Best Crampons of 2025
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Crampons are a type of traction device that is attached to the soles of shoes or boots to provide better grip and stability when walking or climbing on snow or ice. They are made up of metal spikes or teeth that dig into the surface, allowing the wearer to walk safely on slippery terrain. Crampons are commonly used by hikers, mountaineers, and ice climbers to traverse difficult and steep terrain. They come in a variety of styles and designs, each suited for different activities and levels of difficulty. Crampons are highly recommended for anyone planning on venturing into snowy or icy environments, as they provide essential grip and stability to prevent slips and falls.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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#TOP 2
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9.6
Top 10 Crampons
Salewa Puez Mtn Spike Crampon for Icy Trails
The Salewa Crampon is designed to provide exceptional grip on icy trails and packed snow, making your autumn and winter hiking or running safer and more enjoyable. With 18 durable stainless steel spikes, you can confidently navigate slippery surfaces. The wide heel rest ensures stability, even when descending, allowing you to maintain your balance. Plus, the safety strap guarantees a secure fit to your footwear, preventing any slips. This combination of features means you can focus on your adventure without worrying about your footing.
Petzl Irvis Leverlock Universal Crampons for Mountaineering
The Petzl Irvis Crampons are ideal for glacier travel, classic mountaineering, and ski touring. Weighing a maximum of just 790 g, these crampons are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry. With a 10-point configuration, they offer excellent stability on hard snow and enhanced traction on ice, ensuring you feel secure on your adventures. The ANTISNOW system effectively limits snow buildup, allowing you to tackle a variety of snow conditions with confidence.
SALEWA Alpinist Walk Crampons for All Shoes
The SALEWA Alpinist Crampons are designed for durability and versatility. With a 12-point universal steel design, these crampons securely fit all types of shoes, especially those lacking a sole edge, making them ideal for easy alpine tours. The included moulding plate ensures a comfortable fit, while the soft cup material moulds to your shoe for added comfort. Suitable for ski boot sizes ranging from 253 to 338mm and mountain boots from sizes 35 to 48, these crampons provide the convenience and security you need on your adventures.
Black Diamond Serac Clip Crampon for Mountain Shoes
The Black Diamond Serac Clip is an excellent choice for those tackling classic alpine routes. Its lightweight 12-prong design ensures compatibility with various mountain shoes, making your adventures more accessible. The horizontal front prongs offer a secure grip on icy steps, enhancing your safety while climbing. Additionally, the classic secondary prongs provide stability when descending or traversing sloping terrain, giving you confidence in challenging conditions. Plus, the slim heel lever allows for precise adjustments, ensuring a perfect fit for your footwear.
Petzl Vasak FlexLock Crampons for Mountaineering
The Petzl Vasak Crampons are ideal for classic mountaineering, featuring a 12-point design that enhances grip on icy surfaces. They come in two binding systems, allowing you to choose between LEVERLOCK UNIVERSEL for footwear with heel welts and FLEXLOCK for those without. The bi-position linking bars accommodate a wide range of boot sizes, ensuring a secure fit for everyone. Weighing only 895 g with the ANTISNOW system, these crampons are lightweight, making them a comfortable choice for your climbing adventures.
Climbing Technology Ice Traction Crampons Plus
The Climbing Technology Crampons Plus feature a compact design, allowing you to easily pack them in your backpack without taking up much space. They slip on quickly, thanks to the convenient Velcro and elastic band, making them ideal for those on the go. These crampons are compatible with most Tour shoes, ensuring versatility for various outdoor activities. You can count on their excellent grip in snow and ice, providing you with the confidence to tackle winter conditions safely.
Black Diamond Diamond Contact Crampon in Shiny Black
The Black Diamond Crampon boasts a stainless steel construction, ensuring it will not rust and providing long-lasting durability. This feature also helps resist snow build-up, making your outdoor experiences more enjoyable and hassle-free. With a flexible toe strap, you can easily fit the crampon to most socks, enhancing comfort and fit. Its new lower profile allows for better contact with modern boots, giving you improved stability and control on icy surfaces.
MuscleForge Mountain Crampons with 19 Spikes
The MuscleForge Mountain Crampons are designed for excellent grip and safety on various terrains. With eight high-quality steel prongs per foot and a robust chain system, these crampons minimise the risk of injury during adverse weather conditions. Made from durable thermoplastic elastomer, they maintain their flexibility even in extreme temperatures as low as -45°C. Easy to use, you can effortlessly slip them over your shoes, ensuring long-lasting comfort and durability on your outdoor adventures.
SALEWA Alpinist Alu Combi Crampons for Snow and Ice
The SALEWA Alpinist Crampons are designed for light and easy alpine excursions in both summer and winter. With anti-balling plates, they help prevent snow build-up, ensuring you maintain traction on slippery surfaces. The soft material of the cup moulds comfortably around your shoe, enhancing your overall experience. Additionally, they come with a moulding plate, making them a convenient choice for ski boot sizes ranging from 253 to 338mm and mountain boots from size 35 to 48. Enjoy your outdoor adventures with reliable support and comfort.
Tentock Manganese Steel Crampons for Hiking
The Tentock Crampons are crafted from durable manganese steel and feature a lightweight, anti-abrasion design that ensures they won't rust, offering a long service life. The 14 teeth design, coupled with a nylon braid and buckle, provides excellent stability and safety while you navigate slippery surfaces. You can easily adjust the length to fit EU sizes 36 to 45, making them suitable for a variety of footwear. With anti-balling plates, these crampons prevent snow from sticking, enhancing your comfort and performance during winter activities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why are crampons called crampons?
We know what you are thinking, and no, they are not called “clamp-ons.” Crampon is a French word for a piece of gear first designed in 1908 in a 10-point style. More recently, two additional points – actually called “tines” – were added to the front of the device to make front-point climbing possible in steep terrain.
2. What are crampons used for?
Traditionally, crampons were designed and used for ice climbing. Today, crampons are generally used for any ice on high incline areas, including ice on slopes, rocks or technical mountaineering conditions like frozen waterfalls. The spikes on crampons, numbering about 6-12, are about ½ inch to a full inch in length.
3. What is the difference between crampons and spikes?
The difference in the design of Crampons and Microspikes is related to their different uses. Crampons have fewer but larger spikes (usually 1” in length) that improve grip on ice and snow by embedding well into them. On the other hand, as the name suggests, Microspikes come with smaller spikes (¼” or ½” in length).
4. Are crampons for snow or ice?
The GO Outdoors Guide To Crampons Crampons are fixtures designed to attach onto your shoes as you walk or climb, and they are built specifically for use over snow and ice. Crampons prevent damage to either your feet or you walking boots, and also provide you with better traction on slippery surfaces.
During our crampon research, we found 115 crampon products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 10,360 customer reviews through our big data system to write the crampons list. We found that most customers choose crampons with an average price of £90.50.
The crampons are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of crampons, including Salewa, PETZL, Black Diamond, Climbing Technology, MuscleForge.
Luke is a runner, a climber, hiker, hunter, and a lot more. Luke Dobson is Celtic-born and has lived most of his life in Scotland. However, his sporting endeavours have taken him to several countries around Europe. He serves as a tour guide for countless companies and owns a couple of gyms and recreational centres in Scotland. Luke Dobson is proficient in 7 different languages. He maintains many sport article columns where he shares his wealth of experience in the sport industry.