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Any recommendations for 'walking crampons' for fairly flexible boots (altberg Bergen's). I have some ice gripper things for my trainers but they won't fit my boots (size 13).
Took a fall yesterday about 100m from home after about an 8km walk 🙄 Bruised bionic knee and cut hands, so nothing dramatic.
I'm not going to get other stiffer/mountain boots as my knees are too ****ed for anything other than Hobbiton type walking.
Any recommendations for ‘walking crampons’ for fairly flexible boots (altberg Bergen’s). I have some ice gripper things for my trainers but they won’t fit my boots (size 13).
What will you use them for? If it's icy paths and not big hills Kahtoola Microspikes work well. https://www.climbers-shop.com/snow-and-ice/walking-spikes/kahtoola-microspikes__10905468
If you want a proper crampon for hill walking then Kahtoola KTS will work on the most flexible of boots and are all you will ever need for hillwalking. https://rockrun.com/products/kahtoola-kts-crampon-steel?variant=31461353864
Cheers, those micro spikes should do with the sizing.
It's really for frozen estate tracks and natural paths, as well as bits of back roads to get there. Sadly, nothing technical or big days up high anymore.
t’s really for frozen estate tracks and natural paths, as well as bits of back roads to get there
You might not even need something that agressive then but they definitely work better than the Yaktrax style things with the metal spirals.
Yeh it's the size that's been the issue. I have some rubber we pull on ones with small stud/spikes, but they only just fit my trail shoes, I was wanting something for my actual hiking boots which they won't fit as they're much bulkier.
When I'd looked previously it was looking like I was having to buy something like the second items you posted, but with a bar extension were what was going to fit, but yeh, that's an over kill for what I'm able to do nowadays.
We have the Nortec Alpine spikes - they are NOT a replacement for a crampon.
However for general walking and easier hillwalking, they are utterly brilliant. We went with them as they seemed to to fit higher and more depth around the toebox, plus a wee velcro thing to really hold them on well.
Excellent Matt, cheaper and in yeti size too 😎👍
Excellent.
Ours get a lot of use - from local wanders on icy days to proper hill days with ice axes.
A picture of my office - top left, under the cloud.
A helpful picture from mrs_oab and eldest_oab on a 21st birthday hillwalk...
Climbed on Suilven on Friday. Epic amounts of powder in God's own country.
Lovely.
Not jealous at all @Spin 😂 that particular mountain is very high on my bucket list. Some amazing pictures on this thread.
Managed Suilven last year but in glorious sunny conditions, not sure I'd have chanced it in those conditions.
Another two Wainwrights for us yesterday, can't wait until he's a bit older and we can do some even longer days.
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Should have said, photo is Quinag from Suilven.
Forgot to post these from last weekend up Coniston Old Man
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A few from Beinn Alligin on the 23rd.
And Beinn Dearg yesterday.
@spin some cracking conditions there. Whereabouts are you based? Torridon is almost the end of the World for me so short trips are (mostly) out of bounds.
some cracking conditions there. Whereabouts are you based? Torridon is almost the end of the World for me so short trips are (mostly) out of bounds.
I'm in Inverness so Torridon is daytrippable for me. I fully appreciate how fortunate this makes me!
I'm slowly getting to the top of every rise and lump within 10 miles/local to our house. This includes the Ochils, some of the Trossachs and the Forest of Glen Artney.
Today saw us stumble up the half frozen bog that is Ben Clach on the Comrie mountain road. Mediocre to poor walking - stunning views however.
Our lump for the day. The bog was there today - under any normal conditions this would be a very wet hill.
The Forest of Glen Artney, over to Vorlich, Each, Ledi and more.
North across to Chonzie, and to the left/north west I think it's the Lawers range.
Stunning photos! Managed to drag my 70 year old mum up Holme Fell today, not as huge as some others on here but an achievement for her!
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Bit late to the party with this picture taken mid November. We got our 4½ year old and 21month old up Carnethy. Eldest walked it himself with a good deal of moaning. He likes to remind us of his trip each time he looks out his bedroom window
https://flic.kr/p/2o9kUE9
Brilliant - both the 70 year old and 4 year old. 👍👍👍👍
Did you see the Hares on Chonzie?
All the winter gear needed today
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Couldn't tell what was up nor down either!
Some pretty pics for you (definitely not mine)
The Fiddler / Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir photo gives me goosebumps. It's stunning
Try fan for me, but for different reasons. Absolute belter of a hill for scrambling and easy climbs.
The thing with the NW Highlands photos is that they are far, far away for most people in the UK (unless you're lucky enough to live within a few hours drive of them). Add to that the frequently crap weather up there and it makes those photos even better for me
That is very true.
Best keep my fingers crossed for the two days we can hopefully get Ben Hope done while we are in Tongue this summer.
Not a long day* by the direct route for Ben Hope, kinda curious if there’s many alternatives with reasonable paths.
Not even a day, nor even a morning unless you really really take your time, which is fair enough to do.
Edit, why yes, the north ridge looks interesting.
A few from yesterday on Beinn Eighe and Beinn Alligin.
Not a long day* by the direct route for Ben Hope, kinda curious if there’s many alternatives with reasonable paths.
I've twice done it on the same day as Ben Klibreck. The second time was after witnessing a dawn annular eclipse from the summit.
Not posted in a while but lurking in this thread periodically.
Not sure if these count as they're not hillwalking as such...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52640287761_ac776c6429_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52640287761_ac776c6429_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ocDeAi ]IMG_20220306_124921[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/ ]Stuart Campbell[/url], on Flickr
Posting fail - here goes again.
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Gentle day in the valleys around Cadair Idris
Anyone gear have any thoughts on the pros and cons of boots vs shoes with approach footwear for scrambling duties?
Im leaning towards shoes as im likely to run in, scramble, run out again so would likely carry them in a rucksack.
Edited : itd be Scarpa Crux if it was shoes as the fit for me is superb.
Depends what you mean by scrambling, if you mean the likes of striding edge or other easy ridge scramble/walks, then I'd be happy in my Scarpa crux, but then I think you'd be fine in grippy xc running shoes. BUT if you're talking something like the vertical corner on pinnacle ridge, then I wouldn't be particularly keen to do that in a pr of crux, they're far too soft and flexi for me. If I'm actually going to be doing easy climbing I'd possibly look at something a bit more rigid for edging (Scarpa zodiac shoe?).
Id be venturing into grade 2s unroped and 3s roped
I dont think i tried on Zodiacs, might ha e to track some down
Have you looked at La Sportiva TX shoes or Scarpa Mescalito?
various versions of Boreal Flyers used to be good for this - fairly stiff with good edges
Or just look for a via ferrata shoe - they're designed to be okay to walk in and stiff enough to scramble in
The TXs and Mescalitos both proved to be a poor fit.
Not even considered Boreals, will go take a google.
Edit, hang on, are TXs zodiacs?
https://www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/review/review-scarpa-zodiac/
They do them in grey, I've never tried them btw, but they look the business as a more rigid shoe.