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Thread: 2015-2016 Gear Rumors
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08-25-2014, 10:45 AM #26
I saw this as well, and have since had a back-and-forth with a well-know TGR gear aficionado regarding how safe and useful this would be. IMO I think it has the potential to be practical particularly on days when the need for crampons is marginal or speculative at best, or you just need a little extra front-point purchase climbing up the end of a couloir or run (I.E., icy top of left gully at Mt. Washington for east coast mags). Also, they don't take up much space in your bag, which even more than weight is my issue with lugging crampons around (it looks like they even fit between ski crampons!). They're steel, which means you can use them on ice. Also, I bet you can sort of awkwardly walk around on rocky topouts with them still attached to your feet more easily than a standard crampon (I always found that to be a pain in the ass). So for these reasons I think I'm gonna give them a try.
The cons are clear- only two points of contact, can lead you to a false sense of security on frontpoint and then you sit back, lack of record of use in the field, etc... but I still think that for days when you *might* need crampons for a bit but aren't sure, they have a place. Also, they look like they could be a pain to put on or require carrying a separate tool. I guess the competition is Race 290 crampon, or CAMP Aluminum offerings, but IMO those are different tools for different purposes. Curious what others think of this as well.
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08-25-2014, 10:50 AM #27
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08-25-2014, 11:22 AM #28
I actually just talked myself into buying them... so we'll see!
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08-25-2014, 11:34 AM #29Gel-powered Tech bindings
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I didn't succeed in talking you out of them?
They would be enticing were it not for these:
http://skimo.co/camp-race-290-crampons
Otherwise, the weight and size advantages are trivial, yet the potentially useful and safe applications are limited.
(Your Left Gully example is perfect ... but lots of other places even on that same mtn where they'd be really sketchy.)Mo' skimo here: NE Rando Race Series
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08-25-2014, 11:43 AM #30
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08-25-2014, 11:47 AM #31
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08-25-2014, 12:18 PM #32Gel-powered Tech bindings
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Mo' skimo here: NE Rando Race Series
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08-25-2014, 01:59 PM #33
Steel vs. aluminum and easier to put on your boot mid-slope are two potential advantages I can see for the Tech Crampon in certain situations.
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08-25-2014, 02:42 PM #34Gel-powered Tech bindings
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The video doesn't seem to show it as easier to affix -- even with the redesign so that the separate allen wrench is no longer necessary, having to rotate some little knob ... which might be iced over from a prior ascent ... with fingers that might be cold and number.
The steel certainly will provide more bite, but still, that's only for four points on each foot.
If I needed more bite than the Race 290, then instead of that new front-point only crampon, I'd much rather bring the extra weight for the CAMP alu model with the steel inserts:
http://skimo.co/camp-xlc-nanotech-cramponsMo' skimo here: NE Rando Race Series
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08-25-2014, 03:05 PM #35
Oooh now we are talking crampon quivers. Guess I will need to go back one page and see what it is about. I really enjoyed the Grivel Haute Route ski crampons last year. Better than my old strap steel Camps and my step in aluminum ones I had before.
Edit went back and looked. My concerns would be the same as Jonathan's, but that is just speculative guessing. They also would not allow for varied foot placement on longish climbs.
Let us know how they work out in real conditions.
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08-25-2014, 03:20 PM #36
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08-25-2014, 03:20 PM #37
Easier to put on in that you only need to access one end of the boot. Yeah, the knob could be challenging if it froze up. Not generally a problem where I am, as avy conditions usually keep us away from anything requiring crampons until late spring when temps are usually warm enough that stuff freezing up isn't a huge issue.
I didn't mean steel as an advantage for more purchase; I doubt that design would be more secure than an aluminum crampon. I meant steel as an advantage for climbing on rock. Aluminum gets torn up pretty fast on rock in my experience. I've definitely hauled my steel Sabretooths a couple times because I knew there would be a bit of mixed climbing involved, even though all the snow climbing would have been fine for aluminum (or probably these).
Agree that if you're needing more climbing security on hard snow/ice then the Camp that you linked or a real steel crampon is the way to go.
I don't know that I'll buy these, but it's an interesting idea and I can see their use, specific as it may be.
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08-25-2014, 06:08 PM #38Gel-powered Tech bindings
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Yes, that hybrid approach does look useful!
Another model that is kind of a step up (pun intended?) from alu is the CAMP Tour Nanotech:
http://www.camp-usa.com/products/cra...notech-367.asp
http://www.backcountry.com/camp-usa-...notech-crampon
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...otech-Crampons
His endorsement is pretty much the only factor keeping me from dismissing these entirely -- although the recent attention to celebrity skier endorsements of ski gear has been greatly amusing, an endorsement from someone with his skills and respect is something else entirely.
I often experienced crampon freezing this past season: I would affix crampons to ascend an at-treeline couloir in sorta softish sun-warmed snow, then once I started skinning again above treeline I would hang my crampons from a BC Ice Clipper in an attempt to melt off the slushy stuff before stuffing them in my pack (Dynafit Broak Peak "safety box") but each time the slushy stuff had instead frozen solid in the colder air temps.
Wasn't an issue with my Race 290 crampons (well, except for lugging around that entire extra ounce or so of ice), but I'm thinking that in those kinds of conditions, that little knob might be hard to loosen and then retighten?
Yes, although I've gingerly stepped on rock a bit with my alu crampons, any sort of serious climbing on rock dulls them very quickly (and is rumored to even break them, but I haven't ever seen any examples of that).Mo' skimo here: NE Rando Race Series
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08-26-2014, 12:18 PM #39
Dalbello Panterra 120: Able to slip in/attach shims in the soles?
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08-26-2014, 04:42 PM #40Registered User
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Dynafit introducing a cast iron Beast-master-plus coming in at just under 15 pounds a set, din locked at 17 and affordable price.
Salomon is rumored to have prototype SX-92t boots at a secret Southern Hemisphere testing zone, the first rear/mid entry budget tech boot.
I keed.
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08-28-2014, 05:53 AM #41
The Marker tech binding will be unveiled in a few days time according to this: http://www.friflyt.no/Ski/Markers-topp-secret
They´re saying it´ll be approved for a different ISO-standard than other tech-based bindings, but other than that, not much is known.simen@downskis.com DOWN SKIS
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08-28-2014, 10:20 AM #42
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08-28-2014, 12:43 PM #43simen@downskis.com DOWN SKIS
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08-28-2014, 01:53 PM #44
That timeline seems about right. I forgot to factor the 1st year trial period. I won't be guinea pigging this one, so CAST is looking more and more compelling.
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12-10-2014, 08:15 AM #45Registered User
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Patagucci's releasing a backcountry specific clothing and pack range. http://www.snowsports.org/SuppliersS...contentid/2794
After the delamination issues withthe Knifeblade, I'm hoping they've found a way to make Powershield Pro acceptably durable.Blogging at www.kootenayskier.wordpress.com
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12-10-2014, 03:33 PM #46
2015-2016 Gear Rumors
Buddy was in a local boot shop not too long ago, and a bunch of frenchies from Salomon were huddled around a boot, hiding it from him, while talking to the shop owner. Designed to compete with TLT6 class boots is the best I've got. Supposed to be pretty amazing. I'd be surprised if a Salomon tech binding didn't come out at the same time. Probably being field tested this season. Europe mags keep your eyes peeled.
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12-10-2014, 04:34 PM #47Registered User
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I've read some more about those boots somewhere, not much though.. Atomic also comes with a similar line, maybe a bit more freeride than touring if I remember correct.
The Salomon team had several test sessions with their athletes, not only recently. What surprised me is they did slip things about the boots but zero about their tech binding. Pretty shure they are testing it for a while now, but only during those test sessions. For filming trips etc they all ride Dynafits.
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12-10-2014, 05:37 PM #48
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12-10-2014, 07:36 PM #49
Have a pair of the atomic touring boots on the way...they look pretty rad but certainly more of a Maestrale RS/Vulcan competitor...
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12-11-2014, 02:31 AM #50
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