Heads up: this post is more than 5 years old and may contain out of date information.
Winter has been playing an off and on game here in the Pacific Northwest but a few weeks ago temps finally started to drop well below freezing and my day hike turned into some sort of ice walking blooper tv-show. I survived 12 miles completely upright on a very icy Eagle Creek trail only to eat it a few minutes from the parking lot and decided that, if this is what the next few months are going to look like, I needed something between bare rubber and my alpine crampons to aid in moving around.
With heavy, sustained use in mind, the gear-heads at Backcountry.com suggested Microspikes from a company called Kahtoola at the way to go; so, a few days later that’s what arrived. They’ve been with me on the trail or in the pack since [edit: that’s almost a year now] but it wasn’t until today with temps back in the mid-20s that I got to put them to a proper test on a very frozen, icy, and slip-and-slide ready Multnomah Falls trail.
Easy on, easy off, and that’s huge.
While this may be my first “everyday” traction system, crampons have taught me a very important lesson: ease of use is almost as critical as function. Anything that takes more than a minute or two to install doesn’t end up going on as early or often as it should and that means a fall before you get a move on. On the flip side, hard to take off stays on way too long and gets worn down on the likes of paved trails or muddied up on dirt. The rubber webbing design used in Microspikes lets them slip on while you’re still standing and, with a little pull up, you’re back to the trail.
Spikes make for really awesome grip… that’s a little different.
Most of the other traction systems I looked or have tried since picking up my Microspikes work by coiling steel around a piece of circular plastic which just doesn’t cut it for me. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly adds grip but I’ve watched groups navigate with them and the stepping approach is more like a cautious bare shoe than a face paced, firm movement. When ice is all around, you want to know you can stand up and not hunt for dirt; in snow it’s a little less tricky. The same goes for point based spike systems which take a much smaller and more rounded approach — there you get a little penetration into the terrain but with maybe 5 or 7 contacts versus the 12 teeth Microspikes offers up it’s just not the same.
Then again, all metal spikes are just more pricey and I know you’re debating the extra few bucks so let me put it like this: hitting snow and not sliding is nice but not all that hard to accomplish. Stepping on ice and not feeling yourself start to fly up is where the rubber hits the road so to speak. While certainly not as sharp or deep as traditional crampons, Microspikes function in the same style ripping right in with twelve 3/8″ spikes chained together. Even in spots that they couldn’t break in fully, they still catch enough grip to let me play around, spot others and just not worry about walking. When we left the hardened ice sections for freezing spray covered ice around the pavement of Multnomah Falls, I was simply walking around while the boot-only crowd was holding onto the side-rail for dear life (or at least to not fall).
Now there is a flipside to be on nearly half inch spikes versus little points or obvious bare shoes and that’s in contact area. With Microspikes you’re walking on 12 areas, not the entire surface of your foot which does take a little adjusting to. Though, being far shorter than a “real” crampon spikes, it’s not not nearly as radical a change so if you’re use to those or plan to step up to some mountaineering, this is an obvious non-issue.
The classic catch downside (there has to be something). As with all gear, there are clearly tradeoffs to be had. Most obvious is the price which is twice that of the basic coiled chain options and $15-20 more than spiked chain takes. Weight clocks in at about a pound and fit with the rubber holder can be an issue if you’re between their sizes though they have a number to pick from.
Then again, the durability over a year of use is outstanding. The rubber holds up like a champ and now that I’ve tried other options, I also see how handy it is to have such a big piece for on / off setup. The spikes definitely dulled a bit from these photos but still grip in and a little file will fix the rest. As for upkeep, it’s all stainless steel down below so after the trail I just rinse them off, dry them out and back into the bag they go for the next adventure.
Update: December, 2015:
Well here we are at the end of 2015. Can’t say my Microspikes were with me much this summer or fall but winter has returned in full force and far colder than last year with more adventures on my part too. In the past few weeks I’ve been out to the Canadian Rockies, Mount Hood and over the Gorge and just completed a review of a cheaper, point based traction system (don’t worry, aside from the cost it doesn’t come close). In all those trips and even in the review, my love for Microspikes has been affirmed, especially against other options. I have seen more spike based designs hitting the market lately however so I’ll keep an eye out and suggest you do the same for similar features and perhaps a little better price tag!
The bottom line:
With 12 points, a super easy on / off design and a durable build, the spiked design of Microspikes makes them a clear winner in the winter traction category you’re looking to adventure out in frozen, slick or just risky winter terrain for more than a casual stroll. Believe they’re even offering a carrying case these days to sweeten the high priced drawback just a bit more… maybe my review helped?
Product Overview:
- Category: Footwear / Traction System
- Utility: Typical trail ice & light snow
- Pros: Easy on / off and great traction in ice / packed snow
- Cons: Pricy versus other options, means stepping on 10-12 points
- Style: Black & Red versions
- Price: $64.95 MSRP
- Rating: 4.5 of 5
- Official Site | Buy it at Moosejaw.com*
* Sort of disclosure: Buy it at links generate me commissions for any sales made.
