The Edelrid Shark

It may still be the height of summer but gear manufacturers’ thoughts are already turning to winter.

German brand Edelrid unveiled what it says is a revolutionary crampon that will fit any boot.

It also claims the lightest steel crampon with the new Shark – at 880g.

Edelrid said the Shark, which will be available this winter, will convert from a flexible crampon suitable for B1 boots, right through to stiffened B3 mode.

The company said: “Sometimes the market calls out for a revolution, rather than evolution in product design.

“A prime example is with crampons where climbers and mountaineers have long been presented with the choice of three different binding types for use with different footwear.

“In some cases this has necessitated the purchase of three separate crampons to match the requisite boots and end-use.

“Thanks to Edelrid you need choose no more. The brand’s new Shark crampon is a 12-point traction machine suitable for use on steep ice climbs, for winter mountaineering and for expedition use.

“The key difference to the Shark comes from the fact that is supplied with easily interchangeable soft, semi and automatic bindings, providing the mountaineer and winter walker with set of go-anywhere, summit-everything crampons.”

At the recent Kendal Outdoor Retail Show the company’s representatives gave us a whirlwind demonstration of how easy it is to change the boot, with the reversible bridge and different bales.

The Shark will be in the shops for the coming winter season

It looked complicated but all you need is the supplied tool – no more messing around with multi-tools in the freezing weather – and a bit of practice and we’re sure it will be second nature.

The Shark is made from high-grade steel in a 3D-construction process, and then powder coated.

It said: “Robustness is evident in the 3D-formed front points that are designed to achieve strong, confidence-inspiring penetration on steep ice routes as well as good purchase when walking uphill in the snow.

“Fit adjustment takes account of all boot sizes between EUR 34-48 giving excellent flexibility, and the adjustment of the bridge is designed to be as quick and simple as possible.

“In fact all the binding adjustments needed to make the Shark compatible with boots between B1-B3 can be made using a single supplied tool, or in many cases no tools at all.”

The German-made crampons come with anti-balling plates and will be on sale for £140.

More details are on the Edelrid website.