Petzl Dart Mono-point Crampons Review

© Petzl

The first thing I noticed about the Darts is that there is basically nothing to them. But that is most certainly a good thing. They weigh less for starters and there's no messing around with the meccano set, nuts and bolts that I've had to deal with on many other technical crampons. I have used them for a good chunk of winter outings now and they do the job perfectly. From steep ice in the Alps to Scottish mixed, they've definitely been through the mill. So what's the verdict?

The Darts are a two-piece semi-rigid crampon. They are designed on a horizontal structure which places them closer to the sole of your boots thus making them feel more precise. I wore them with La Sportiva's lightweight Trango Extreme Evo GTX boots and this was perfect in terms of boot/crampon compatibility. The combination of a light boot with a light, horizontally structured crampon made climbing ice and mixed ground feel like I was wearing rock shoes. With the added bonus of mono-points it really did feel that good!

The Darts were also very easy to adjust and the Leverlock system which my test pair had, offered a very secure fit. Although it did look a little scary without any strap attachment on the toe bail! When walking the crampons also felt comfortable and secure and due to the semi-rigid design, not too arduous. They didn't ball up with snow either, even though I had not fitted an anti-ball plate (actually according to Lyon Equipment Petzl don't make one for these anyhow!) and they felt very stable when descending whilst facing down hill due to the angle of the points and the teeth.

With the Darts less is definitely more

The only downside that I can see with these is that you can't change or replace the front points, but I never really want to do this as I like monos for everything. Should the front points wear out you can actually buy replacement sections (the whole front section, not just the points) so you don't actually have to replace the whole crampons. I only tried the darts on my La Sportiva boots so I'm not sure about fit/compatibility with other boots but you can definitely adjust them to fit the more asymmetric shapes. However with this it is probably worth trying to fit them to your boots in the shop before you buy them.

Mono-points: what's the point?

I've used mono-point crampons for a while now. Previously I've had modular crampons that allow you to swap between one point or two depending on what terrain you are climbing. But I soon realised that swapping was actually a pain in the neck and for me it just didn't seem necessary. Mono-points were streets ahead on mixed ground and on ice they were certainly no worse than having two. In fact I personally prefer monos on ice as well. So what are the advantages? Well, firstly on mixed ground you can stand more securely on small edges as there is none of the rocking around that you get with two points. You can precisely place a mono and all that happens when you move around is that it pivots a little bit. This then enables you to execute "drop-knees" and "back-steps." You also have the added bonus that you can stick the single point into narrow icy cracks. On ice the benefits are the same so you can climb steep pillars more smoothly and on thin and brittle ice there is less chance of shattering (as long as your points are sharp) as you're only making one hole. You can even stand in the holes that you have made with your picks! Finally, keeping your heels low enables the secondary points to bite which means you get a stable "tripod" effect in the ice.

What Petzl say

The DART is the crampon for extreme mixed and ice climbing. The mono-point is designed to displace less ice and make for precise placements on micro-edges. The third row of points are angled towards the rear for hooking in steep terrain or around ice columns. Ultra-lightweight. Add the optional EPERON heel spur assembly for even more hooking possibilities.

  • Horizontal structure places the foot as close to the ice as possible: increased sensitivity, more precise placements
  • Toe bail wire has two positions for perfect fit on all sole thicknesses and can be adjusted to fit technical boots with asymmetrical shapes
  • Length of points is designed for maximum stability
  • Sharp points for great purchase in ice
  • Forged front point is toothed for precise placements
  • Two points angled forward to reinforce purchase and give support when front-pointing
  • Two points are toothed and inclined backwards for back stepping or using instep
  • Four teeth for stability while descending face downhill
  • Lateral points for purchase while traversing
  • Front section can be replaced if the front point is worn

Specification

  • Materials: Charlet steel, nylon
  • Fits boots sizes 34 to 44 with M linking bar (included)
  • Optional L linking bar fits boots sizes 38 to 49 (T20850)

Available in two types of binding systems:

  • T22 SL 02: SIDELOCK (816 g)
  • T22 LLF 02: LEVERLOCK FIL (824 g)
  • 3-year guarantee
  • CE / UIAA

Conclusion

I really like the Darts. They are light and precise, comfortable and secure when walking and simple to adjust. For me mono-points are superior to dual points and these crampons would be a great choice for the keen winter climber whether they be into Scottish mixed, Alpine ice or barmy upside-down dry-tooling! Just add the optional Eperon heel spur for the latter!

Price: £125
Weight: 824 grams


For more information the Petzl site



Did you test them on Ben Nevis snow/ice/neve? I find monos slice through neve quite scarily, are these any different? NMM
8 May, 2009
Hi, Yes, tested them a few times on the Ben. No problems with them slicing through. Like I say you get a very stable tripod effect when you drop your heels. I've climbed in monos for years and have never noticed any problems like this. Cheers Kevin
11 May, 2009
What you maybe should have mentioned is the specific boot to crampon fit required i.e. not all boots are suitable for use with the dart, especially wide boots. Many people have had mixed experiences with these crampons,however I agree they are excellent if you can securely fit them to your footwear.
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