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Blue Ice Harfang Tech opinions?

Original Post
Kevin Mcbride · · Canmore AB · Joined Jan 2017 · Points: 505

Anybody spent some time on these that can provide some feedback?

Finn Lanvers · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 187

I have not used them but my partner has, they basically copied petzl darts I.E. they are very good.

Sam Klinger · · SLC · Joined Nov 2020 · Points: 0

I’m still not fully on board with no bar. Using UHMWPE just kinda scares me. 

Andrew Lamb · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 16
Sam Klinger wrote:

I’m still not fully on board with no bar. Using UHMWPE just kinda scares me. 

Curious to hear your reasoning? 

RangerJ · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 65
Sam Klinger wrote:

I’m still not fully on board with no bar. Using UHMWPE just kinda scares me. 

Do you climb with BD ultralights?

Greg Miller · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 30

Friend has a pair. They were a bit fiddly to get the sizing right, popped off her boots a couple times before she got them adjusted right. Also, double check the front point bolts, hers were loose from the box and she lost one before we realized it. Thankfully, it’s the same bolt as the petzl lynx, so we had spares. Once adjusted and tightened, they seemed to climb just fine.

Vitali K · · Bartlett, NH · Joined May 2020 · Points: 0

Same experience as Greg's friend. A little annoying to get the adjustment just right, but otherwise seem solid. Only have 3 days on it, so more time is needed for comprehensive feedback.

Big B · · Reno, NV · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 1

Ive been looking at these as well, packability is a NICE feature, and I also like the idea of the uhmwpe ribbon over the dyneema string.

Christian Donkey · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2018 · Points: 70

Oh great, more gear for me to buy that I don’t need!

Ira OMC · · Hardwick, VT , Bisbee, AZ · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 414

I will just add randomly to say that all the harfang toe bails are too small to fit on an NTN tele boot. For all the zero people who need to know that..

Finn Lanvers · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 187
Ira OMC wrote:

I will just add randomly to say that all the harfang toe bails are too small to fit on an NTN tele boot. For all the zero people who need to know that..

Believe it or not that is actually useful for me. I would assume the same on TeleTech?

Doug Hutchinson · · Seattle and Eastrevy · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 346

People who telemark and ice climb are probably the coolest people alive, I know this first hand, every time I look in the mirror, I see one.

Doug Hutchinson · · Seattle and Eastrevy · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 346

Now for some random thoughts on the new Harfang techs - I have two days on them (but a season on the Harfang tours) so as usual, I will talk out of my ass, but still be long winded.

The Techs are great. They aren't probably going to replace my G20+ or Bladerunners on steep ice or harder mixed, but will probably become my alpine 'pon. Since I am one of the few who don't think the Darts are really amazing (sorry Dart people), I'm pretty sure the Tech's performance will at least equal the Darts (based on my hazy memory on how the Darts climb).

 I'm really interested to try on rock, but haven't yet. They are so light, paired with GTechs or Ribelles they could come close to the performance of comp boots.

I really would not call them finicky to adjust, since you have both micro adjustment on the UHMWPE strap and the heel throw. You just need to adjust the strap super tight at first, climb on them a little bit and then tighten it again. They come with a bright cartoon warning instruction flyer to make this very clear. They will pop off you don't adjust supertight and readjust. The negative of getting the strap super tight is that they will probably put a lot of pressure on soft sole boots, probably feeling more tension on the heel. It's laudatory they included a micro adjust knob on the heel throw while most heavier pons are eliminating this feature.

They fit well on my Phantom Techs, Phantom 6000s, and G techs. I've actually never tried the Tour version on my TX Pros, but I just gotta believe these will fit perfectly on the  24-25 TX Pros, which of course, is hottest new gear in decades (the last sentence is code to the freeheel crowd lurking here).

Based on my experience with the Tours, I have no concern about the durability of the strap, but really did not like the durability of the cord on the Petzl hybrid crampons. If I wanted to worry about the durability of the Harfang techs, I would worry about the small plastic coated wire and rivet that holds the heel throw on (but I've had no signs of wear yet). It would be easy to nick the cable coating when packing in the compact stow mode.

The points on these babies are sharp! Like wear gloves when adjusting them the first time.

My first impression was, even with the front bail in the most rearward position, the front and secondary points barely extend frontward far enough. Here's an upside down picture of the mono configuration on a pair of Phantom 6000s.

However, they are just right in the out of the box configuration, and the front point or points can be moved forward a notch. I still can't imagine the boots that you would want to use the most frontward bail position on.

Since my plan is to use them for longer moderate alpine routes, I set them up with duals in the standard, rearward front point positions. Here's how they look on Ptechs (I  realize the bail doesn't look like a great fit in this pic, but the length was adjusted for the 6000s so they weren't tight on the Ptechs) and GTechs: 

Due to the center strap, these things are a pleasure to walk around on variable ground with. Today I walked off a climb that had of everything from low angle ice, steep snow, frozen dirt, to several log crossings, and they felt nimble and great.

Regarding the packability, it is a nice feature for the 'pons-in-pack crowd. However, I like pons-on-the-back-of-pack (you guessed it, I'm a gates in weirdo too), so they will actually be a little more annoying for me to carry the way I want to.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the inside tertiary point has this cool hooky protuberance for your raking pleasure.

Matt Z · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 174
Ira OMC wrote:

I will just add randomly to say that all the harfang toe bails are too small to fit on an NTN tele boot. For all the zero people who need to know that..

The Cassin Alpinist Tech toe bails fit well on the TX Pro. Doubly nice because the rigidity of the Alpinist Tech makes up for the flex of the bellows.

Ira OMC · · Hardwick, VT , Bisbee, AZ · Joined Sep 2013 · Points: 414
Finn Lanvers wrote:

Believe it or not that is actually useful for me. I would assume the same on TeleTech?

Yeah, specifically the scarpa TX pro boots ... 

As mentioned above, Alpinist Tech pons fit ! 

Sorry for thread drift. 

Andrew Lamb · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 16

Doug where did you even get the harfang tech? Are they released in Europe but not NA? 

Finn Lanvers · · SLC · Joined Feb 2019 · Points: 187
Andrew Lamb wrote:

Doug where did you even get the harfang tech? Are they released in Europe but not NA? 

Backcountry had them and my local store has them

Doug Hutchinson · · Seattle and Eastrevy · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 346
Andrew Lamb wrote:

Doug where did you even get the harfang tech? Are they released in Europe but not NA? 

I got mine at Monods in Banff. I think they have been available for less than a month now. 

I love that Blue Ice keeps cranking out fresh stuff year round and not on the typical seasonal schedule. (Or probably, BI was months late getting the Techs manufactured and shipped)

Grayson T · · Idaho · Joined Feb 2020 · Points: 0

I spent the later part of my season on a pair. They're great! Came from Bladerunners so obviously much better packability and felt less cumbersome. First time setup is finicky, but it's just a different system to get used to. I do wish the strap had lines across to help get left and right the same length easier. As some had mentioned, the strap does stretch/slip a little from new, seemed to get better after a few pitches. I also started folding the end of the strap over once more and stepping my heel onto it then locking in to add another pinch point and that's been working well to prevent slipping. They climb great and feel natural hiking around. Not like they're going to change the way you climb, but if you're in the market for a new pair I recommend! 

One thing I did notice are the secondary points are a little soft and seeming more susceptible to wear on rock compared to other crampons I've used. Either from walking across rock or from scraping while mixed climbing, they needed sharpening more than I woulda hoped. Used on phantom techs and LS Nepal boots and fit with ease. 

Doug Hutchinson · · Seattle and Eastrevy · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 346

I've gotten a few more days on them and really dig them. They feel great mixed climbing. They are lighter and have a more natural feel on rock.

I think my only nit picky con so far is the rear of the crampon extends farther back than the rear of my GTechs, and since there aren't multiple holes for the heel throw I can't adjust them better.

If the Techs prove to be durable, they could be Dart killers (because every hot new product needs the "killer" tag).

Greg Steele · · SLC, UT · Joined Jun 2020 · Points: 60
Doug Hutchinson wrote:

I think my only nit picky con so far is the rear of the crampon extends farther back than the rear of my GTechs, and since there aren't multiple holes for the heel throw I can't adjust them better.

Seems like with as much adjustment the harfang heels have in the nail (with the knob) you chills shorten the strap under the sole and accommodate that with the heel lever?


just curious…

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Ice Climbing
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