Gear

There are all sorts of fancy bindings, which look a lot better than the ancient & often ineffective neoprene straps I have on my old salewas. I'd like to buy the bindings to fit a pair of (flexible, without ledges for heel clips) to fit myself, as I don't want to buy a new pair of crampons. Anyone any idea where to buy them ?

You can most likely get yourself some new, more modern straps. The tricky bit is whether they will attach to your current crampons. If I were you, I would contact the Salewa UK distributor (which I think is: High Places, 14 Lynton Drive, Bebington, Merseyside CH63 3EM Tel 0151 344 3431 http://www.high-places.co.uk/) and see what they suggest.

I quite like the design of the straps on my salewas. I've got one buckle for around the ankle and then another buckle for the forefoot, where the neoprene straps crossover.

I find they hold the middle of the crampon closer to the boot. They are a real pain to do up though. I've wasted many minutes stamping on rocks to get my boot in, and then more minutes trying to pull the neoprene through the buckle. Once on though, I like them.

Do you have anti-balling plates for yours? I find my crampons collect snow much more readily when compared to my Dad's Camp Ice Riders.

James