ProView – C.A.M.P. Peak 12 Mountaineering Crampons: Steel Review

Even with a variety of great crampons on the market, C.A.M.P. delivered a versatile and quality crampon that competes with the best. The adjustability of the crampon and combination of lightweight and durability made this crampon a standout product and has me eager to continue using it in the future. 

Although we have been experiencing a warm and light snow year here in the US, I was able to find some snowy and icy conditions to test these crampons in here in Alaska. I took these crampons on ski mountaineering missions, encountering firm snow-covered ridges, icy frozen snow conditions, wind buffed couloirs, and even frozen moss forest approaches. I also encountered many rocks to test the durability of these full steel crampons. I have used a variety of crampons over the years, but the versatility and durability of the C.A.M.P. Peak 12 Steel is truly top-notch.

Performance

These crampons have become a permanent feature in my ski-mountaineering pack. I now keep them in my pack just-in-case, because they pack down easily and are surprisingly lightweight for a full steel crampon. Since they are full steel I also don’t have to debate if I want to throw them on in case there are rocks around. They have brought peace of mind into my ski mountaineering objectives. Any sign of icy conditions and I take these crampons out of my pack. They have held up really well on some heinous Alaska approaches and too many rock encounters. 

Features/Fit

The Peak 12 Steel crampons are feature rich and I found all of the features added great value to these crampons. One of the excellent features of these crampons is that they are adaptable. Their “Boot Adapt System” provides a precise fit on both mountaineering and ski boots. They are compatible with any Peak 12 front and rear parts, so you can customize the crampon for your system. The crampon comes ready as either a fully auto or semi-auto setup, so they can work with any kind of ski boot or mountaineering boot. The Peak 12 also has adjustability with the toe bail; there are two settings you can choose from in the front and also the heel piece has two settings. It is great you can fully adjust the crampons to fit your needs.

The Peak 12 are fitted with C.A.M.P.’s “Dynamic Anti-Balling Plates” so you don’t have snow balls building underfoot, which is never fun. One of my favorite features is that the crampon easily comes apart in the middle and can be switched over to a small boot size. As someone with small lady feet, this is an important feature for me to consider when buying crampons. It was very easy to size these crampons to my boot and the size adjuster bar stayed in place rather than constantly coming undone like some of my other crampons. The webbing keeper on the linking bar also allows the crampon to fold for storage.

My only complaint about the crampons is that the securing strap is very long. The strap is long because it is needed for switching the crampons over from auto to semi auto, but even still the strap is very long and I found it difficult to secure, especially with gloves on. The best solution for this is to measure out how much strap length you will need and then cut off some of the length yourself. This is a very minor complaint, but just something to be aware of and adjust for. 

Look/ Style

Look and style aren’t a big factor for me when picking out crampons, but these are some nice looking crampons. The black and turquoise combo is polished and as a female mountaineer most of my clothing is turquoise, so I appreciate that these match my vibe.  

Weight/ Packability

Coming in at an overall weight of 794 g for the auto crampons and 834 g for the semi-auto these crampons are still one of the lightest weight 12 point steel crampons on the market today. Recreating in Alaska and in alpine terrain I definitely think the weight is worth it to have a full steel crampon. These crampons also pack down into a small package. They are able to be folded in half so you can fit them efficiently into your pack. 

Durability

As I’ve mentioned several times now… these are fully steel crampons! They held up great going over rocks, kicking into rocks, fumbling through tree roots, cramponing up frozen shale, and all kinds of other rough silty Alaskan terrain. I am someone who would rather carry an extra 50 g and have crampons that I can take through some roughness. I don’t want to be babying my crampons as I am trying to reach a summit, and these crampons are able to handle rough terrain without dulling their points or crushing their frame. I was very pleased to have ski mountaineering crampons that are a 5/5 for durability. 

What Sets This Product Apart?

These crampons are perfectly balanced between lightweight, durability, and practicality. Not too heavy, but not too light. Durable enough for rocks, but practical enough to take on long alpine missions. These crampons don’t ask you to compromise and give you the best of all worlds. 

Who Is This Product For?

I found these crampons to be an exceptional product for a ski mountaineer, but they would also be great for general mountaineering. The versatility of the crampon makes it great for alpine missions that go through varied terrain. They are lightweight and fold up small enough that I would take them for alpine rock missions that have small glacier sections or a short snow section before reaching the rock. These are great for spring and summer mountaineering that involves ice, rock, and snow. 

The Final Word

If you are a mountaineer that seeks a do it all crampon then look no further! These crampons will work for nearly all your alpine missions and will last you for many adventures. I would recommend these crampons to beginner and seasoned mountaineers looking for a crampon they can easily take on all their missions. If you are seeking a crampon that is well rounded in weight, durability, and versatility, then these are the crampons you need.

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