Crampons are attachments to outdoor footwear that feature metal parts to provide traction on snow and
ice.
[1]Crampons can be made of hardened steel, or light weight aluminum. Lighter weight aluminum crampons are popular for alpine ski touring where the need to wear them is less frequent & counterbalanced by the need for a light pack yielding fast, efficient travel over long distances.
Many crampons designed for mountaineering and glacier travel are not well suited for vertical ice climbing. For ice climbing, specialized crampons that provide better support for front pointing are advised. Most crampons require welted boots to ensure proper fitting.
Crampons with 10 points were first introduced by Europeans in the early 1900s. Because they lacked forward pointing spikes, they required step cutting on steep terrain. In the 1930s, two additional forward-slanting points were added, thus creating today's 12-point crampons. While 12-point crampons are now the normal selection, a few 10 point crampons can still be found on the market. The two additional front points further reduce the need to chop steps into the snow or ice, by allowing the climber to "front-point" up steep snow and ice. The angles of the first two rows of points also determine the best use for a particular set of crampons. Having the first row (front points) point downward, and the second row be angled towards the toe, reduces calf strain by allowing the boot heel to be lower. In this case, these crampons are better suited for front-pointing. When straight points are used instead, the crampons are much better suited for snow & general mountaineering.
