This past January, I was at the OR Show walking media through Black Diamond’s new line for Winter ’09. One of the highlights was the new BD stainless-steel crampons – the Cyborg, Sabretooth and Serac. The advantages of stainless over chro-moly are numerous – significant weight savings, durability, no rust, less snow balling and bad-ass look. Through exhaustive research BD was able to offset the quandary of higher expense versus performance gain and in the end has a product that will be priced right while raising the competitive standard.
The Cyborg and Sabretooth particularly drew ohhs and ahhs from core ice climbers, design mag editors and business writers alike. With spring mountaineering season upon us, I was looking forward on getting out on a pair of protos until I got an email from my friend Jon about a new crampon he stumbled upon in Parker, CO. Turns out the guys who were testing his new diesel for emissions have been doing some R&D work themselves. rumor has it they may sell these designs to one of BD’s competitors… Check it out!
great blog,
in ltaly we haven’t a blog like this.