Good hiking/trail running crampon

These are good for mildly icey trails. The do not add any additional traction in mud because the spikes are quite small. In very icey conditions, the small spikes also amount to limited traction. Good for recreational use although hardcore runners might need more traction depending on the trails they use.

Kendall

Excellent, within reason

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I use these on icy sidewalks and trails in coastal New England. Mounted on Altra Superior trail shoes with thick socks, they still allow my feet to move freely and stay warm down to single digit temps. They are easy to put on and off with bare hands, gloves are little fumbly. They are rock solid on packed, frozen snow and level ice. However, they are sketchy on water ice of any angle above zero. Most of the trails I hike gain several hundred feet, and follow drainages. In winter these become low angle water ice climbs, and the shallow spikes can't gain traction with my shoe flexing. Of course that's not their intended purpose, but be aware that these are not appropriate for steep icy trails. That said, they are awesome on hard snow, winter hikes, and staying upright while shoveling snow off the pond so the kids can skate.

Chewbacca

Missing carbide tips, poor quality and C

I purchased these and discovered that one unit did not have carbide tips on the heel, so one side only had six carbide tips instead of 10 like the other one. I wrote to customer service at Kahtoola and have heard nothing back. What a terrible product and what terrible customer service.

Paul K.

Quit Worrying About Ice

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Great traction on hard ice, any angle and for most activities. I especially like these for snow clearing and walking the dog. They bring back the confidence in my footing so I can focus on whatever I'm doing. I have not used them for running, but plan to when conditions get to icy hard pack.

James Schneider

Winter running necessity

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Tired of getting tossed around on icey trails and angry your neighbors didn’t shovel their sidewalks all winter, gear not nano spikes inspire confidence and awe. But seriously, I’m pretty stoked to be able to run at a decent pace of slick trails and roads. Winter running can be tough, and without the nano spikes my miles were lagging behind in time and volume. Super burly and so much better to run in than yak trak. I can hardly feel them when I am on bare trail or road. The rubber doesn’t really have much give at first so it does take some muscle to get on, that’s how I know it will last a long time not be trash at the end of one winters use.

Andrew Butterworth

Safety First

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I had put off purchasing a pair of these for so long (because I thought they were unnecessary) until a gnarly slip and fall while hiking this winter. After a bruised elbow (and ego), I finally ordered a pair and they haven't come off my hiking/running shoes since. These are so light weight and easy to put on, the only issue I have had with them is that the smalls are just slightly big for my Women's 7 1/2 size feet. They haven't fallen off at all, they just shift slightly when I am hiking on uneven ground and I have to adjust them. Overall, I am very happy with them and feel much more well-equipped for hiking on icy trails.

Sara Gemmell

Studded snow tires for your shoes.

Familiarity:

I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

They work just as well for parents/grandparents worried about slipping on ice or packed snow as they do for year-round runners that log serious miles. The design is durable, comfortable, and easy to use, while the low-profile platform is all but imperceptible (no pressure points or sore spots). If you're in running shoes or minimalist hiking shoes, the size chart is accurate, but if you're on the cusp or planning to put the NANOspikes on bulky hikers or full-on winter boots, size up. Should you be traveling in deeper, steeper packed snow conditions, the MICROspikes are a great addition to your quiver.

Rob Ware

Anotha one.

Familiarity:

I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

I picked up two more pairs of the NanoSpikes for my parents, and they're beyond jazzed about the performance. They have a very steep, treacherously icy driveway that demands constant shoveling/maintenance in the Oregonian winters, so the grip on these puppies has eased all their worries about slipping and falling. My dad is a size 12 M and his wife is a size 7 W, and the L+XS combo worked well for them.

Zoe Zulauf

Kicks the living crap out of YakTrax

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Okay, think about the confidence you feel when you finally make the switch to studded snow tires after schlepping around chains--that's what running on ice or packed snow in the NANOspikes feels like. You can quite literally do plyometrics and sprints on sheet ice. No joke. The tungsten spikes have never failed me, even when my gremlin of a senior dog is jerking me all over the place when I have her on leash. Best of all, no foot fatigue from uneven/weird texture on the bottom of your shoes. You can run comfortably as you normally would!

Zoe Zulauf

Easy to put on, good on icy trails

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I got these for my husband who is a videographer and films often outside on snowy and icy trails. He said they are very easy to put on and come in a bag that makes them easy to store. They are really good on mixed dirt and snow trails. They are lightweight and not cumbersome.

Jessica Jacobson

Sizing

Travis Tzioumis