mtnjim wrote:For an all-around, multipurpose, jack-of-all-trades type crampon that can be used with just about any footwear, I'd recommend the Black Diamond Contact strap-on.
I've seen them used on Everest and have used mine with plastic mountaineering boots on Chimborazo and others in Ecuador and fooled around with them in Colorado on class 3+ water ice on flexible hiking boots, used them to stroll from Austrian hut across the glacier to the start of Mt Kenya's Nelion route. The low plastic heel bail will allow them to fit on trail runners as well. The built in anti-balling plate is a nice feature.
They should take you to the place from where you can decide what you want to move up to, if you need anything more at all.
I have climbed things I absolutely should not have climbed with some strap on Contacts. They bite really well and hold onto my boots like it's going out of style. I'm using some totally flexible hiking boots and they do a great job on slopes up to ~45 degrees. I can't say I'd recommend using them with very flexible boots, the bar just isn't stiff enough to handle front-pointing.