Blue Ice caused a big stir in 2021 with the introduction of the Harfang crampon series, with three models built with a unique 3-section design with front, mid and rear points linked by a light and flexible UHMWPE/HTPE textile strap.
The Harfang, Harfang Tour & Harfang Enduro crampons have been incredibly popular, being light, compact and with a choice of steel or aluminium depending upon the type of use.
Blue Ice have subsequently added four more models, the more mountaineering‑focused Harfang Alpine Hybrid, Alpine, Tech and Mono. The differences are mainly in material (hybrid aluminium-steel or all‑steel), the aggressiveness/technicality of the points, and intended use.
The 7 Harfang crampons have been some of our most popular crampons.
In 2025 Blue Ice introduced the Griffin 12 crampons, full 12‑point all‑round mountaineering crampons for sustained and varied alpine use. There are two models, the Griffin 12 & Griffin 12 Universal. The Griffin 12 has a choice of auto and semi-auto attachments while the Griffin 12 Universal has universal attachments for boots with welts.
For spring 2026 Blue Ice developed the Griffin 10 crampons, lighter 10-point models with a slightly less technical design for classic mountain travel, hiking, glacier travel and ski touring. The Griffin 10 and Griffin 10 Universal share the same 10‑point platform and intended terrain; the difference is the footwear they’re meant to fit and how versatile they are across boots. They’re both designed for classic alpinism, glacier travel and ski touring where low weight and fast adjustment matter.
Hybrid design: steel front, aluminum mid and heel.
For ski touring and classic mountaineering on snow and short ice sections.
Very light and compact, easy to carry on harness or in a small pack.
Good balance of grip on ice vs. low weight and bulk.
All‑aluminum construction for minimum weight.
Optimized for ski touring on snow, firn, and easy glaciers.
Extremely light and very compact when packed.
Best for non‑technical terrain; wears faster on rock and hard ice.
Full‑steel 10‑point crampon for durability.
Suited to ski mountaineering and light alpinism with mixed, abrasive terrain.
Retains flexible, textile strap linking for good packability.
Heavier than the hybrid and aluminum Harfang models, but tougher.
All‑steel 12‑point architecture for classic alpinism.
Designed for glacier travel, steeper snow, and moderate mixed routes.
Extra secondary points and more supportive frame for stability.
Slightly heavier and more “alpine‑oriented” than the skimo‑focused models.
Technical steel crampon with vertical, modular front points.
Configurable mono or dual front point, with short/long options.
Designed for ice climbing, mixed climbing, and steep technical mountaineering.
Supplied with automatic and semi‑automatic bindings for boot versatility.
Blue Ice Harfang Mono
Dedicated monopoint version with asymmetrical steel rails.
Horizontal single front point for very precise placements on ice and mixed.
Very compact and light for technical alpine objectives that favour mono.
Offered with automatic and semi‑automatic bindings; less all‑round than dual‑point setups.
Fully steel technical **crampon** with vertical front points for maximum precision on steep ground.
Modular front section allows mono or dual front‑point configuration, with short or long options to suit ice or mixed.
Intended for ice climbing, mixed climbing, and technical mountaineering where front‑point performance is critical.
Delivered with both automatic and semi‑automatic bindings to fit a wide range of mountain and ski boots.
Blue Ice Griffin Crampons
12‑point steel crampon for classic mountaineering and general alpine use.
Horizontal dual front points for secure placements on snow, névé, and low‑angle ice.
Designed to work with boots that have at least a rear welt, using an automatic or semi‑automatic attachment system..
Micro‑adjust heel and quick length adjustment for a precise, tool‑free fit.
The Griffin 12 has a semi‑automatic attachment system (heel lever + front basket), and comes supplied with a wire toe bail for a fully automatic configuration.
Supplied with anti‑balling plates and storage bag.
12‑point steel crampon sharing the same chassis and point layout as the Griffin 12.
Full strap (universal) binding compatible with a wide range of boots, including those without welts.
Aimed at walkers and mountaineers who use more flexible or less technical boots but still need a true alpine crampon.
Retains quick length adjustment and supplied with anti‑balling plates and storage bag, making it a versatile “one‑crampon‑for‑everything” option across different boots.
Blue Ice Griffin 10
10‑point steel crampon with front‑point geometry and quick‑adjust rail/locking‑collar system.
Has automatic/semiautomatic toe attachment and a heel lever and is designed for classic mountaineering and ski‑touring boots with proper welts (at least a rear heel welt).
Blue Ice Griffin 10 Universal
Has the same all steel design of the Griffin 10, but with a universal full strap attachment system for use with boots without welts, softer B1/B2 type mountain boots and even stiffer trekking boots. A good choice, should you need one crampon for use with many different boot shapes.
Telemark Boot Compatibility.
We’re constantly on the look out for the best crampons to use with telemark boots.
The new Scarpa TX Pro & TX Comp have an unusual toe profile, narrow at the front, then wider behind the tech inserts, which makes them incompatible with most automatic attachment bails. We’re really pleased to see that the front bails of the Griffin 12 work perfectly with these boots, and look forward to checking that the lighter Griffin 10 will also be compatible, making these the best steel crampons for use with telemark boots.
Not sure which Blue Ice crampon is best for you?
Check out our Blue Ice Crampons Comparison Chart to see the technical details on all models.
Still not sure? Please get in touch, our knowledgeable and multilingual team is here to help.
