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It’s been several months since I started this article. It’s already summer – no ice around here. To get head start for next season though to finish this article. It’s about Grivel’s Rambo 4′s. I’ve climbed few times with them earlier on, but got my own late last season. Since then they were fully battleground tested during our trip to Northern Norway. Though Rambo’s have been around for a while and there are several reviews already, I decided to give my review on them.
Picture above: Grivel Rambo 4′s, fresh out of package
Rambo’s have long been the ones, on what comes to rigid crampons. Rambo 4′s introduce several new features, such as optimized curved shape and factory installed antibots. Probably the most innovative new feature is the mono point structure, where stabilizing side point has been added to bring in some of the dual point crampon benefits without sacrificing the penetration qualities of mono point. In addition Rambo 4 package includes optional heel point and necessary tools for maintenance.
The length of the Rambo’s can be adjusted just removing one screw. There are several other adjustments available as well. There’s one caveat, there aren’t that many options for front and rear bars as holes on the frame would let you expect, other parts, unlike in earlier Rambos, prevent use of some adjustment holes. Rambos fitted securely despite small opening which were left between the back of the shoe and crampon. Being rigid crampon, and therefore less adjustable, fitting with your shoe is still something you should make sure before you buy. Though, if you own earlier version of Rambos, they’ll likely to fit.
During the Norway trip we climbed three days. It was my pleasure to notice that side-point structure worked like charm. Rambo 4′s are indeed stable, without sacrificing the monopoint benefits. Rambos penetrate ice easily and securely, they hold very well in various ice and climbing conditions, including curtains and icicles. In short they were splendid to climb on. I warmly recommend Rambo 4′s for any vertical ice. They’re by far the best rigid crampons I’ve climbed with. They’re a bit heavy and perhaps a bit too clumsy for walking, though I’ve been walking with them as well.
Few images about Grivel Rambo 4′s below:
