There are many different brands, types and colours of boots out there and in certain discount outdoor stores you might even not get the right advise. You can always check out the manufacturer’s website. Quite a lot of them tell you what B Rating they have and/or you can fit crampons. However, sometimes you might still struggle to find the right info. So here is a wee guide to identify different types of boots and what crampons they can fit.
B0 Boots
These are the typical light summer boots with flexible soles. You can easily identify them by bending the sole by hand and twisting the front end of the boot left and right. Your boots are definitely B0 (or Summer) walking boots if you can do that easily. You could never fit crampons on bendy boots. You would fit something that is stiff (crampons) onto something that is bendy. Sooner or later the crampons will work themselves loose and fall off.
B1 Boots
They are all season walking boots with a stiff mid sole. B1 Boots are not that easily identifiable. Generally they look almost like summer boots but are slightly more heavy, harder to bend and twist and are insulated. The best way is to have a look at the manufacturer’s website to see if your boots are able to fit crampons. Otherwise you can do the same test as with your B0 boots and see if they can bend and twist with your hands. It should be very difficult to twist them but there might be some flex when you try to bend the toecap.
B2 Boots
B2 winter mountaineering boots are easy to identify. The have a stiffer sole and there is a small horizontal step at the heel (some B0 and B1 boots have an angled step, that will not fit crampons). That step is there to clip in the heel clip of C2 crampons.
B3 Boots
They are fully stiff mountaineering boots and tend to be quite heavy. Most are designed for ice climbing and alpine climbing. B3 Boots have the same step at the heel like B2s but also have a horizontal groove at the toe end to fit C3 crampons.
Crampons
C1 Crampons
Designed to only fit on B1 winter walking boots. Fitting them on boots can be a bit of a faff and have been known to occasionally fall off when walking. You can also fit them on B2 and B3 boots, but what’s the point in that. Get something easier to fit and more secure.
C2 Crampons
The most versatile stiff crampons. Ther have a heel clip but are help by a strap at the front. You can use them with B2 or B3 Boots.
C3 Crampons
You get different types of C3s with horizontal and vertical front points. Vertical front points are for pure ice climbing and are not that suitable for winter walking or mountaineering. Horizontal front points are more versatile. You can identify them with the heel clip and a metal bar at the toe end. You can only use them with B3 boots.
Crampon Fitting Table
| Crampons | ||||
| Boots | C1 | C2 | C3 | |
| B0 | ||||
| B1 | x | |||
| B2 | x | x | ||
| B3 | x | x | x | |