The lightweight and aggressively designed Salewa Alpinist Walk crampons inspired confidence in Lucy Wallace – but there is one drawback.
The Salewa Alpinist Walk crampons make a strong first impression with their aggressive design, especially for a flexible walking crampon.
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 |
| Features | Plastic toe and heel baskets, length- adjustable straps, anti-balling plates |
| No. of points | 12 |
| Compatibility rating | C1 |
| Fits sizes approx | 235cmm-330cm (EU 39- 49, UK 5.5-14) |
| salewa.com |
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! Even after several outings, the points retained their sharpness. The front points are angled forward, with the secondary points also aggressively slanted, favouring front pointing.
The anti-balling plates underneath the crampon feature small spikes, and a ridge of teeth midfoot adds to the overall grippiness. This design translated to a noticeably positive experience on the mountain.
The C1 bindings fit a range of boots, and the bendy adjustment bar makes them suitable for the flexible end of winter boot options while also reducing weight. They’re easy to adjust with gloves on and feature a neat strap and buckle system that manages stray straps without needing to cut them.
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.
Testing Conditions
Testing took place during the winter 2023-24 season in the west of Scotland, Munro-bagging and teaching winter skills as part of Lucy’s work as a Mountain Leader. Weights supplied were obtained using her home digital scales. This review was first published in the January 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine. To compare other options, read our guide to the best crampons you can buy.
