Type of uses for the Camp Skimo Nanotech crampon
For extensive alpine undertakings, lightness counts when it comes to gear – and above all the ratio of weight to performance. That’s why I rely on aluminium types of crampons, 99 per cent of which are sufficient enough for ski touring. The weight saving compared to a steel crampon is simply enormous.
In my usual mountain activities, I like to play around with various types of crampons from different brands for hard snow, when stacking up gullies or steep flanks, but also for light rock climbing. The Camp Skimo Nanotech will appeal more to ambitious ski tourers: a ten-pronged aluminium crampon with stainless steel reinforcements on both front points.
Features of the Skimo light crampon
The Camp crampon is supplied – as is now common – with integrated anti-balling plates. Very pleasing, as crampons without an anti-balling plate are a life-threatening risk – regardless of the snow conditions. An easy-to-understand manual with symbols and images as well as a high-quality crampon pocket, which is not too tightly dimensioned, are also included. Semi-auto toe bails are also available separately for boots without toe welts, which is a nice option to have.
The crampon has introduced a fundamental innovation: The front bar has been replaced by a so-called “T-Stop” toe system. The T-Stop replaces the classic front bar of the automatic crampon with a hard T-shaped synthetic jaw.
Optional extras for the Skimo Nanotech
Camp also offers the option of the linking bar being replaced with the optional Dyneema® linking strap (sold separately) to reduce weight and allow the crampons to be folded onto themselves for tighter packability. Since you can fold each crampon individually, you get a better packing distribution in your backpack. So you can pack two smaller, cube-shaped ” bundles ” instead of one, bigger square shape. For a crossing of several days or with a very small daypack this might be of interest. The weight optimization by using a Dyneema sling wasn’t tested out by me.
Fitting the Camp crampon?
The Camp Skimo Nanotech is very easy to adapt. Only the front height adjustment requires a screwdriver. The length adjustment works with a perforated bar which is not secured by a screw. A spring bow presses a pin into the holes of the bar and fixes the length adjustment. When the boot is attached, the boot stands on this bar. This guarantees that the length cannot change in use. Besides, you can adjust the length without tools in a flash. A great system, I reckon!
As with all automatic bindings, putting on and taking off the bindings is incredibly easy. Only the T-Stop pushes stuck snow on the boot edge to the side much worse than a conventional metal bracket. This meant that I had to clean the front edge of the boot more thoroughly by hand. The aluminium bar quickly retracts for packing.
Off into the backcountry: An early winter test run
Camp Skimo Nanotech accompanied me on a handful of early winter ski tours last month. Included: a snow coverage analysis with a blanket of glacier ice, a summit ridge in light rocky terrain and hard snow flanks.
The ten front points turned out to be a reliable companion during my testing tours, especially the riveted steel front points prove their worth in rock and ice. The aluminium teeth become very worn out by rock contact – something you need to be aware of. However, this is not the intended purpose of aluminium crampons either. The manageability is problem-free and the possibility to change the length without tools is a great advantage if the setting has to be readjusted or the crampon is passed on to your fellow climbers on the way.
Summing up the Camp Skimo Nanotech Crampon
The Skimo Nanotech from Camp is a lightweight all-round aluminium crampon for serious ski touring enthusiasts. Either way, I would definitely buy the Nanotech version with riveted steel front teeth. In extremely hard snow and ice, this is a great advantage over the Tour version because of the better grip. The innovative T-Stop system works without a hitch.
With the Skimo Nanotech, the Italian engineers at Camp by Lake Como have once again demonstrated that they can produce technically advanced and reliable products with a few innovations. All in all an excellent light crampon for ski touring enthusiasts.
Camp Skimo Nanotech Technical Data
- Features: Aluminium ten-point teeth with two steel front teeth
- Integrated non-stick plates
- T-Stop front mounting
- Shoe sizes: about 36 to 46
- Weight: 948 gram