What are crampons for winter hillwalking and mountaineering?

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What are Crampons?

Crampons are an essential part of your winter hillwalking and mountaineering equipment for safe adventures in the Scottish mountains.

As an overview they are a meatal or alloy frame with spikes that fit onto the underside of your winter boots to allow you to travel safely over ice and frozen snow, often in steep conditions.

If you have a real interest in winter hillwalking and mountaineering in Scotland, then you are going to need a pair of crampons to add to your essential kit list. You can see full details of this winter kit list, and What to Wear and Pack for Winter Mountaineering in Scotland here.

You will need specific winter hillwalking and mountaineering boots to fit your crampon too. Lightweight autumn and summer boots certainly won’t work! You can read all about What boots you need for Winter Hillwalking and Mountaineering in Scotland here.

What type of crampons do I need?

Winter crampon compatible boots are rated B1, B2 and B3. Similarly, crampons are rated C1, C2 and C3. Unless you are looking to do serious ice climbing, we can put B3 boots and C3 crampons to one side.

C1 and C2 crampons are made up of two parts, the heel, and the front section. These are joined by a flex bar – and this can be adjusted to alter the length of the crampon to fit different boot sizes.

What boots do I need for crampons?

So, focus on B1 and B2 boots, and C1 and C2 crampons. What’s the difference? Basically, B1 boots have a stiffened mid sole with a half or three-quarter length shank, and B2 boots have a fully stiffened mid sole with a full-length shank. B2 boots also have a more pronounced heel welt / ledge at the heel for semi-automatic C2 crampons to clip onto. [But both are suitable for winter hillwalking and mountaineering in Scotland].

Its best to match B1 boots with C1 crampons, and B2 boots with C2 crampons. It’s worth knowing also that you can match a B2 boot with a C1 crampon, but not the other way around! Sound complicated? It isn’t really, and it’s well worth a trip to an outdoor shop such as Tiso to seek professional advice.

How do I fit my crampons?

How to fit C1 crampons: These have step in bindings that fit over the toe and onto the heel of the boot. To fasten them tight they have a long strap that connects the front and rear step in part of the crampon together.

These are the most common type of crampon for winter hillwalking in Scotland. They are easy to use, but sometimes with freezing fingers it can be a little fiddly. You would need to be skilled to put them on wearing gloves!

How to fit C2 crampons: These are “semi-automatic” and have a clip / leaver at the rear that clips onto the heel. This portion is then secured to the toe basket at the front by a strap.

C1 and C2 crampons usually have between 10 and 12 teeth. These are sharp and will make short work of your Gore Tex trousers and jacket – so we would recommend you also get a robust crampon bag to store them in your rucksack.

How do I learn to use crampons?

We would recommend you practice taking your crampons on and off at home first – you could even try it wearing gloves. You don’t want your first attempt at putting them on to be in a blizzard on Buachaille Etive Mor in Glen Coe at 3000 feet!

Using them for the first time is initially a strange and unusual feeling, and it can be easy to catch them on rocks or get snagged on your expensive waterproof trousers!  Dont forget, they are making you about two inches taller, so there’s a whole new technique to be learned on how to move around safely and with confidence.

We would strongly recommend you join in a winter hillwalking skills course to get professional instruction on how to use and move around in crampons [and ice axe]. You can see a selection of Winter Hillwalking and Mountaineering Courses in Scotland here.