It features zinc-plated steel coils wrapped around rubber under the foot, and the coils dig into snow, ice, and even dirt and rock. WebHome | Yaktrax Shop by Category Best Sellers Weather any terrain, shop our best selling traction devices and more. They fit snugly over your trail running shoes. These are the top retailers that sell our top pick Kahtoola microspikes. Windbreaker vs rain jacket: which is best for hiking and running? Here we compare both in great detail to help you make the best choice for how you play in winter. Crampons are more durable traction devices that have much larger spikes. These snow grips feature 18 large crampon-style points that dig into soft material with ease, making them a great choice for users who spend a lot of time in deep snow, on dirt trails, or who work outside. The Yaktrax Ascent is virtually identical to the Kahtoola Microspikes but offers additional spikes in the toe area for extra grip on steep terrain. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Both have 8 spikes, 3/8 inch spikes located on the ball. Usually, when you are winter hiking, you will need multiple forms of traction, depending on the terrain you are hiking. As a certified mountain guide, he makes a living keeping people safe and securely attached when slippery surfaces pose a threat. Strap into your when you encounter snow or ice. They have a strap that can be worn over the top of the foot to keep the crampon in place even when trudging through super deep snow. The Exospikes have twelve spikes that are 7.4mm in length. This is the best choice if you want versatile spikes (not too big, not too small). Micro-spikes recommendations Yaktrax and Microspikes are both brands of traction footwear that slip on over your best hiking boots or best hiking shoes to help keep you upright and moving fast on icy surfaces and to dig in to power you forward on snowy uphills. Harness: Elastometer Specs: Type of grip: Coil Spike material: Stainless steel Studs per foot: 12 coil sections Weight: 6.4 oz (181 g) for a size medium Construction: Natural rubber Ideal surface: Light/packed snow, ice The Yaktrax Pro is an upgraded version of the original Yaktrax Walk, the snow grips that first popularized the metal coil design now found in That said, the Unigear Traction Cleats provide excellent traction for a lower price than the MICROspikes. This set has ten spikes that are 5.3mm in length. The spikes have heat-treated carbon steel, so they are long-lasting, strong, and durable. When you are looking at the fit of a traction device, you need 3 things: So lets take a look at each of these systems and see which works better for you. Sign up for my newsletter to receive exclusive content, including travel tips, adventure guides, giveaway alerts, blog updates, and more! They have recently come out with a traverse and ascent version that is similar to the chainsen light, and a discontinued microspike with Winner: Kahtoola MICROspikes since $20 bucks is worth saving! He rarely leaves home in the wintertime without a good pair of grips. As such, traction is the most important factor in choosing and assessing these products. In general, the rubber-soled cleat grips are the lightest and pack the smallest, while the chain and crampon-style grips have more metal, so they weigh more and can't pack as tightly. Microspikes are a must if you want to hike in the winter. However, the Yaktrax Summit has spikes laid out in a triangle shape that provides aggressive traction when hiking a hill. Yaktrax vs. Microspikes (Whats the Best All the Kahtoola models feature excellent security of fit. Yes. In addition, the spikes themselves take a beating, and some materials and designs wear out faster than others. Heres a quick chart to help you see which model from each brand is best used under different winter conditions. Traction devices with spikes are for hiking over hard snow where they can dig in and hold. Chain grips use a length of sharp metal material under the foot to chip into slippery surfaces. The microspikes come with a bag to store them in to keep them safe when you are not using them. In general, the cleat-style grips are lightest and pack the smallest. With the right wintertime gear, you can stay safe and comfortable throughout the snowiest season. Crampons are a little more hardcore. In this comparison, the heel doesnt seem to make much difference in overall traction. Microspikes and micro-cleats are lower profile, providing more traction than rubber soles, and are ideal for walking around an ice-covered town or jogging in the snow. Yaktrax vs. Microspikes (Whats the Best Yaktrax 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 They come in a variety of models for different activities such as Walk and Run and now backcountry-focused options like Summit. The Hillsound Trail Crampons take the cake in this metric. The Yaktrax Diamond Grip didnt grip as well as the others but still provided improved traction. However, Yaktrax break more easily and dont stay on the foot quite as well as Microspikes. Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Legal Notice | Terms Of Use, Brooks Cascadia 16 Review: All-Terrain Trail Running Shoes, Brooks Catamount 2 Review: Best Trail Running Shoes For 2023. Other options in this category (that we have not tested but are popular on our site): Hillsound Trail Crampons Similar to MICROspikes but with a top strap. They will dig in and keep your hiking boots steady with your forward motion. The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip minimizes the amount of snow buildup with their self-clearing design, which enhances traction as you hike. Conversely, if you are wearing lightweight running shoes and at the bottom of the size range, you should go down a size for a snug fit. 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. This frame stretches the 12 spikes across the sole of your foot for stability in packed snow and ice. They also are compact because they dont have traditional spikes and easy to store when they are not in use. WebThe Microspikes give better overall, almost crampon-like grip, but theyre heavier and more expensive plus less stable feeling on rocky sections. They are good for walking on our lake when it is slushy wet snow over ice, which is more common for us than hard clear ice. The best contender to compare to MICROspikes is the Yaktrax Summit. Comparison. The most common alternatives are Yaktrax and Microspikes. For me, weight is the least important because the focus should be on the traction microspikes provide. Yaktrax are cheaper because they are made of lower quality material that can break easily. Microspikes are made of stainless steel spikes and Yaktrax have steel alloy coils. This year I bought these microspikes on Amazon for my child, and so far, they have worked out great. Winner: Kahtoola MICROspikes While I love the custom fit of the Summit, especially if you have wider or narrower feet than the average, there are quite a few complaints that the cables break under heavy use. A minor difference is the Summits spikes are closer to the edge of the heel, while the MICROspikes are closer to the center. The Hillsound Trail Crampons are my favorite microspikes for hiking. Winter Traction Devices | njHiking.com They simply dig down deeper into snow and ice which prevents you from sliding and gives you the traction you need to push off and keep your momentum on the uphill. 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 Kahtoola MICROspikes ($75) Category: Hiking/running Weight per pair: 11.9 oz. OK, so lets wrap up with some of the common questions people have about winter traction devices for traversing snow and ice. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. They are effective on steep and rugged trails as well as solid ice. They work on most footwear. Our team researched over 50 models before purchasing 10 of the best snow grips to test side-by-side. We like the traction it provides with its 8-millimeter spikes, which are small enough to be convenient for various conditions but sharp enough to provide bite on loose surfaces. If you are a runner, most brands design spikes to fit trail running shoes. A burly pair of snow grips like the Kahtoola MICROspikes can make all the difference when you have to navigate gnarly terrain. The stainless steel spikes are inches, providing excellent traction. They will work in temperatures as cold as -22F. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. WooHoo! hiking, hiking gear, day hiking, hiking guide, white mountains, new hampshire hiking, new hampshire. Instead of spikes, Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip has steel aircraft cables with case-hardened steel alloy beads that provide excellent grip on icy trails. Best Winter Traction Devices (Microspikes They do not appear as durable as my Kahtoola microspikes; however, they work just as well. This guide goes over everything you need to know to find the best microspikes for hiking! The front and back are obvious, the material stretches easily, and there is a cup where the toe of the boot or shoe fits to line up the rest of the grip. 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. Microspikes are best suited for Winter hikes where you will encounter snow or ice on the trails. The only thing they aren't great for is very deep snow, but even then, they perform decently. Microspikes are made of stainless steel spikes and Yaktrax have steel alloy coils. The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip is different than the rest of the microspikes on the list. Microspikes also slip on over your footwear, but are comprised of thermoplastic rubber, stainless steel spikes that bite into ice and welded stainless steel chains to provide traction in snow, a bit like a crampon. For steeper terrain, we did mention that the Yaktrax would give superior grip and are the better choice. Lets get into it. The spikes bite into snow and ice with ease. To make this an accurate comparison, we compared the hardier Yaktrax Summit designed for the same challenging conditions as the MICROspikes. Each foot has 12 spikes that protrude ", making them perfect for winter hiking, chopping wood, and working on soft surfaces like dirt. Yaktrax Diamond Grip All-Surface Cleats come in five sizes to fit most shoe and boot sizes. Shop All Previous (24) Diamond Grip Traction Device $54.99 (14) Pro Traction Device $34.99 (14) Walk Traction Device $24.99 (3) Chains Traction Device $39.99 (4) Spikes Traction Device $29.99 1 2 3 Gear that lasts and also doesn't break the bank is a win all around. Its probably the most helpful chart on the whole page if you want the best traction device for your specific winter activities! The Summit uses carbon steel for its spikes, while MICROspikes are made of stainless steel.