GRIVEL - Essentially there are three styles of bindings

1. New Classic. (Walking)  This is a modern adaption of the classic French style binding, which consisted of a VERY long strap being passed through various rings on the crampon frame, and then over the boot until secure (a bit like the old roller skates of the early eighties!). Now we use two plastic ‘bails’ which act as a sort or net in which the boot is trapped. This style can be used with practically any boot as long as the mid-sole is deemed strong enough to cope with crampon work. Most popular crampon with this binding; G10 New Classic, although the Air Tech New Classic is just as good, and has 12 points.
   
   
2. New Matic. (General Mountaineering)     This has the same front binding as the New Classic, but important difference is the inclusion of a heel lever. This is much more secure system as the crampon is clamped on not strapped. However, this relies on the conjunctional boot having a heel ‘welt’ (the ledge built into the sole unit on which the heel lever rests.) The New Matic binding is seen on general mountaineering crampons like the G12 and more recently the Air Tech
   
   
3. Cramp-o-matic. (Mixed and Ice Climbing)         Often referred to as an automatic crampon, it’s quite similar to a ski binding- both heel and toe of the boot are locked in to the crampon. The heel retains the lever from the New Matic style, but the front binding comprises of a curved wire which sits on the toe welt of the sole unit. As the heel lever is clamped on, the boot is forced forward into the front wire. This binding style will only work on a completely rigid boot, as too much flex could cause the wire toe bail to come out of the welt. Therefore it’s mostly suited to technical winter climbing where you are required to stand on very small edges or on you front points in pure water ice. The usual crampons used with this binding style are; G12 Cramp-o-matic and the G14 Cramp-o-matic.