In winter, snow and ice can make movement difficult and hazardous. Crampons provide traction and security, making it easier to walk on snowy and icy terrain. They vastly outperform micro-spikes in deep snow and on steep ground due to their longer spikes, which bite deeper into the snow, and the front points that can be used for uphill progression.
A wide variety of crampons are available, with those designed for walking and easy mountaineering typically being lighter and more flexible than models made for ice climbing. Some ultra-light models are intended for use on snow only and may not be robust enough for walking and scrambling on icy rocks.
Crampons are rated based on their boot compatibility and come with several types of bindings that vary according to the flexibility of the boots they are designed to be used with. However, all require a semi-rigid boot for a secure fit. Stiff boots are also beneficial for kicking into snow and ice, even when not using crampons.
The most flexible binding types (C1) have plastic baskets for the toe and heel that strap onto the boot and are compatible with boots graded B1 or more. If the boots have a heel welt, they are rated B2 or more and can be used with crampons with a heel clip (“hybrid” or C2), offering easier attachment and a more secure fit. B3 boots are fully rigid, and have a toe welt as well, allowing them to accommodate fully rigid step-in crampon (C3) with a metal toe bail, found on crampons designed for ice climbing.
Crampon shapes also vary, with some designs being more curved and asymmetric than others. Smaller boots may not fit standard 12-point crampons, but will work with 10-point models, while exceptionally large boots may require an extender bar. Ensuring that crampons are both compatible with your boots and provide a good fit is crucial.
Crampons with anti-balling plates are recommended, as they help prevent snow from building up underfoot. Additionally, it’s a good idea to stow them in a tough nylon bag, preventing the crampons from damaging other items in your rucksack.
Learn how to walk in crampons with advice from gear experts James Roddie and Giles Trussell of Glenmore Lodge.
The best crampons to buy in 2025
Best in Test 2025: Petzl Vasak Leverlock Universel
Lucy Wallace’s Best in Test 2025
Overall, these are well-designed, versatile crampons suitable for winter walking, gullies, and easier mixed climbs.- versatile modular system
- good for larger feet
- hard to fit to smaller sizes
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £175 |
| Weight | 880g (with C2 toe basket) |
| Materials | Steel, plastic, nylon strap |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 or C3 |
| petzl.com |
The Vasak Leverlock Universel, a C2/C3 version with a heel clip for B2 and B3 boots. It comes with standard toe baskets for B2 boots, or a metal bar for B3 boots with toe welts. For my low-profile B3 boots, the standard basket provided the best fit. The Vasak also comes in a Flexlock format for B1 boots without welts and is slightly cheaper. Additionally, you can purchase various bindings and front sections from Petzl’s crampon range to modify the Vasaks for different uses, including more aggressive climbing, making this system highly versatile.
Fit-wise, the Vasaks have some limitations at the smaller end of the size range, but they include a clever internal system that secures the adjustment bar, minimizing overhang at the back. The bar offers various settings for length and can even be tweaked to increase or decrease asymmetry.
Overall, the Petzl Vasak Leverlock Universel are well-designed, versatile crampons suitable for winter walking, gullies, and easier mixed climbs. They are ideal for novices looking to expand their skills and experienced users seeking a crampon system that covers all bases.
Read Lucy Wallace’s full Petzl Vasak Leverlock Universel review.
Best in Test 2024: Petzl Irvis
Kirsty Pallas’ Best in Test 2024
Its lightweight affordability and modular design are impressive, despite the faff involved in swapping front bails.- price
- weight
- modular
- no length adjustment in the bars
- tricky to switch front bails (attachment points)
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_12986778
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £115 |
| Weight | 746g |
| Materials | Steel |
| No. of points | 10 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 with Leverlock |
| petzl.com |
The Petzl Irvis is part of a great range of crampons from Petzl, which can be used in a modular way, by combining different heel and front sections to suit the ground you’re heading into. I used that option over winter, switching the heel from the Irvis to the Dart front section and back, depending on whether I was walking or ice climbing that day. If you do a lot of both, then the switching may feel faffy and you might benefit from two full sets of crampons, especially if you want to swap the front bails regularly, as this is fairly tricky and needs a bit of time and force.
Read Kirsty Pallas’ full 2024 review of the Petzl Irvis crampons. David Lintern also reviewed this model in 2021 – you can read his verdict here.
Grivel Air Tech Light New Classic
Alex Roddie recommends
If you need lightweight crampons for technical terrain on a long-distance trail it’s hard to think of a better choice.- low weight
- great security on steep ground
- no bag included
- less durable than steel crampons
- included extension bar too stiff for flexible boot
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_12986783
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £140 |
| Weight | 600g, including anti-balling plates |
| Materials | Aluminium alloy |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 with Leverlock |
| grivel.com |
The Air Tech Light is an aluminium alloy version of Grivel’s Air Tech crampon, which is in turn a refined and lightened-up version of the classic G12 all-rounder. You get 12 points, including real front points. The points are a little shorter than on the G12, but very aggressive – far more so than your average walking crampon. This makes them great for mixed, steep and technical ground as well as general hillwalking.
Read Alex Roddie’s full review of the Grivel Air Tech Light New Classic crampons.
Grivel G10 New-Matic Evo
Lucy Wallace recommends
For a premium brand, these crampons are surprisingly affordable, offering high quality at a price accessible to entry-level users and experienced walkers alike.- great value
- compact
- robust
- excellent anti-balling plates
- 10 points provide less traction
- relatively heavy
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £130 |
| Weight | 858g |
| Materials | Steel (Nickel- Chrome Molybdenum Steel), plastic, nylon strap |
| No. of points | 10 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 (Grivel make a C1 version called the New-Classic Evo) |
| grivel.com |
The Grivel G10 New-Matic Evo crampons, the only 10-point model in this review, are squarely aimed at winter walking, but will stray onto steeper stuff if needed. The two front points are more than functional enough for kicking into steep snow, and the secondary points are angled more downward than forward, optimising grip on horizontal surfaces rather than vertical ones.
I tested the New-Matic binding, which includes a heel clip compatible with B2 boots with heel welts and a classic plastic basket system at the front. These crampons are compact and easy to adjust to a wide range of sizes, particularly at the smaller end, where other models fall short.
The anti-balling plates deserve special mention for shedding snow better than any other model I tested. For a premium brand, these crampons are surprisingly affordable, offering high quality at a price accessible to entry-level users and experienced walkers alike.
Read Lucy Wallace’s full Grivel G10 New-Matic Evo review.
Grivel G12
Kirsty Pallas recommends
A classic crampon gets some updates – not all useful.- solid design
- secure fit
- hard to adjust
- weight
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_12986779
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £145.95 |
| Weight | 1005g |
| Materials | Steel |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 with Leverlock |
| grivel.com |
The Grivel G12 is an absolute classic crampon, having been around for many years, and a part of pioneering history on new routes. They’ve had some updates recently though, which I don’t feel are all useful.
The crampon bars are reversible for small and big feet, but the lever for adjusting the length of the crampon now feels more awkward and stiffer. It wraps around the heel so it’s tucked nicely out of the way, unlike the old lever that was down the middle, but it feels like there’s double the stiffness now. The heel lever can be adjusted in height too, but it’s near impossible to get it into the bottom setting, and very faffy in general.
Read Kirsty Pallas’ full 2024 review of the Grivel G12 crampons. David Lintern also reviewed this model in 2021 – you can read his verdict here.
Salewa Alpinist Walk
Lucy Wallace recommends
These crampons are ideal for winter walking and moderate mountaineering terrain.- light weight
- clever strap design
- aggressive points
- extreme sharpness when new
- best for larger sizes
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £165 |
| Weight | 819g |
| Materials | Steel, plastic, nylon |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C1 |
| salewa.com |
The Salewa Alpinist Walk crampons make a strong first impression with their aggressive design, especially for a flexible walking crampon. These 12-point crampons are impressively sharp straight from the box, which might be a worry for novice users who are more likely to catch a trouser leg. Even as an experienced winter walker, I reminded myself constantly that a careless moment with the front points could result in a lot of stitches both to my clothing and possibly to myself!
The main drawback for some might be the fit. There are limitations at the smaller end of the size range, making a good fit harder to achieve. Fortunately, I had no issues with my size 42 winter boots.
I enjoyed testing these crampons in various conditions, from snow slopes to water ice. I really appreciated the low weight, and the confidence inspired by the aggressive design. These crampons are ideal for winter walking and moderate mountaineering terrain.
Read Lucy Wallace’s full Salewa Alpinist Walk review.
Salewa Alpinist Combi
Kirsty Pallas recommends
The Salewa Alpinist Combi are lightweight crampons which work well in winter.- adjustable strap length
- weight
- easy buckle
- no easy release on the heel lever
- some play in the fit
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_6537502
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £150 |
| Weight | 835g |
| Materials | Stainless steel |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C2 with Leverlock |
| salewa.com |
The Salewa Alpinist Combi crampons have a lot of nice features to make fitting and using these easier – some of which work well, and others not so much. The crampon bars are reversible to suit both small and big feet, and can be changed over easily. The lever for adjusting crampon bar length is easy to use.
The holes on the crampon bars are the furthest apart on this test, and the bar is also the most flexible, which I think contributes to having a bit of play in the fit. In use, I struggled to get a consistently secure fit. The wheel on the heel lever helped a little, but it doesn’t resolve the overall fit being inconsistent in the length from one fitting to the next.
Read Kirsty Pallas’ full review of the Salewa Alpinist Combi crampons. David Lintern also reviewed this model in 2021 – you can read his verdict here.
Kahtoola KTS Steel
Chris Townsend recommends
Designed for hikers and runners on non-technical terrain these crampons are unique.- lightweight
- short points
- very flexible
- anti-ball plates optional
- pricey
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_12986784
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £109.99 |
| Weight | 660g |
| Materials | Chromoloy steel |
| No. of points | 10 |
| grivel.com |
The points are much shorter and there are no front points. This does mean that all 10 points are in contact with the snow or ice – wearing 10-point crampons with front points, only eight points at most are actually in contact with the snow. The shorter points are less likely to catch on stones or your trousers and are easier to walk in on thin coverings of ice, such as often covers paths.
The KTS crampons are also very flexible, with a central bar that can almost be bent in half.
Read Chris Townsend’s full review of the Kahtoola KTS Steel crampons.
Black Diamond Serac Clip
Chris Townsend recommends
This is a crampon for steeper slopes and prolonged use on hard snow and ice. For most hillwalkers I think they’re rather more than is needed, given price and weight.- stainless steel
- very easy to put on
- requires boots with rear welt
- quite heavy
- expensive
SQUIRREL_BUTTON_12986785
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price | £125 |
| Weight | 908g |
| Materials | Stainless steel |
| No. of points | 12 |
| www.blackdiamondequipment.co |
These are the crampons to choose if you want to do some mountaineering routes as well as hillwalking. Black Diamond say they are suitable for ‘moderate technical’ climbs. To that end they have 12 very sharp points.
They’re available with three different binding systems – Pro with a metal front bail and rear clip for stiff climbing boots with welts, Clip with a front cable and rear clip for mountain boots with a rear welt or groove, and Strap with front and rear straps for non-technical footwear. I tried the Clip, which is very easy to put on and feels very secure.
Read Chris Townsend’s full review of the Black Diamond Serac Clip crampons.
How we test
Lucy Wallace tested crampons during the winter season of 2023-24 in the west of Scotland, Munro-bagging and teaching winter skills as part of her work as a Mountain Leader. Further testing by Kirsty Pallas in 2023, Alex Roddie in 2020, and Chris Townsend in 2016 has been included. Weights supplied were obtained using the tester’s home digital scales.
How to choose the best crampons for you
Points
Crampons designed for walking and easier mountaineering typically have 10 or 12 points, including two front points for use on steep terrain. Longer points provide better grip on snow and ice but can snag on clothing or rocks, potentially causing trips or injuries, especially when new and sharp.
Adjustment Bar
This allows you to alter the crampon length for a secure fit. They should fit snugly, with no danger of coming loose during use. Some models feature a flexible bar, which accommodates softer boots. Extra long bars are available for larger sizes. The bar may need to be cut down to size to fit smaller boots without overhanging the back.
Front Binding
This secures the crampon to the toe of the boot. The type of binding varies depending on the crampon’s rating and boot compatibility, from basket designs (C1 and C2 crampons) to a metal bar (C3 crampons).
Rear Binding
C1 crampons have a basic basket to hold the heel of the boot in place. In contrast, C2 and C3 crampons are equipped with a lever that clips the back of the crampon onto the heel welt of the boot.
Strap
The strap fastens the crampon bindings to the boot, with an adjustable buckle for a secure fit. Tuck away or trim excess strap to prevent becoming a trip hazard.
Anti-balling Plates
Essential for preventing snow from building up under the crampon. ‘Balling up’ can cause the points to lose grip, reducing the crampon’s effectiveness on snow and ice.
Materials
Usually made from steel or sometimes stainless steel. Both materials are tough, though standard steel may be more hardwearing, while stainless steel offers the advantage of corrosion resistance. Some ultra-light models are made from aluminium, which is less durable than steel.
Fit
Ensure that crampons are the correct size and shape for your boots to prevent them from coming off or snagging. Sizes are supplied as a guide only as boots vary in their external footprint. Properly fitting the crampons before heading out is crucial, as adjusting in the field can be challenging.
