Sarken

 

Page Type Gear Review
Object Title Sarken
Manufacturer Petzl
Page By JScoles
Page Type Apr 5, 2004 / Apr 5, 2004
Object ID 1061
Hits 13320
Vote
Crampons for difficult routes in the high mountains: steep snow and ice slopes and couloirs, gullies, mixed climbing.



Front pointing:

2 front points, toothed and thin-section for optimal penetration on ice, fitted under flat points for good bearing power on snow and soft ice (gullies), next 2 points are notched and inclined forward for stability.





Walking on 10 points:

lateral points are separated to respect the asymmetry of the boot and to limit the "rail" effect which increases the risk of slipping, supplied with ANTISNOW to prevent snow build-up.





Lightweight: less than 900 g.





Adjustment is easy (no tools) and precise (to the half-size).





Available with 3 types of binding systems:

SIDELOCK, for boots with front and rear sole overlaps (wire at front and rear); rapid-fastening lateral binding system, avoiding the encumbrance of a heel-bail.

SPIRLOCK, for boots with a rear sole overlap (wire at the rear, flexible binding at the front). Strap fastening system, avoiding the encumbrance of a heel-bail,

LEVERLOCK, for boots with a rear sole overlap. Heel bail with micrometric adjustment and wide adjustment range at the rear

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Reviews


Viewing: 1-3 of 3

tommi - Jul 15, 2007 5:07 am - Voted 5/5

Sarken Sidelock
Great crampons with a very good binding system, when you have found out how to use, its such a fast and easy binding.
The front points are very strong and resistable.
Another positive point, the antisnow plates are included.

jdmorris - Jan 7, 2008 8:23 pm - Voted 5/5

Sarken Sidelock
These have unfortunately been recalled by Petzl due to potential for the front points to break. I still think they're the finest mixed-use crampons available and wish I'd bought another pair for my hybrid-compatible boots. Their front points retain amazing sharpness and their tooth design works very well for both glacier travel and steep ice. The sidelock system is a little odd and I'm not entirely convinced that it works better than the more conventional leverlock that is standard on Grivel crampons, but it is fairly quick and easy. I've found that if it gets finicky from corrosion and dirt, a little grease applied at the pivot point makes them work like new, again.

climbxclimb - Jan 17, 2010 3:29 pm - Voted 5/5

My favorite Crampons
I think these are the best crampons on the market for technical alpine climbing.
They are light, they stay well on the boots, and they climb incredibly well, rock ice and snow.
I use them sometimes also for waterfall ice climbing and they work almost as well as my M10.

Viewing: 1-3 of 3