UKC

Hey

So I'm hoping to do some more walking and camping in the snow this year and I wanted to make sure I had sensible gear. I'm going to pick up a basic ice axe for around £50 and I've read up a lot about that, but I'm not sure about crampons.

I've got a good firm, warm, leather 3 season boot that's been fine all day in snow before and it's probably about a B1. But what cheap C1 crampons should I get?

There seem to be plenty of unbranded or cheap ones for around £40 new,like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01B73J464/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_200_1?ie=UTF8...

But second hand good brands seem to be very hard to find and £60+ and new over £90. Is it okay to unbranded/cheap?

Thanks for your help

In reply to NobleWanderer:
No
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/dangerous-crampons-online

In reply to NobleWanderer:

Are you the sort who puts cheap no name brand tires on your car?

Most probably fine for pottering about. But ultimately not fit for purpose. But some nice things.

In reply to NobleWanderer:

I don't know about the cheap unbranded options (not very helpful) but personally I wouldn't take the chance for a latively small price difference. As somebody once said about Russian titanium ice screws: the trouble is you never know if they got the material form the aircraft factory or the tea pot factory.

Needle Sports have got an offer on Grivel Monte Rosa at the moment for £75 - a bit cheaper than the new price you quoted and close enough to make £60 for second hand sound unattractive. http://www.needlesports.com/2090/products/grivel-monte-rosa-new-S

Go Outdoors have an own-brand C1 crampon made by Grivel which is normally £80 but they quite often do an extra 10% or more off. http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/north-ridge-snowline-crampon-p193163

Even cheaper, Decathlon have a walking crampon in at only £55 which 'looks' ok and I'd trust Decathlon over some no name brand off eBay or Amazon. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/caiman-2-strap-crampons-id_8212786.html

If that is too much and if it was me, I'd shop around and be prepared to be patient for some Grivels. I'm sure you'll find a decent deal or some fairer second hand pricing before winter.

In reply to NathanP:

Thanks all, especially Nathan. That's really helpful.

In reply to NobleWanderer:

The Grivel Monte Rosa crampons should fit your bill. I've had a pair for 4 or 5 years and they're still going strong. A fair bit of Scottish action and some alpine too, most recently on (appropriately) the Monte Rosa massif.

The Go Outdoors-Grivel made ones are near identical.

In reply to nathan79:

I had the Go Outdoors crampons, the front plate is shorter than Monte Rosas so I think they're rebranded Grivel G1s.

In reply to NobleWanderer:

Also worth looking at the Climbing Technology crampons:

http://www.joe-brown.com/10034/products/climbing-technology-nevis-classic-c...

I got the C2 version and they are great but the C1 version are £65 new!

In reply to NobleWanderer:

As others have said, don't go near cheap unbranded ebay models. Simond are good, all the guides around Chamonix use them.

In reply to ChrisH89:

Is the 'Simond' own label at Decathlon the same as the Simond that produced the Barracuda, Chacal and Piranha back in the day? If so then I wouldn't look any further for bargain crampons.

In reply to NobleWanderer:

I think so, but whether they're the same brand in name only I'm not sure. Either way they conform to all safety norms and are commonly seen on the shelf alongside Grivel, Petzl etc in shops in the alps so I'd have no qualm buying a pair as long as they fit my boots.