techpons - stupid idea or what?

[pureantigravity]

Is this nuts?

https://www.wildsnow.com/14513/tech-...echpon-skiing/

or a recipe for a nasty slide?

(oops that really wasn't a choice there!)

I mean, is this viable? or [insert other impressions here]

Just what to do if you get off your toes? Sidehilling? Setting up a ski platform?

I'm no couloir climber, but I just don't see how toe spikes are going to replace the need for a real crampon.

Obviously Lou is somewhat impressed.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

There is an old thread about this. I think they're dumb. Saving a few gram is nothing compared to being able to put some weight on your heel. And Camp race crampons are nearly as light anyway.

[TAFKALVS]

Camp has been making something similar for a while. More or less, if it means you bring them more than you would regular crampons and you actually use them they are probably worth it. But they won't ever replace a standard crampon. Also, if it's steep and hard enough to require climbing with them, what is the contingency if you need to down climb instead of ski?

[pureantigravity]

I'm assuming that people still use ice-axes too, right? Or is a whippet and good kick steps all that the modern 'ski-mountaineer' needs.

Squamish resident Mike Schauch and two friends, Garret Schumacher and Adam Hart, were hiking on the glacier when they saw the men fall behind them.

“Just as we were coming off the glacier and onto the rock, one of the members of the party of two lost his footing, I guess, and slid all the way to the bottom,” he said, adding the first, younger faller was 15 metres away from them when he fell.

They called down to the man who fell and he responded he was OK.

“His friend turns around and somehow lost his footing and slid all the way down as well, but he went face-first… rocketing down 30 or 40 kilometres per hour, or maybe faster.”

- See more at: http://www.squamishchief.com/news/lo....oWyZqHq6.dpuf

Shit happens. I get it. But so does stupid. And I'm not suggesting that the victims/folk in that snippet were stupid. I am quoting that just to remind myself that gravity still works and has a tendency to surprise and accelerate people when they aren't properly secured.

With the 'right gear' anyone can join club-deathwish.

Just get a new jetforce, some techpons, a whippet and the latest rockerred touring combo! Acceleration baby!!

I'm surprised that Lou would even give these any attention. It's almost a public disservice to suggest that this is a viable alternative to a proper crampon and ice-ax combo.

#rantWednesday #gettingCrankyBecauseLegsSore #stopWatchingNews #takeAvyCourse #buyNewGear

There there ... I had to add some hashtags to make my post look like an everyday pro Insta-Twit post.

I do see one huge advantage with these new Techpons — almost impossible to put punctures in ski pants when boot crampon has no side/under/back teeth.

[Meadow Skipper]

I do see one huge advantage with these new Techpons — almost impossible to put punctures in ski pants when boot crampon has no side/under/back teeth.

I could do it.

[PNWbrit]

all that the modern 'ski-mountaineer' .

I'll bet my house and 401k Martin Volken is a betterer ski mountaineer than you...

[Jonathan S.]

Camp has been making something similar for a while.[...]

Similar only in the sense that the CAMP model is also very light and packs up very small.
Otherwise, the CAMP model is actually a fully functional crampon:
http://skimo.co/camp-race-290-crampons

[pureantigravity]

I'll bet my house and 401k Martin Volken is a betterer ski mountaineer than you...

betterer
adj. An improper way of saying that something has improved but not by much.

It's basically like saying: Something has improved, but not enough to say that it's 'better'

[PNWbrit]

betterer
adj. An improper way of saying that something has improved but not by much.

It's basically like saying: Something has improved, but not enough to say that it's 'better'

So you're not taking the bet. Cool.

But you missed the point.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Is your point that Volken showed them to Lou Dawson therefor criticizing them is forbidden?

[pureantigravity]

Louie Dawson. A new bold generation

[I've seen black diamonds!]

To be clear I have nothing but respect for Lou and Volken. I just don't see how having doubts about this ingenious but irrelevant product suggests any disrespect about others who have discussed it in blog posts.

[trogdortheburninator]

The tech pons have worked great for me so far. I also have Al camps. Calling an AL pon fully functional is kind of missing the point if you ever need to climb hard water ice. The steel tech pon in the other hand deals with ice well. Best scenario for tech pon is short steep ice sections separated by softer or mellower snow. Al pon is better for long neve or corn sections where French tech is viable. Always good to see people forming strong opinions on gear they can't comprehend...

[I've seen black diamonds!]

The tech pons have worked great for me so far. I also have Al camps. Calling an AL pon fully functional is kind of missing the point if you ever need to climb hard water ice. The steel tech pon in the other hand deals with ice well. Best scenario for tech pon is short steep ice sections separated by softer or mellower snow. Al pon is better for long neve or corn sections where French tech is viable. Always good to see people forming strong opinions on gear they can't comprehend...

Sounds nice if you know exactly what to expect and nothing goes wrong. And already have general mountaineering crampons, aluminum crampons and ice climbing crampons all of which are useful in far wider ranges of conditions.

Glad they're working for you but I'd rather deal with aluminum on ice or carry another lb with Camp Nanos or Grivel Skitours that have steel in the toe.

[abraham]

Eh I could see those being useful here where the spring skiing lasts into summer. Not as a replacement for crampons but a way to get up things before they soften for the descent.

[Jonathan S.]

The tech pons have worked great for me so far. I also have Al camps. Calling an AL pon fully functional is kind of missing the point if you ever need to climb hard water ice. The steel tech pon in the other hand deals with ice well. Best scenario for tech pon is short steep ice sections separated by softer or mellower snow. Al pon is better for long neve or corn sections where French tech is viable. Always good to see people forming strong opinions on gear they can't comprehend...

I meant "fully functional" for ascending anything that you are (or at least, I am) ever going to ski down.
If instead you're ascending true ice (that is too technical for Alu crampons), and you don't need your crampons for anything but front pointing, then sure, it's the perfect solution (to a problem that admittedly I never have).

[PNWbrit]

Is your point that Volken showed them to Lou Dawson therefor criticizing them is forbidden?

Martin's opinion that they're a useful addition to crampon quiver, having talked to him about them... is my point.

[Rob Stokes]

If they were alloy I could see a place in the quiver. A 'just in case' crampon that lives in the bottom of the pack. With them being steel, and about the weight of a light alloy 'full' crampon I can't see where I would use them over a light alloy.

Just my 2cents

[kootenayskier]

There are so many variations on the ski-touring - ski mountaineering game, that they probably make sense for someone, even if just the guy who made them. I needed my crampons a few times in Europe, but in Western Canada they just (occasionally) go for a ride in my pack, and my ice axe usually only functions as a tent peg, so the lighter the better for each.

[sfotex]

If they were alloy I could see a place in the quiver. A 'just in case' crampon that lives in the bottom of the pack. With them being steel, and about the weight of a light alloy 'full' crampon I can't see where I would use them over a light alloy.

Just my 2cents

x2. I bet they couldn't get the design to work in Aluminum, they probably flexed too much and came off.

[trogdortheburninator]

I meant "fully functional" for ascending anything that you are (or at least, I am) ever going to ski down.
If instead you're ascending true ice (that is too technical for Alu crampons), and you don't need your crampons for anything but front pointing, then sure, it's the perfect solution (to a problem that admittedly I never have).

I suppose my point was that there are routes where the tech pon provides fuller function than the Al. I found myself bringing the techs more often than the Al last spring. Size in pack was a big motivator, but function was too. I also think it is quite common that a crampon is more efficient than step kicking, even though both are possible. With the tech, I can front point 20 or so steps, then kick in hard or find a bracing feature for a rest.

[Chugachjed]

I definitely see the utility here. When I'm cramponing in ski boots I'm 95% of the time front pointing. These are way lighter than the grivel G14 that I usually carry for spring touring.