Description
Properly used, the Spider will provide an important margin of safety to the trekker who finds himself on snow, iced-over trails, wet grass and heather or simply hiking on steep, muddy terrain.
While helpful to hunters and mountain photographers, Spiders are especially useful to professionals who encounter snow and ice on a daily basis in winter: park rangers, loggers and snow-making, equipment operators at ski resorts.
Mountain Rescue Teams will appreciate the fact that Spiders may be adjusted to any shoes without tools.
The two parts fit together for transport with the points facing inwards for safety.
CAUTION: the Spider is not a crampon designed for alpinism; never attempt to use it on steep ice. 350 GRAMS PER PAIR
Features
The Grivel Spider is an ‘instep crampon’ so it leaves the toe and heel areas exposed. The polyamide frame has 10 metal spikes that are 5mm long and these sit on small moulded sections that give an extra 5mm of depth, to give total penetration of 10mm. Webbing straps hold the gripper to the sole of the boot and that is it. Simple and functional, but lacking the spread of spikes offered elsewhere. 4/5
Fit
Grivel Spiders are one size, but should fit most boots due to their design. But on softer shoes those straps could be uncomfortable, while any footwear without a deep heel breast will allow them to move around a little. So they will fit best on proper boots with a heel breast and good lugs at the toe and heel to maintain fit. 4/5
Comfort
Those straps will be less comfortable than other designs on some footwear. I also find that they are a little uncomfortable to walk in due to their location under the centre of the foot, which means your feet rock around unless the ground is soft enough to allow full penetration of the spikes and frame. You need to adopt a stamping foot action rather than a normal gait too. 3/5
In use
In the right conditions Grivel Spiders are really good, as they have excellent grip due to those nail-like 10mm spikes. So if grass and loose fine scree have a layer of ice and snow they are great. But on icy paths with no snow cover, I found them cumbersome as in these conditions you have to be very careful not to use the toe and heel of the boot, which are unspiked. 3/5