Which Hillsound crampons do you recommend? And anyone try their gaiters?

I have a lot of miles on the Trail and FreeSteps6. The points on the Trail are longer than Kahtoola Microsp!kes, while the FS6 are shorter. On mellow, developed trails with mixed rock and ice the FS6 are fine, and you are less likely to trip with them because of the lower profile points. But for more rugged hiking use, get the Trails. They offer some serious traction and are a lot more durable (and heavier) than the FS6 models.

But I think K’s Microsp!kes are more durable (the reinforced eyelets in the rubber upper make a big difference) and split the difference between the Hillsound models perfectly.

Kodiak Island to the rescue again – thank you Philip! I hope the Ms. and me have a chance to thank you in person on Kodiak one day.

Anyone try any of their gaiters?

By Trail, did you mean the Trail Crampon, Trail Crampon Ultra or Trail Crampon Pro? Guessing Trail Crampon.

I have the regular ‘Trail’ model. I don’t have experience with the others, but the ‘Ultra’ seems to be similar in application to Microsp!kes.

Because these trail crampons with the rubber uppers tend to fail at the eyelet where the metal meets the rubber, the molded-in plastic reinforcements at the eyelet in the Microsp!kes sets them apart and makes them superior in my experience. Especially on mixed terrain where you are picking up grit and sand from the trail which causes abrasion at that interface.

We even wear our Microsp!kes in the summer and fall when we are hunting on extremely steep grassy alpine mountainsides. I had mine on two days ago on the goat hunt with not a flake of snow in sight.

That’s very funny because I just suggested to a friend that light crampons could be tested on a grassy slope in the absence of snow.