CAMP T-Dry Crampons Excel on Steep Rock
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Gripped
1y ago
October in the Bow Valley usually brings a minimal selection of ice routes to enjoy and not enough snow for good skiing. Like other keen climbers during shoulder season, regular Gripped photographer, Tim Banfield, seems to find himself drytooling during this time of year. For those not in the know, drytooling requires aggressive ice tools and leather boots with crampons – but not the same type of crampons that you’d use for ice climbing. Instead, climbers use a lighter version of a crampon that actually bolts directly to a specific type of boot called a comp boot. Greg Barrett on Kabukimono D1 ..read more
Visit website
The Best Crampons for the 2022/2023 Ice Season
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Gripped
1y ago
In 1908, English climber Oscar Eckenstein designed what is generally considered the prototype for the modern crampon. He worked with a blacksmith to design a steel device with 10 long, sharp spikes that could be attached to boots. A year later, Italian blacksmith Henry Grivel helped Eckenstein make the product commercially available. Two decades after that, Grivel’s son, Laurent, added two front spikes to Eckenstein’s design. The 12-point crampon was used on the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger in 1938 by German climbers Anderl Heckmair and Ludwig Vörg. Crampons have come a lon ..read more
Visit website
Fubuki Niseko 2.0: The warmest, lightest winter boot?
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Dave Smart
1y ago
Fubuki means snowstorm in Japanese, and their Niseko boots are suitably named after the ski town in Hokkaido, Japan, one of the snowiest places in the world. The striking colourways, including almost fluorescent yellow, orange and pink, make these boots fun to look at as well as to wear. The EVA outer keeps them light and waterproof, and a drawcord collar helps to block snow. A fleece lining laminated onto the outer offers both warmth, (according to Fubuki, down to -30 C), and cushioning.  The cushioned midsole, reinforced ankle and tracked rubber outsole make them comfortable and secure ..read more
Visit website
Kayland Vitrik Mid GTX: A nimble, heavy-duty approach shoe
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Dave Smart
1y ago
Most approach shoes make you choose between a protective, stable platform for hiking in talus and on unstable slopes and a light, capable rock climbing shoe that can take you as far as you can go without putting on rock shoes. After two weeks climbing in the Vitrik in the Canadian Rockies, I was impressed by how well the shoe functioned on a range of terrain. The upper is suede leather, reinforced at the toe and heel. A double-density, microporous heel wedge adds to the stability and comfort on descents. The result was a solid, boot-like shoe that was welcome on long alpine rock scrambles, but ..read more
Visit website
La Sportiva TX2 EVO, lightweight summer approach shoe
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Dave Smart
1y ago
Thick soled approach shoes with reinforced uppers are great for protecting your feet in talus, but they can be heavy and take up a lot of space in your pack on a long climb. For mos tof the summer rock season, lighter, more compact approach shoes, like the La Sportiva TX2 EVO fit the bill. The Vibram sticky rubber Idrogrip is especially great for climbing and scrambling, with its low 3 mm lugs and Climbing Zone flat, high-friction toe area. The C2 Combo Cord keeps the shoes compact and close together in your pack during a climb. The shoe is also built to be resoled, unlike many approach shoes ..read more
Visit website
Scarpa Rapid GTX Approach Shoe Reviewed
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Dave Smart
1y ago
With the Canadian summer rock season just starting up, many of us are looking at our faithful old approach shoes and admitting that the soles are worn thin and the holes we wore in the uppers with pride last season no longer seem so cool. It’s time for a new pair of approach shoes. There’s quite a range of possibilities, with shoes that climb almost as well as some beginner rock shoes, but aren’t as comfortable for hiking, and shoes that are almost as light and cushioned as trail runners. The Scarpa GTX Rapid hits a median point between these two extremes that will appeal to many climbers. At ..read more
Visit website
The Best Crampons for the 2021/2022 Ice Season
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by gripped
2y ago
In 1908, English climber Oscar Eckenstein designed what is generally considered the prototype for the modern crampon. He worked with a blacksmith to design a steel device with 10 long, sharp spikes that could be attached to boots. A year later, Italian blacksmith Henry Grivel helped Eckenstein make the product commercially available. Two decades after that, Grivel’s son, Laurent, added two front spikes to Eckenstein’s design. The 12-point crampon was used on the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger in 1938 by German climbers Anderl Heckmair and Ludwig Vörg. Crampons have come a lon ..read more
Visit website
La Sportiva Aragon is the Best New Beginner Climbing Shoe of 2021
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Noah Walker
2y ago
Although performance climbing shoes come with an assortment of fancy features, the mark of a great cobbler comes down to their base model. While many beginner shoes may seem the same, the Aragon has brought performance to the flat last of its design. It is not like the others. La Sportiva Aragon – Photo by Natalie Chan At first glance, La Sportiva’s Aragon suggests the Tarantula. It has a quick hook-and-loop closure system that pulls the outside of the forefoot inward as a more conventional left-to-right strap secures the shoe’s heel to the climber’s foot. This design has worked for La Sportiv ..read more
Visit website
Review: Climb summer alpine in La Sportiva’s Aequilibrium Top GTX
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by gripped
2y ago
This spring La Sportiva launched its Aequilibrium series: three mountaineering boots with a new sole design to increase traction and comfort in the mountains. At the head of this series is the Aequilibrium Top GTX, a featherweight boot that bounds down trails and scrambles like a billy goat.  The Aequilibrium Top GTX is at home in Canada’s alpine terrain for more than just our summer season. Intended for use at “medium altitude,” the boots kept us warm in -10 C temps while hiking into the Bugaboos early season, March cragging at Echo Canyon and kicking steps up couloirs in the Purcells.&n ..read more
Visit website
The Seven Best Hiking Boots for Summer 2021 Reviewed
Gripped Magazine | Footwear
by Dave Smart
3y ago
To have a good day out hiking requires good hydration, fitness and maps, but the most important gear that you’ll invest in are your hiking boots. Below are our top seven for this summer. For avalanche tips for hikers visit here. Scarpa Kailash GTX Uppers: Gore-Tex, nylon, suede Outsoles: Vibram Biometric Trek with ACTIV Impact Weight: 1.22 kg Price: $300 Scarpa has been around for a long time and it shows in the quality, fit and details of the Kailash. For a lighter boot, the Kailash gives a fair amount of ankle support and sole stiffness. When you walk, you don’t notice the firmness of ..read more
Visit website

Follow Gripped Magazine | Footwear on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR