Crampons

The G20 Plus is a tough, performance-oriented mono-point.  

The first crampon of this sort, the Snaggletooth has one front tooth: a wide, almost spoon-like monopoint that protrudes like an extension of your big toe. A stubby, secondary frontpoint rides shotgun.

The Blade Runner may be the most technically advanced, versatile crampon yet devised.

Field test results of the CAMP Nanotech XLC Automatic crampon.

The XLC Nanotech is the first of what I suspect will be a new breed of composite crampons—the frame is 7075 aluminum, but the front points are stainless steel.

Having nearly had a nasty accident when a clip-on crampon popped off my boot while leading, I was keen to try the new GSb system on the Grivel G14 crampon and Scarpa Freney XT boot.

The Cyborg is Black Diamond's teched-out crampon for ice and mixed climbing. Its materials, bindings, finish and adjustments are the same or similar to those used on the Sabretooth, so we'll stick to the details that are different.

Black Diamond enters the stainless-steel crampon arena, replacing its chromoly steel (aka carbon steel) Cyborg, Sabretooth, Serac and Contact (latter two not reviewed) with stainless-steel versions.

These are the lightest steel crampons in the world. Paired with Scarpa's new super-light Phantom Guide (reviewed here), they create a performance combo that nearly competes with a fruit boot, but is warmer, and more versatile.

Kahtoola MicroSpikes gear tested by Rock and Ice magazine.

Kahtoola Traction System (KTS) field test report by Rock and Ice magazine.