Top Crampons For Splitboarding & Snowboarding

Most crampon models give you the option to choose between completely bailed, heel-bailed, or just nylon straps, and the full-strap model is more versatile as to footwear crampon compatibility, whether you go partially automatic or full-strap is up to you (or just get two pairs, one for distance and one for climbing). Here’s our picks for the best snowboard boot crampons and snowboard mountaineering crampons.

Stainless Steel Crampons vs. Aluminum Crampons Snowboard Boot Crampons

You think it’s all about weight in this battle, when it comes to what type of crampon to use, Nope.  It’s all about the surfaces your going to encounter. If you going to be kicking rocks with aluminum spikes the points are going to blunt on your splitboard crampons. Steel is pretty bombproof; you could climb a rock face and not have to worry about it. I would go steel, you not buying crampons to hike up a powder field.

Before we go any farther, what about your boots?  Are they good for splitboarding?  See what splitboarding boots we liked as well as traditional picks for best snowboarding boots.

Best Snowboard Boot Crampons

Grivel Air Tech Light Crampon

Grivel’s Air Tech and G series are nearly unmatched when it comes to reliability and performance, one of the best splitboard crampo0ns available, hands down. I love Grivel’s G12s if there’s going to be any serious glacier travel (they’re still my go-to for long hikes that have a glacier or ice climbing section) or you’re really needing to penetrate deep.

But while you sacrifice some spike length and penetrating heft switching to the Air Tech Lights, you make up for that with the fact that they’re half as heavy, an important consideration when adding extra weight to an already-full pack.

Petzl Vasak Crampon

Petzl’s Vasak is an oldie but goodie, with a long and unblemished track record. Heavier than the Air Tech’s but a little lighter than comparable Grivel G12s or BD Sabretooths, the Vasak is a great compromise for a crampon with penetration and performance without paying too much when it comes to weight – and its strap system has gotten rave reviews from its faithful followers.

Black Diamond Contact Crampon

Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampon is great for general mountaineering, walking and mountaineering.

Grivel Air Tech Crampon

Grivel Air Tech Light Crampons with Antibott Device & Flex Bars work great for rock climbing, mixed climbs and alpine climbing.

12 Point Crampons vs 10 Point Crampons

10 or 12 point? A 10- point crampon is better for trekking and general climbing. 12 point crampons are designed more for situations where you need a firmer grip on waterfall ice for technical mountaineering. The price on these is pretty much the same, but you’re going to add a little weight with the extra points. Personally, I think the more points the better, I mean more points in the snow/ice, the more stable you are going to be, and the safer you will feel.

The best things you can do is go to your local outdoor shop and bring your snowboard boot to find a set of climbing crampons that fit. Every boot is different and you want to get the tightest fit between your crampons and your boots. So throw your boot in a couple different pairs and see what fits best. You want to make sure when the crampons are adjusted, that the metal points where the strap connects and touching the edge of the sole of the boot. If you can’t find something that fits perfect you can bend these points a little for a tighter fit.

If you think you’re going to be using them a lot it is best to get your own and find a pair that works with your snowboard boots and possible even your mountaineering boots.

So first thing, you obviously want full strap crampon. Most of the strap systems work incredibly easily and allow using them between multiple boots, even trailing running shoes if you are into that.

Splitboard Boots to Use with Crampons

With more and more of the best high performance splitboard boots coming out with welted heels ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Splitboard Boot, the Spark Deeluxe XV, Fitwell Backcountry, K2’s Aspect BOA, Burton Tourist to name a few), snowboarders can now upgrade to heel-bailed snowboard boot crampons, which give you much better hold and cut down time getting your crampon on by a considerable margin.

If you’re spending a lot of time booting up couloirs, where you’re often penetrating through crust/rotten snow/pow into ice/rock/more rotten snow, all while chunder/snow/ice chunks/rocks are fighting to rip your crampons from your boot, you’ll quickly realize the drawbacks of a full-strap crampon.

Related Splitboard Boots We Reccomend

1. Deeluxe Spark XV Splitboard Boot Review
2. Fitwell Backcountry Snowboard Boot Review
3. K2 Aspect Snowboard / Splitboard Boot Review