Grivel Air Tech Review

Overview

The Air Tech is Grivel’s slimmed-down answer to its long-running G12: a 12-point chromoly steel crampon with shorter, serrated points and a binding choice to match nearly any mountaineering boot. It suits hikers and alpinists who cross glaciers, climb snow and easy mixed terrain, and scramble over rock to get there. The trade-off is weight. At 960 g it is sturdy but not light, and the aluminum Air Tech Light is a better fit for gram counters.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	960 g per pair, including anti-balling plates and linking-bar accordions
Points	12 (8 front, 4 rear)
Material	Chromoly / nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel, plastic components
Binding options	Cramp-O-Matic EVO, New-Matic EVO, New-Classic EVO
Boot compatibility	B2 / B3
Sizes	35–46 (EU), adjusted with a center bar
Anti-balling	Proactive Antibott plates, front and rear
Certification	CE EN 893, UIAA 153
Packed length	About 24 cm, or 27 cm with accordions fitted

Performance

Traction. The Air Tech’s front points are noticeably aggressive, and the serrated points behind them bite into hard snow and ice with confidence. Reviewers at Advnture described the grip on frozen terrain as ironclad. Their testing also put the ceiling in plain view: for steeper ice and tougher mountaineering, the consensus is to move up to a more technical C3-class crampon. The Air Tech is a tool for glaciers, snow slopes, Scottish-style winter gullies and classic alpine ridges. It is not a dedicated ice-climbing crampon.

On rock and mixed ground. This is where the Air Tech separates itself from the G12. The points are shorter all around, which reduces the “standing on stilts” feeling on rock and gives more stability when the route alternates between snow and scrambling. UK reviewers consistently single this out. The serrations also give extra purchase on rock and ice. The compromise is some reach on steeper ice, where the G12’s longer daggers have the advantage.

Weight and packing. UKC measured 960 g per pair with plates and accordions fitted, roughly 100 g lighter than the G12 and competitive with other steel 12-pointers. The plates and accordions account for about 100 g of that figure. Pulling them saves weight but costs safety, and UKC’s reviewer kept them on at all times. The crampons fold down to about 24 cm long (27 cm with accordions), so they ride easily in a pack lid or side pocket. Listings for individual binding versions run somewhat lighter, with some New-Matic and Cramp-O-Matic pairs weighing in at 830–880 g.

Anti-balling. The Antibott plates are rubber sheets with a small flexing blister that pushes out packed snow from between the points. In wet, heavy spring snow, they are the difference between walking and stilt-walking. The shorter points make balling more of a risk, so reviewers recommend leaving the plates on in sticky conditions.

Durability. Chromoly steel holds up. UKC’s tester reported no meaningful blunting after repeated outings over thin snow with plenty of scraping on rock, though the anodizing wore at the sharp ends. Advnture rated the build highly durable. That tracks with the broader pattern: the Air Tech is a crampon people use for years.

Fit and bindings. Step-in Cramp-O-Matic and New-Matic versions are easy to fit and suit B2 and B3 boots. The New-Classic strap-and-cradle version works with almost any boot, including those without welts, and is easy to buckle with gloves on. Owners of flexible boots should note that standard extension bars are stiff. Grivel sells softer Flex Bars separately, which suit semi-flexible footwear better.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Short, serrated points are stable on rock and mixed ground
• Steel construction stands up to repeated scraping over rock
• Three binding systems, B2/B3 compatibility, and sizes 35–46
• Packs small, about 24 cm long
• About 100 g lighter than the G12
• Antibott plates work well in wet snow
• CE and UIAA certified

Cons

• 960 g is not light by ultralight standards; the Air Tech Light and Hybrid are far lighter
• Not enough reach or aggression for steep ice
• Anti-balling plates and accordions add about 100 g and are worth keeping on
• Flexible boots call for separately sold Flex Bars
• Priced above aluminum walking crampons, at roughly $176 at one US retailer

Who Should Buy This

The Air Tech is for the mountaineer or winter hiker who wants one pair of crampons for glaciers, snow climbs, and the rock scrambling that comes between them. It suits people who use stiff three-season or four-season boots (B2/B3) and want a durable steel crampon without the weight of a full technical model. Thru-hikers who carry crampons only for a few snowy passes, and anyone prioritizing every gram, should look at Grivel’s Air Tech Light (556 g in New-Classic EVO form) or the 730 g Hybrid. Those climbing steep water ice should skip it and go straight to a more technical model.

Verdict

The Air Tech is a durable all-rounder that trades a little reach on steep ice for better manners on rock and mixed ground. At 960 g it is not a gram-counter’s crampon, but it is a sound choice for glacier travel and moderate alpine routes, and it will outlast lighter aluminum options.