In a world where every outdoor sport has its own unending assortment of gear, ice climbing is no different. It might be true, however, that the gear used for ice climbing is a little more bizarre than most. The expensive equipment comes in all shapes and sizes, and the individual pieces have odd names like Snargs, Icehogs, Spectres and Footfangs. For the uninitiated, here's a quick run down of the more common accoutrements of the sport.
Crampons are, basically, spiked metal devices strapped to the bottom of a climber's boots.
Often mistaken for part of the boot itself, crampons consist of a small frame that fits snugly against the sole, similar to a ski binding, with spikes protruding off the frame. Most spikes point downwards, but crampons also have one or two points that jut out the front of the frame, below the toes. It's hard to find a group with an odder assortment of words and phrases than climbers. Go to the glossary for translations from the world up high. In size and weight, ice tools are similar to something you might buy at your local hardware store.