| What they are | Spiked traction frames for boots |
| Points | Typically 10-14 |
| Attachment | Strap-on, hybrid, or step-in |
| Used for | Snow & ice travel and climbing |
From the Old French crampon, meaning a hooked or grappling iron.
Crampons are metal frames with downward and forward-pointing spikes that strap or clip onto boots to grip snow and ice. They let mountaineers and ice climbers walk and climb on hard, slippery terrain. Designs range from flexible walking crampons to rigid technical models, matched to the boot and the terrain.
The word comes from the Old French crampon, a hooked iron.
Attachment types
Strap-on (universal), hybrid, and step-in — matched to your boots’ stiffness and welts. Technical ice models use monopoints.
Crampons vs microspikes
For walking icy trails, lighter microspikes suffice — see crampons vs microspikes. Pair crampons with an ice axe.
Frequently asked questions
What are crampons?
Crampons are spiked metal frames that attach to the soles of boots to provide grip on snow and ice. The points bite into hard surfaces, letting climbers walk securely on glaciers and steep snow and front-point up ice. They're a core piece of mountaineering and ice-climbing gear.
How do crampons attach to boots?
Three main systems: strap-on (universal, for flexible boots), hybrid/semi-automatic (a heel lever plus a toe strap, needing a heel welt), and step-in/automatic (toe bail plus heel lever, requiring stiff boots with welts at toe and heel). The boot's stiffness and welts determine which crampons fit.
What's the difference between crampons and microspikes?
Crampons have long, aggressive points and a rigid frame for steep snow and ice and serious mountaineering; microspikes are light chains with short spikes that slip over shoes for traction on packed snow and icy trails. Microspikes are for walking, crampons for climbing.
Sources
- Crampon technical notice — Petzl