Winter Traction Device???

Yak Trax are virtually useless on hard ice. The coils don't provide enough bite.

Nano spikes are better, but the rubber parts also cannot take nearly as much wear as the micro spikes, although they're perfect for running on icy trails. But prepare to be happy if they last you only one season if you run on them regularly.

Micro spikes are the choice for non-technical snow/ice. The chain bottoms are much more durable and the spikes have really good bite… for what they are.

But in any situation where an ice axe is necessary, use full on "real" crampons. If you have to self-arrest, you'll need proper crampons.

Yak Trax are OK for certain amount of slippery ice. Note that they do not dig in. Kathoola microspikes are bigger and badder and more durable. Full-on crampons are much more serious, but they are more durable and much more aggressive with snow and ice.

–B.G.–

I won't be doing any running, just standard hiking. I hike down in the Ozark area so no need for an ice axe but I have performed a few full gainers coming down some icy trails. I had looked mainly at the microspikes but I was not sure if those would be overkill for my application. Do folks typically wear them all the time on the trail or just apply as the need arises much like water shoes?

microspikes or Hillsound trail Pro crampons will get you pretty far until it begins to look like climbing. Yak Trax are pretty useless, my dad tried his on our last winter day hike and they would slide around or off his boots. I was in microspikes having no problems.

they are easy enough to take off when you don't need them. It is better for their sharpness to take them off when it is rock or dirt. can just throw them on a carabiner for easy access outside your pack

and we are talking Microspikes.. their Nanospikes will not cut it.

In that case I'd go with Microspikes.

Easy to put on and take off as needed.

After I posted above, I thought perhaps I should have asked you to define "slope", which has a lot of different implications depending upon angle.

The people I hike with favor the microspikes, easy to get on, stays on and good traction. Advertisments for the nanospikes show them on running shoes, designed to keep you on your feet if you hit some ice while out for your run. Yak tracks, besides having less traction, used to have a problem of falling off. I have seen many left in the snow by people that didn't even know they had lost one. The pro model with the instep strap might stay on better, but the traction will still be inferior. If you want something that is good at home, think icy driveway, but is decent for hiking the original heavy duty stabilicer works well. My wife has these and is very happy with them. I hike harder terrain than she does and swear by the microspikes.

Certainly appreciate the insight. I will have to swing by the store and pick up some microspikes then.

"I have performed a few full gainers coming down some icy trails"

If you decide on Kahtoola microspkes pay attention to how the size of you choice fits your shoe. I removed a link from each side of the heel plate to get the spikes where they needed to be. If downhill gainers are your nemesis, this is something to look at.

I used Yaktrax on snow with some rocks. The rocks nicked the rubber on the bottom which broke.

I used them on icy boardwalks in Olympics beach. Some of the boards were some composite material. The Yaktrax provided almost zero traction. Maybe that's an unusual case.

Kahtoola is better. I've used microspikes which were pretty good.

Does anyone know how micro spikes compare to the following?
http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

I was thinking of doing the above with some foot wear, but modifying it a bit, take the screw out put some puddy expoxy on it–especially the inner base of the screw head, and then screw it back in. All with the hopes that it would keep the screws in better.

Justin, you could make some hobnail boots. Oh, wait, that was a hundred years ago.

–B.G.–

Greg thanks for the sizing hint. I will probably wear the boots to the store just to be safe.

As far as the screw shoes. I could see the screws catching on rocks and such and ripping the sole of the shoe/boot.

Possibly Scot, but if you check out that site and look at the pic of a used shoe with the screws in, it looked like the sole otherwise was ok except for running wear. Running is generally tougher on shoes than hiking.

The author/blogger did mention that occasionally screws do come out, but that's why i would use puddy epoxy in combo–"theoretically" might keep the screws in better.

when there is a little ice and packed snow I use screw shoes for running, when the ice becomes more prevalent I switch to microspikes, if it's very icy there is no comparison- microspikes rule the day

I run w/ the utmost confidence w/ micropsikes, get some funny looks from hikers/dog walkers as they are trying to stay upright and I come screaming past them at full tilt :)

Thank you for the feedback Mike.

Has anyone tried the ICEtrekkers diamond grip?

http://www.rei.com/product/806475/kako-icetrekkers-diamond-grip-traction-system

Another big +1 for the microspikes.

We use microspikes and run on the lake in the winter with the dog. Last year a big storm blew all the snow off of the lake and we were out running around on glare ice with our microspikes as confidently as we would have been running on grass or gravel.

"Has anyone tried the ICEtrekkers diamond grip?"

Yes, and IMHO they have a very limited niche. If it is glare ice, they are good. If there is any more that a half inch of power snow on said ice they are not so good. Not enough "tooth" to cut and hold.

They would be great on glazed city sidewalks and roads. No fun at all trying to get up Bright Angle Trail after a spring flurry.

For simple traction, I have been using the Grivel Spider's with success. While their abilities are more limited, they are very light, easy to take on and off, and easy to carry.

MicroSpikes, for sure. Easy to put on. Easy to take off. Reliable traction on a range of surfaces. I hiked last week on snow, wet leaves, frozen leaves, mud, bare rock, and rock with glare ice. MicroSpikes handled them all.

As a certain point on very steep trails, mostly descending, the MicroSpikes are not quite enough. The Trail Pro Crampons are one step up and useful for full winter on mountain trails (but not ice climbing!).

But, for first time use, the MicroSpikes or the equivalent HIllsound Trail Crampons (not Pro) would definitely be the way to go.

YakTrax are considered to be for slippery sidewalks around here, not hiking.

I have the exact same question and pending need so the insight is greatly appreciated. The microspikes seem to be the consensus for occasional use,but before taking the plunge I wanted to see if anyone has experience with Ruta Locura instep crampons. A bit more minimal at 8 ounces for the pair and $25.

Don't particularly like instep crampons as in order to firmly bite into ice you have to land and push off flat footed. With micro spikes you can push off with the balls of your feet and not have to alter your natural gait all that much.

If the price of micro spikes is deterring you, try taking a look at the Hillsound Freestep 6. It's the Hillsound model that most closely approximates the Kahtoola Microspikes, but is significantly cheaper. The only knock on Hillsounds that I've heard is that they are more prone to chain breakage than Kahtoolas. At least there was a lengthy thread on a local ADK hiking forum with multiple reports of failure in the stainless steel chain links. On the bright side Hillsound had great customer service and replaced all the broken models.

Thanks for the insight Doug. I certainly don't mind paying more for quality. Microspikes it is!

Instep traction wouldn't work at all for the winter hiking I do in NH. I need the traction on the ball of the foot ( pushing off uphill) and the heel of the foot (landing downhill).

Just look at where shoes have the traction lugs in the tread — the heel and the ball of the foot. They don't even bother with traction in the instep area.

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Somebody asked about taking MicroSpikes on and off during a hike. It really depends on the hike. I always have them in my pack when ice is a possibility. I've done hikes where I've just put them on for one icy stretch. I've done other hikes (like last week), where the conditions were mixed throughout the entire hike and I just left them on (and tried to avoid as much bare rock as possible).

Usually around here, it's a decision between MicroSpikes or snow shoes, depending on how packed the trail is. I know my limitations: I don't do trails where I would need full crampons.