I thought I would love these

By Cabernet Ranked #394 - Crampons January 29, 2010

I was looking for something to wear so I could walk or take light hikes regardless of the winter footing. After reading reviews for YakTraks, Stabilicers, and these, I decided to dish out the money and go with the MICROspikes because they seemed to be the best on the market.

After wearing them on a 2-hour hike on moderately packed snow and infrequent ice, I was surprisingly feeling all my old injuries (both knees, an ankle, and stress fractures in both feet) that had previously faded away over time. I did a 3-day hike in the White Mountains this summer wearing the same pair of boots and a 20-pound pack, and had no recurring injuries, so I have to assume it was the MICROspikes. They have 8 spikes that are the major points of contact with the ground. My best guess is that the impact is concentrated in those 8 spots, rather than across the entire sole of the shoe, leading to unusual pressure points. They didn't feel particularly comfortable during my hike, but they weren't terribly uncomfortable either.

Regardless of how they felt, they definitely did the job well. They were easy to get on and did not budge afterwards. I walked on an icy parking lot that was similar to a skating rink and I had perfect traction. You will not slip in these babies!

My only other complaint is that they are LOUD. While you can still carry on a conversation with a hiking partner, any animals will hear your crunching from a few hundred feet away. Just don't expect peace and quiet while you're wearing them unless you stand still.

Overall, they do the job, but they're not for me. I seem to be the only reviewer that had a bad experience will MICROspikes, but I am not wearing those things again. I'll be trying one of the cheaper options out there to see if I have better luck.

UPDATE: Used YakTrax Walkers on an overnight hike in the White Mountains on packed snow and had no problems - no pain and no slippage. The YakTrax definitely have a lower range of conditions they'll work in than the MICROspikes, but I'll take that over being in pain.

View Details: Kahtoola Microspikes Traction System

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes