Microspikes or Hillsound Trail PRO Crampons?

[Mitchell Ebbott]

I’d like to get some traction, mostly for hiking in Southern California. With El Niño coming in, we should have a fair amount of snow and ice up on the higher peaks this winter. I’m currently debating between the Kahtoola Microspikes and Hillsound Trail PRO crampons. They’re about the same price these days.

Here’s how they stack up in my consideration at the moment:

Microspikes: lighter, better when only a bit of extra traction is needed. Shorter spikes probably easier to hike with in marginal conditions? But the spikes can move around, they don’t have front points, and the attachment isn’t all that stable.

Hillsound Trail PRO: heavier and probably more difficult to walk in due to the longer spikes. But they have deeper traction, a more stable/rigid attachment system, and anti-balling plates.

Any help?

[Philip Tschersich]

They really are two different critters. I have a lot of miles in Microspikes, and for most use they are really excellent and deserve their rave reviews. Durable and effective. They are less good on hard sole boots (mountaineering) and for sidehilling. I have the Kahtoola K10 and their similar trail ‘crampons’ which are way better for slightly gnarlier terrain, and excel at sidehilling and really bad ice. It comes down to your use. For general trail ice, just get the Microspikes. For easy glacier approaches, and real rime or similar hard snow use on steeper terrain with sidehilling, get the Hillsounds. Honestly, Microspikes will be more versatile and cover more hiking conditions. I’d go with those and just reconsider your route if you get into conditions that warrant burlier traction devices. Snow buildup on the Microspikes can be a pain in new snow, but that’s about the only downside.

[Ryan Jordan]

A better comparison might be Microspikes vs. Hillsound Trail Crampons. Our family uses these things hard throughout the winter, and we have hundreds of miles of walking and running in them. I do prefer the Hillsound version. The instep strap keeps them on the shoe better for running and steep trail hiking. In the most difficult (steep) terrain we do, my son’s Microspikes do shift around.

The construction quality is pretty good on both, and we haven’t seen major differences. They both fail when the rubber rand wears out and the chain rips out. The Microspikes are a little lighter, the Hillsounds seem a little more versatile.

Our primary use for these types of crampons is limited to packed (high traffic) snow/ice trails. On untracked snowy terrain they have limited applicability.

[Mitchell Ebbott]

Thanks for the input, that’s helpful. And Ryan, I’m glad you mentioned the regular version of the Hillsounds, those do look like a better option than Microspikes.

Philip, I think you hit on the point I was really curious about. You said:

Honestly, Microspikes will be more versatile and cover more hiking conditions.

What conditions do Microspikes work for that the Trail Pro crampons don’t?

[Philip Tschersich]

What conditions do Microspikes work for that the Trail Pro crampons don’t?

Microspikes don’t affect your normal gait, and the spikes aren’t so far outboard or so tall that they cause your foot to roll or catch on rocks in an awkward manner the way that the more traditional-crampon-style traction devices (like the Hillsounds) do. If you have hiked in true mountaineering crampons you know what incredible stress they put on your ankles when in mixed terrain. Well, the Hillsounds you linked to are far easier on your joints than full-blown crampons, but not nearly as kind as the Microspikes. I would feel fine jogging down a rocky trail in the Microspikes, but there is no way I’d do anything other than walk carefully in the Hillsounds. That’s why for hiking I’d say the Microspikes are more versatile: you could wear them on more surfaces and they would be easier on your body.

[Michael Sirofchuck]

I agree with Philip on the MicroSpikes – I have used them in a lot of different snow and iceconditions, including hiking up Telescope Peak in DVNP in February.

I use Grivel 10 point crampons for more icy/steep conditions.

[Terran Terran]

Microspikes will serve you in most situations. The way it was presented to me though was if I were doing c2c and hit heavy ice, I would have to turn back if I only had microspikes. Where one doesn’t wear a full pack on C2C, the extra weight doesn’t amount to much. I’m not sure where else I would really need clampons in SC.

[Phil Erickson]

What is C2C or SC?

[Mitchell Ebbott]

C2C = Cactus to Clouds, the hike up San Jacinto starting in the desert by Palm Springs

SC = Southern California

Thanks for the help, everybody! I’m going with the Hillsound Trail Ultras.

[Author]

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