Petzl Leopard Crampons

This is my sixth pair of aluminum crampons over the years, but my first pair not made by CAMP. I still love my CAMP Race 290, and I will continue to use them with my PG boots.
But I wanted to start using my Alien 3.0 boots for some spring and summer ski mountaineering, and their boot sole is longer than my PG boots.
The Race 290 takes hours to adjust back and forth between boots, and I even considered buying a second pair, but having two pairs of dedicated Race 290 crampons seemed a little bit too strange.
(Even for me...)

So the Leopard LeverLock FIL seemed to offer nearly the same ultralightness and storage compactness of the Race 290 while adding easy adjustability – and indeed it does!

Adjustment out of the box was nearly instantaneous, probably the easiest of any crampon of any type on the market. The attachment point of the heel lever onto the crampon frame is also easily adjustable. The attachment point of the toe bail onto the crampon frame is adjustable too, but takes some effort, which I didn’t bother with since the stock position seemed fine.
The toe bail shape is very secure, with less slop than the CAMP version.
On the Alien 3.0, the heel lever fits fine, although more secure when slightly asymmetrical, so just have to remember upon each attachment to move the lever off to the side ever so slightly.
As for complaints regarding the Dyneema cord’s initial stretch, I don’t think this is quite accurate, as the inherent properties of Dyneema include minimal elongation. Instead I think what’s happening is that the cord “seats” itself more in the notches after some use. Based on that premise, I made sure the fit was as tight as possible during initial setup, and indeed it was fine in the field.

My only complaint is that I wish the outside color of the ankle strap were orange (as it is on the inside) instead of black for better visibility. Otherwise, this model combines the best of a traditional attachment system (both security and adjustability) with the weight and storage compactness of the Race 290.

Bootpacks made easy!

Sure, you can boot up a slick/firm slope without crampons; but when having the option in your pack weighs less than your phone, and packs down smaller than a pair of goggles, it's just silly to not have these crampons.

These crampons are so light and compact; if there is even a remote possibility of a slick/firm booter I do not hesitate to toss these in my pack.

Easy to adjust, easy to don/doff, and secure and stable with no heel or toe movement.

Upon first use and before charging up a steep icy chute, I recommend: taking a brief stroll in some snow to get the dyneema wet and allow for its initial stretch; tighten the crampons from initial stretch; and toss in pack for the season and enjoy! This initial adjustment only needs to be done once.

I have paired these with the Movement Alp Tracks boot (love that boot see reviews). The toe bail and heel welt fit perfectly, but I had to grind down the lever lock a few mm to allow for full boot walk-mode articulation. The lever lock mechanism had plenty of extra material, and this small grind (which is not required for nearly any other boot) did not affect the durability of the lever lock.

The Dyneema stretches a bit initially, so it takes a few adjustments to fit securely to a specific boot. Once the Dyneema is broken in, it doesn't continue to stretch. These fit the Scarpa Alien 1.0's perfectly.

Hi guys, how do these pair with the Alien RS?

The only pair of crampons one can really compare these to are the CAMP Race 290 Dyneema. Compared to those, adjusting these is freaking simple. The key is to adjust them super tight, then squeeze the dyneema cables together to work out the play. I swap them back and forth between different boots and it just takes a couple of minutes to dial it in. Compared to the hassle that was adjusting the CAMPs these are a dream. They also sit much more securely on your foot than the CAMP. The toe *barely moves at all because the cable connects in two places. I've used them on PG race boots (where they don't interfere with the heel throw lever!), PDGs, Fischer Travers, and Vulcans and not had any fit issues. Additionally, with the strap on system, they fit great on running shoes. Durability is as expected for aluminum. Definitely not designed for rocks so I only use them if I only expect to boot up snow or for races. Running though some rocky sections at Adamello and a couple of World Cups didn't seem to affect them too much. My dyneema cord is a bit fuzzy after a season but doesn't look sketchy yet. I'm hesitant to replace it until it seems necessary but it would be a bummer to blow one. They seem to rub a bit on Billygoat Ascent plates but that could just be how I've set them up...

I’ve been very pleased with the performance and compact storage of these crampons.

Choosing to take crampons has always required extra planning due to their bulk. Usually I need to bring a bigger pack or find a way to lash them to the outside. With the Leopard, I find myself throwing them in my normal pack even if there’s only an off chance of needing them. No need for extra accommodation. They are so light and so compact that in the pack they aren’t any more noticeable than my ski crampons.

The Dyneema linkage between the heel and toe are simultaneously the biggest advantage and weakness of these crampons. The Dyneema saves weight and enables their small packaging, but stretches out through the first few uses. This means that you must spend extra time and attention to the fitment of your crampons each time you put them on AND while wearing them. Something that can be a distraction at a time where you’d rather not be thinking about your gear. After several usages, this problem ceases. The cord settles into a final adjustment and no longer needs fiddling. For this reason, I’m giving them 4 stars instead of 5.

In terms of durability, they are on par with other aluminum crampons and the typical caveats apply. Avoid rocks as much as possible and don’t expect to be front pointing up technical ice.

A bit fiddly to get setup (perhaps the only crampon that needs to be broken in), once dialed in these spikes are a thing of beauty. The flexible instep lets them fold in half, clip easily to a harness, fit in a pocket, or just generally disappear into a pack. Weight is excellent, and once they're dialed, they're much more secure than the camp options that use a tech heel. It's impossible to get the cord adequately tight when adjusting by hand, so they need to be adjusted, put on the boot, and retightened after some use to make them truly secure for a given boot size. Thankfully, theyre field adjustable without tools. Once dialed in, the fit is very confidence inspiring, with no slop (paired with an F1 in my experience). The dyneema cord has fuzzed a bit after some agressive use, and I wouldn't hike them around on the rocks, but otherwise, durability is good. The weight and convenience are tough to beat.