Kahtoolas in Trail

[stumpy]

This months Trail magazine has a test on crampons and an article warning against general use of Kahtoolas. They sum up by saying they are lightweight, but only of specialist use, and not much use on steeper slopes due to the angle of the front points. The aluminium version get a particular bashing for not being up to the job of coping with typical mixed British conditions with the spikes failing and wearing quickly.

Anyone got any experience of these and ay other alternatives for fell runing in winter conditions (other than the O type shoes with metal dobs)?

ta
Stumpy

[Baggins]

This months Trail magazine has a test on crampons and an article warning against general use of Kahtoolas. They sum up by saying they are lightweight, but only of specialist use, and not much use on steeper slopes due to the angle of the front points. The aluminium version get a particular bashing for not being up to the job of coping with typical mixed British conditions with the spikes failing and wearing quickly.

Anyone got any experience of these and ay other alternatives for fell runing in winter conditions (other than the O type shoes with metal dobs)?

ta
Stumpy

I wouldn't use aluminium Kahtoolas in the UK either. They're for pure snow as any rocky terrain would trash them.

As for the steel version I find them fantastic but they won't last as long as a full weight crampon. I've just used them in Scotland for the last week including doing the devils ridge in glen nevis and quite a few slopes that would get a grade 1/2 climbing grade.

For someone who hasn't used crampons before I think there would be a steep learnig curve as things like the crampon torquing around your foot when standing on rocky ground is transfered into your ankle, if your wearing boots this is less of a problem and most fellrunners should have the ankles to cope with it.

They're not a front pointing crampon as the front points point downwards so you could not use that sort of technique but wearing bendy trainers you couldn't anyways.

The way to use these crampons is french technique where you put the whole of your foot flat on the surface so all the crampon points make contact or you cut steps just like in the old days.

Remember the views you'll see in a mainstream magazine will be very cautious most especially if someone with an outdoor qualification has been put on the spot

As the article said they're of specialist use

[stumpy]

Thanks Baggins - good to hear it from the hobbit's mouth (so to speak!). Presumably they're also significantly more substantial and useful in steep, slippy situations than those rubber type things with spikes that slip on over fell shoes....

cheers
Stumps

[Baggins]

Thanks Baggins - good to hear it from the hobbit's mouth (so to speak!). Presumably they're also significantly more substantial and useful in steep, slippy situations than those rubber type things with spikes that slip on over fell shoes....

cheers
Stumps

I've never tried them but they look more suited to flat icy ground, I'd rather have crampons on when it gets steep but some people can get away with orienteering shoes with spikes in

[IanDarkpeak]

I've never tried them but they look more suited to flat icy ground, I'd rather have crampons on when it gets steep but some people can get away with orienteering shoes with spikes in

not forgetting an ice axe of course. No point wearing crampons that can get you on to steeper icier terrain if you can't stop your self when you fall

[Baggins]

not forgetting an ice axe of course. No point wearing crampons that can get you on to steeper icier terrain if you can't stop your self when you fall

Yes the ice axe comes out long before the crampons go on.

Just remember to get the crampons on before it get too steep otherwise the memory of putting the crampons on will be with you long after the memory of the ridges traversed afterwards has faded