[pct-l] Kahtoola Crampons vs Ice Axe?

[djpercival at cox.net (Joe Percival)]

I was looking at Ice Axes yesterday when one of the sales folks suggested
considering a pair of new light weight, flexible crampons (link below)
rather than the ice axe.  These crampons were made to use with lighter
weight shoes (like trail runners).  His point, and it seems like a good one,
was that with the crampons you can kick in steps and likely avoid the
situations that arise for most hikers (not mountaineers) where an ice axe is
required.

These are not instep crampons, they provide a full toe / heel set of cleats
and seem to have a strap system that is pretty beefy.  The weight is about
19 oz, so it would be somewhat heavier than the axe.

>From the trail journals I've read where people slipped down the slope, they
were generally trying a pass in the chill of the morning while the snow was
icy.

I would be using trekking poles 100% of the time.

http://www.kahtoola.com/

Your thoughts?