Without delay, I will reveal the best microspikes for hiking, running, and backpacking. Neither takes up much space in your backpack so once youve made your decision, keep them as part of your kit for late autumn through early spring and youll be prepared for any slick conditions you encounter on the trail. These are different than the microspikes listed above because they have aluminum step NANOspikes instead of the traditional spikes. Traction: 12 stainless steel spikes (0.38 in.) He has also seen the injuries that can come from just living in cold, wintery climates. Both companies advertise this product as lightweight, easy to put on, and be used for everyday activities. The microspikes are also lightweight and come with a storage bag to easily pack them when they are not in use. The spikes bite into snow and ice with ease. Once the storm is over, and the streets dry out, or when you enter a building and don't want to damage the floor, it's important that your traction devices pack into a small and light package that you can easily stash in a pocket or a compartment in a vehicle. The Exospikes fall in between Microspikes and Nanospikes. Avoid the walk and pro versions from yatkrax. Instead of spikes, Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip has steel aircraft cables with case-hardened steel alloy beads that provide excellent grip on icy trails. If you do a lot of non-technical mountain hiking where you are going up and down inclines, we choose the, If you play or work primarily on flatter surfaces, like hiking forest trails, crossing lakes, or even construction sites, the, Adjustable to different size hiking boots and shoes. They have recently come out with a traverse and ascent version that is similar to the chainsen light, and a discontinued microspike with There are not many options when it comes to getting kids microspikes. They are super light for a crampon-type grip, and they pack up small for easy stuffing into a pocket. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. I purchased the C.A.M.P. Best Microspikes and Snow Grips Microspikes are a great investment for serious hikers and climbers and are much more helpful when it comes to hiking hills and mountains in wintery conditions. Avoid the walk and pro versions from yatkrax. The Hillsound Trail Crampons take the cake in this metric. In this case, it is a pretty tough call; you have two very high-quality products that are proven to work in moderately difficult winter environments. The Yaktrax Walk was one of the first snow grips on the market, and its design has changed very little over the years. Neither option will help you when it comes to deep, powdery snow where youll want snowshoes, but they are both good solutions for packed stuff. Harness: Elastometer Consumer Reports This is the best choice if you want versatile spikes (not too big, not too small). This will wear out the spikes. Flexible plate for mobility and stability, Heavier than other microspikes because of the large spikes. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The Yaktrax spikes for trail running have six spikes up front that are 3mm in length. Yaktrax are better than nothing at all when it comes to winter hiking, but they are less than ideal. The most famous traction device is the Crampon, which is used mainly for ice climbing. The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip minimizes the amount of snow buildup with their self-clearing design, which enhances traction as you hike. We trekked through deep snow and walked across icy parking lots to score each product's traction. Like a tree. Chain-style grips perform decently in both kinds of conditions, but they aren't excellent for either. If you are looking for lightweight microspikes for hiking, the Black Diamond Distance Spikes are some of the best! Yaktrax vs. Microspikes (Whats the Best They are particularly helpful for hiking up and down steep terrain. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences. A close-up view of the crampon-style points on the Kahtoola MICROspikes. Yaktrax are lightweight grips made from elastic rubber and steel coils that you pull on and fasten tight over your boots or best trail running shoes when moving upright on packed snow and ice. Right now, lets focus on moderate winter conditions, the perfect use of microspikes! Toe bales to hold the microspikes in place, Heavier than other microspikes listed because of the large spikes. Best Winter Traction Devices of First is if you are carrying the spikes in your backpack, a lighter traction device is always better. See the packaging for details, or check out this sizing chart if you buy Kahtoola microspikes. This is a nice touch if you are taking your spikes on a long hike and don't want to deal with a loose grip. Whether you need a pair for extra traction while shoveling your driveway, hiking through deep snow, or tackling icy terrain, there is something in this review for you. Technical vs. The Hillsound Trail Crampons are also heavy-duty snow grips with 11 points that protrude an incredible two-thirds of an inch from the bottom of your foot. Winter Traction Devices | njHiking.com That said, the Unigear Traction Cleats provide excellent traction for a lower price than the MICROspikes. They have a longer 3/4 inch spike and are designed to flex with your movement over rough trails. They tend to be more comfortable to hike in than teeth, but teeth have better traction. To make this an accurate comparison, we compared the hardier Yaktrax Summit designed for the same challenging conditions as the MICROspikes. Our mission is to help you plan your own adventures and create memories beyond your imagination! Winner:In this case, it depends upon how you play! The Hillsound Trail Crampon spikes are also about inches each, so they provide excellent traction. All of the best microspikes for hiking listed in this blog have some form of rubber body that makes them easy to put on and take off your hiking boots. The fit systems of the Yaktrax Summit and Kahtoola MICROspikes are very different. At a glance, there appears to be little difference between Yaktrax and MICROspikes, but if we take a deeper dive, some significant differences will impact your choice. The best microspikes for hiking are durable, easy to use, lightweight, and provide excellent traction. Yaktrax vs Microspikes: which is better? For grip in the back, these spikes have steel coils that allow your shoe to flex nicely. Winter Traction Devices | njHiking.com A good pair of snow grips will be your best friend when the outdoors gets treacherously slick. They are also good if you are planning to spend most of your time road running or hiking on relatively flat trails. Lets get into it. There is no point in waiting because the number one choice and best brand are obvious. The Kahtoola EXOspikes are some of the best microspikes for hiking because they are lightweight, durable, and provide great traction. These trail running spikes are organized from lightest to heaviest. The Yaktrax spikes for trail running have six spikes up front that are 3mm in length. Yaktrax vs Microspikes: which is better? Theres a few obvious features to each product that might make it preferable to the other. I suspect the most significant factor in that cost difference is the Boa Closure System because there arent many other significant variances. Cleats are the easiest to walk with but only work well on trails with a thin layer of ice or snow because they use small metal studs to provide traction. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If you want to hike in the winter, microspikes are a must! The stainless steel points are strong and will easily last multiple winters. Yaktrax Diamond Grip All-Surface Cleats come in five sizes to fit most shoe and boot sizes. Yaktrax Traverse Heavy-Duty Traction Spikes for Walking on Snow and Ice (1 Pair) Visit the Yaktrax Store 86 ratings -29% $3580 Was: $50.70 FREE Returns Style: Large Large Medium X-large Xx-large About this item Pair of heavy-duty, yet lightweight, traction Cleats fit over shoes and boots for everyday safety on ice and snow They are relatively easy to put on, requiring the user to stretch the rubber body around their boot or shoe. Features Case-hardened steel alloy "beads" are strung on steel aircraft cable to offer hundreds of biting edges for exceptional grip in all directions underfoot Microspikes are lightweight and flexible ice and snow traction devices that you pull over your winter hiking boots, hiking shoes, hiking boots, trail running shoes, or ordinary winter boots. They are also easy to put on, lightweight, and pack down to a very small size. The Yaktrax Walk was one of the first snow grips on the market, and its design has changed very little over the years. Stainless steel is considered to be stronger than steel alloy. Seriously, I just want a beverage and a fire at that point. A good pair of snow grips can give you more security and peace of mind in those icy winter months, and we hope our in-depth review will help make your purchasing decision easier. In comparison, MICROspikes are just one of the 5 types of traction devices made by Kahtoola. The spikes dig into ice and hard snow and will prevent you from slipping and sliding around on the trails. Harness: Elastometer You can unsubscribe anytime. The Yaktrax models also fit securely, and the Pro model even has a top strap to ensure the grip isn't going to fall off. They still work as they did when brand new. The only thing they aren't great for is very deep snow, but even then, they perform decently. The Yaktrax Summit runs about $20 more than the Kahtoola MICROspikes . WebHome | Yaktrax Shop by Category Best Sellers Weather any terrain, shop our best selling traction devices and more. This is why microspikes, ice cleats, and crampons exist. Thats because they are the best for light winter activities, which is what we do most! Yaktrax are cheaper because they are made of lower quality material that can break easily. Yaktrax The Distance spikes have fourteen 8mm spikes that will let you cruise through deep powder and across icy patches with ease. Theres a few obvious features to each product that might make it preferable to the other. Yaktrax Diamond Grip All-Surface Cleats come in five sizes to fit most shoe and boot sizes. Chain grips like the Yaktrax Walk provide plenty of traction for everyday activities on pavement and some off-pavement use. For walking on hard thick ice surfaces, as youd find on a frozen lake, the Yaktrax Diamond Grip is a pretty amazing and unique version of crampons. Stainless steel is considered to be stronger than steel alloy. While the Black Diamond Distance Spike is well-tractioned and versatile, we have some durability concerns due to the design and the force needed to get them on. We put each of these snow grips head-to-head in our extensive tests, scoring them on specific performance metrics such as traction, ease of use, security of fit, versatility, durability, and packability. These work very well on shallow snow or thin ice over firm surfaces like pavement. These robust snow spikes are heavier and bulkier than some other options, but they provide better traction than any other product we tested. Winner: Kahtoola MICROspikes since $20 bucks is worth saving! We had no problem with either of these brands during our testing period, and we don't expect to see any problems for many winters. Microspikes sizing is straightforward. Ive found that Yaktrax Diamond Grips work well on mixed surfaces of rock, gravel, dirt, and pavement. Chain grips use a length of sharp metal material under the foot to chip into slippery surfaces. So youd think that was a clear winner. The fit is about as custom as you can get, especially in accomodating a variety of foot and boot widths. Grips WebMicrospikes are more expensive than Yaktrax, and many people feel that they are of higher quality as well. All the Kahtoola models feature excellent security of fit. In contrast, the strong elastomer harness of the Kahtoola MICROspikes is incredibly durable and will last for many seasons of winter hiking and adventure. Lets deep dive into Yaktrax vs MICROspikes now! MICROspikes vs YakTrax Both devices offer good traction in snow and ice, but there are distinct differences between the two. The traction devices attach to most footwear options you normally wear in the Winter. The best microspikes for hiking will be able to withstand freezing temperatures. Kahtoola microspikes are also available in red or black colors. Comparison. Stainless steel is considered to be stronger than steel alloy. I agree that the diamond grips do work well though. Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction They use a rubber frame that you slip over the toe of your boot then pull the other end over the heel. Crampons are more durable traction devices that have much larger spikes. Yaktrax They have recently come out with a traverse and ascent version that is similar to the chainsen light, and a discontinued microspike with WebYaktrax Pro offers 10 times the gripping points as any spike-based traction device Natural rubber is used to hold the devices together, giving them durability and strength Removable performance straps cross over insteps to help keep them in place during use These have the best grip on icy and snowy surfaces. If you want to move swiftly and feel super light on your feet, the Nanospikes are the best spikes for runners. If you are looking for the most grip and biggest spikes in a lighter weight that is designed for trail running, this is the best choice. This grip features 12 studs on platforms, giving them extra height for use in relatively deep snow while retaining their comfortable feel on firm surfaces and their performance on ice. It is a very strong metal, just not as strong as carbon steel. A burly pair of snow grips like the Kahtoola MICROspikes can make all the difference when you have to navigate gnarly terrain. They use the patented Boa Closure System that is used in many high-performance gear. I do not know any hikers that use a Kahtoola alternative. The MICROspikes are hands down the best snow grip option out there for users who live in harsh winter climates.