Crampons 

Climbing crampons are special accessories for climbing or hiking boots that are attached to shoes and serve to improve stability and grip on snow, ice or mixed terrain. They are an essential part of the equipment of every mountaineer or hiker who wants to safely overcome snow or ice sections.

What are climbing cats made of?

Climbing cats consist of:

• from a frame that is adapted to the size and shape of the shoe

• from spikes that are inserted into the substrate

There are different types of climbing crampons according to the method of attachment, the number and shape of the spikes, the material and the purpose of use.

Types of climbing cats by attachment

According to the method of fastening, three basic types of climbing cats are distinguished:

• strappy - suitable for any footwear, they can be adjusted by pulling the strap

• semi-automatic - in order to fix them correctly, the shoes must have a firm sole and a back edge on which they are placed

• automatic - suitable only for special climbing shoes with front and back edges, on which a wire or flexible stirrup is placed

How to choose the right "cats"

When choosing climbing crampons , you should take into account several factors, such as the size and type of shoes , the terrain in which you will move, the weight (steel or aluminum) and the quality of the crampons , and finally you can take into account the price or design.

How many spikes should hiking cats have?

Basic types of crampons for light hiking in the snow or undemanding climbing routes tend to have 10-12 spikes. They are evenly distributed over the entire frame.

For more technical climbing, you should also choose more advanced crampons, which usually have 12-14 spikes with greater lift and longer front spikes.

Special cats have one or two front spikes that are longer and wider than the others. They are suitable for extreme climbing in ice or mixed terrain, where maximum precision and aggression are required.