
    I have ignored this rule many times and always regret it as putting them on while already on a steep slope is painful.
    Was grateful of mine yesterday while traversing some ice hard avy debris at the top of a steep bowl.

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