I rated these crampons excellent because they are, however, one small detail you should know before you buy...I wear a 12 1/2 mountaineering boot. I had to knotch both sides of my boots in order to make room for the small "side-knubb" on the crampons, at the heal. Appearently this knubb is for lateral movement stabalization of the crampon which is very necessary, it just needs to be 1/4 inch wider on each side to fit the larger sizes.

we bought a pair for my husband and myself and was very pleased. they never came off or sliped, very easy and fast to put on, fit on all our boots well, very light weight but held up well on ice, pumice and rock. I really found the "guide picks" very helpful.Thanks for the free shiping and excelent service.

Good, solid bite in the snow and ice with this crampon. No slipping of the strap and fairly easy to put on compared to other, older models I've had. No wear at all on the first Rainier 4 day hike I did up the tougher, icy Kautz route.

This is the third pair I have purchased. Not because they have failed or worn out but because I needed more 'pons for my kids. My pair and theirs have done great on the easy glacier/hard snow walks we have taken them on. We aren't ice climbers and these obviously aren't for that but on things like Mt. Adams they are perfect. My 9 and 11 year old are able to put their own on and, being stainless, they don't require as much maintenance. Whittaker had the lowest price and they are semi-local so it was an easy choice.

I just used these on the Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. They were easy to put on/remove and were very stable. I used them on a pair of North Face insulated boots they were very flexible (basically insulated hiking boots) and the straps never came loose.

Great price, fast shipping, and perfect condition. The crampons came as advertised and make a great fit on my winter boots.

These are great, very simple and easy to put on and take off. They stay tight, no loosening. I bought strap-on crampons so I could use them with softer, lighter boots on snow climbs. However, I'm not sure I like this setup as well and I might go back to using my stiffer boots and quick release crampons.

i bought these because of all the snow still in the high country north cascades in june and july and didn't want to haul my mountaineering boots with me just to cross a pass. these are now my preferred crampons now and just used them a couple of days ago to go up mount buckner and logan. these are light enough to always carry in my pack and versitle enough to be able to use with any footwear. i like that i can use my hiking boots with them so i don't have to use boots with welts for climbing in july and august. also related to this purchase, whittaker mountaineering got my order to me super fast, within 3 days and didn't charge me for shipping.

These are fantastic crampons. Perfect fit for leather hiking boots. Stainless steel construction is top notch. I just used these on glaciers and high passes (ice/snow/mixed)in the Himalaya (Nepal) and they saved me with their great performance and construction. I would highly recommend these for use on ice, snow and mixed terrain. A great price as well!

Great performance on varied terrain. The best feature is the light weight; they are now my preferred crampons and I am happy I bought them. However, the front-strap bracket is quite narrow so the front of a large, wide boot may slip out laterally when side-stepping on steep ice for a long time unless the straps are kept very tight. Smaller and narrower boots are fine.

These are an excellent all around crampon.Pros- The are a simple light design. I have never had them fall off or have any clips that work loose or pop off in the middle of a pitch. they are easy to climb mixed routes of rock, ice and snow. Sometimes they are so light, I forget that I have them on. They work with almost any kind of boot, no special welts or anything required. They work really well with leather boots, as with clip or pro crampons, the rear clip can wear into the back of your foot after a long day. Cons: none so far.

These Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons are by far the best strap on crampons I have ever used. They are like comparing the driving experience of a Lamborghini with that of a Chevy. First, even though these are "one size fits all", they not only fit my hiking boots perfectly, they totally stay unwaveringly tight like a second sole. No matter how long I wore them or how much I kicked into the ice, they never showed any sign of loosening. I have already had them up above 10,000 feet on a dozen days of use. Second, they should really be called "Mountain Goats". They edge along an icy ledge like a miracle. If you have ever watched mountain goats taking seemingly impossible steps in the winter then you will understand what I am getting at. Never even one time did I have a slip or did the crampons fail to cut in for secure footing. Third, the ABS system just works. Like a champ. Although these crampons are not listed for technical use, I have found them to actually be quite good for ice climbing if you happen to be in a position where that is called for or you just chance upon a great climb when these are what you have with you. They really do stay incredibly tight and well fixed on your boots, no matter how much apparent abuse you kick at them. One piece of advice I would offer, which holds for all steel crampons, is to pack an adsorbent cloth in your crampon bag for drying them when you take them off. If you have the luxury of sunshine then set them to dry before putting them away. After damage due to walking over rock, rust is a real killer for steel. It is easy to guard against but just as with a tent, you will be sorry if you don't leave them dry. These Crampons will return your investment immediately. Just to wear such quality is a joy that can't be valued in dollars, but sprained ankles or serious falls can be guarded against by depending on such good gear.