Black Diamond  Contact Strap Crampons with ABS Plates

Heal area of these Black Diamond Strap Crampons is small. Heal area of crampon will not allow all brands of boot to fully seat.

I got these for my size 11US (45H EU) hiking boots, thinking they'd fit per the description: "Boots size 12 and larger require the Long Center Bars, sold separately." The included flex bars aren't even close for my boots; I'm not sure they'd work even on a size 10. It would be really nice if these could be purchased with the correct size flex bars rather than needing to buy an extra set and discarding the included set.

These are great for backpacking and hiking on icy rocks and snow. Quality gear but not suited for ice climbing or mountaineering. Compared to more aggressive crampons like the Grivel G12's which are suited for that, these are much more comfortable and practical for winter backpacking or day hikes. They're easy to walk in for days on end without risking rolled ankles or exerting excessive effort. I find them super comfortable and so did my friend that borrowed them. The straps are extra long and I just tuck them away but may cut them shorter someday. They're sturdy and not too heavy. Easy to adjust and use and stay put.

These crampons are designed for alpine travel on glacier ice and frozen snow. They work very well for steep ice, but they are not designed for vertical ice climbing. If you use these for their intended purpose --- climbing mountains in a traditional alpine style --- they are great crampons. I have used them with mountaineering double boots, and I have also strapped them onto my leather backpacking boots. Obviously the security on the mountaineering boots is good, but they were okay for walking over ice in the backpacking boots too. On my mountaineering boots, they were even pretty secure without the straps engaged. They never popped off the boot, even when others, with step-in crampons did pop off. I think this is because as the rand wears out, the step-ins become less secure. The strap-ons don't rely on the rand, so they stay secure.

I bought these crampons to use on casual (no vertical ice!) routes. Last weekend, I took them up Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. They worked great both on shallow and steeper areas of the hike. They had good grip on packed snow and on the hard ice near the summit. Very easy to use. I adjusted them and put them on for the first time on the trail without any difficulties. The only issue I had is that they were sharp enough that sometimes I poked holes through the ankles of my snow pants! Guess they're pretty sharp out of the box, and I should walk more carefully. Otherwise, they're great.

I bought these for my first trip to Shasta for attachment to a pair of stout hiking boots. The crampons pack up tight and take up little space on my gear. They are steel so weight could be an issue for some, but I like the durability of steel vs aluminum. Easy to put on and take off. Traction is superb but I'd purchase a different pair for ice climbing. Durability seems ok, but I'm concerned that the way the strap runs through the toe cap, it may wear through or crack over time.

For those of you like myself cursed with big feet, here is a photo of the crampons WITH THE LONG CENTER BAR on size 15 plastic mountain boots. The bar still had a couple of holes left.

I’d only worn crampons once before on a guided trip and the folks in the rental shop had adjusted them for me. These were easy to figure out and simple to adjust and size for my boot. They feel sturdy and secure. Lacing is also straightforward. Wore them up Mt Saint Helens this week and they had excellent grip in the early morning on the icy steeps. Only wish I had gotten a pair sooner because microspikes can only do so much on steep, icy snow.

I own Petzl Irvis and Lynx crampons. I needed a couple pairs for people I was taking out. First off they look great, fit and finish is good and look like a quality product. Until you try to fit them to your boots. I fit them on a Vasque 10.5 and 11. which they should fit via the description. They fit terribly on two different boots. The nose is extremely narrow and sets the boot too far back to begin with. The bar is too short and if you have a 10.5 you MIGHT need a longer bar. The heel strap sits so low it doesn't inspire confidence at all. Do yourself a favor and try them on your boot before buying, then try a Petzl Irvis and never look back.

I am extremely pleased with the way these crampons are working, under my weird conditions. I am dealing with a bear coming up the 20 stairs to my deck and into my house. I made an "Unwelcome Mat" of heavy plywood and about 200 2 inch nails per for 5 stair treads, but I needed a way to walk on the nails. Thank you, Black Diamond Crampons, they work beautifully and I (78 years old) feel stable while going up or down.