Microspikes for hill walking

Yes, they're an excellent addition to the backpack! I've trail ran on comoacted snow with them.

I use the red Kahtoola ones, would only consider these again or an identical design as I've seen others struggle with e.g. the Yeti ones etc.

If there's an option for an 'anti-balling' plate then maybe get it, I had a fairly innocuous slide once because the spikes balled up within a few steps in deeper wetter snow

Edit: oooh, those Nortecs look like an improvement over Kahtoola, the holes in the rubber web look re-enforced, which I think was a point of failure on the Kahtoolas

We've got the Nortec ones. Superb.

They are great - work well, stable, and do what they say they will. I've only used the extra stability strap once. They are shorter than crampons and without front points - so much more natural to walk in and less likely to trip on them.

As with all microspikes they have thier limits. They are not crampons for steeper / front point territory.

But as a safety added for what you describe, as a way of heading into winter hills they are superb.

Many traditionalists will shoot me for this view - I've even had a PM on Walkhighlands telling me to stop propagating such dangerous views! From someone who had not used them.

Thanks guys

My proper winter boots and Grivel crampons haven't been used in a very long time but a few times in recent years we've come across a dodgy patch of ice when microspikes would have been very useful.

Yes, although mine are cheap non branded things and work well enough to get over something that would be very difficult to walk. Its mostly rolling moorland on my walks in Northumberland so not going to need crampons. But it is common to see frozen standing water and streams where these things can make life a lot easier and safer.

Team issue for our Lakes MRT, really useful and easy to have available just in case. Use with fell running shoes and boots equally happily.

Which model @TomB?

oooh, those Nortecs look like an improvement over Kahtoola, the holes in the rubber web look re-enforced, which I think was a point of failure on the Kahtoolas

Kinda book marked as I've been after some micro spikes for mountain/fell walking with Finland dog but the above comment has always put me off - the elastomer/rubber never looks strong enough for the chain elements to not rip out.

Good timing. Got caught out walking from Dunmail Raise to Grisedale tarn the other week. Totally iced up and Mrs Surfer struggled (as did I) These would have been useful for that stretch.

<br />I’ve got a pair of the Grivel Explorer - this was the track up Ben More the other week, tricky otherwise. Unless your climbing really steep slopes needing front points and axes, I find these really good with a lightweight shoe as you can place your foot flat on the surface rather that having to balance on your toes. 

I've used a bunch of them, there are variations in spike length, placement and the robustness of the chains, plates and rubber. Kahtoola seem as good as anything, but Grivel and Salewa both have versions and are both companies that know about winter hardware. They're pretty decent anywhere you can flat-foot on moderate angled stuff and great for ease of taking on and off if you come across short areas of water ice where donning crampons just for a short stretch feels excessive. 

Also, because they have much shorter spikes, they're inherently more stable underfoot than full-on crampons and less easy to snag on your trousers etc plus more tolerant of flexier footwear.

the elastomer/rubber never looks strong enough for the chain elements to not rip out.

I'm a bit of a unit - 6' and 13.5st. plus kit.

Our have done lot of rocky miles since we got them 4 years ago. Minimal damage and wear - the spikes rusting seems as big an issue.

I’m a bit of a unit – 6′ and 13.5st. plus kit

Christ, I'm 6' and 14st, never considered myself a unit before now 😂

One of the rubber eyelets on my Kahtoolas is slowly wearing through but hasn't gone yet, in fact thinking about it I could still reinforce it myself before it does go...

I'm 6' 1.5" and just under 15st (relaxed geometry)

I'll go with Matt's recommendation!

I've been using some over the last week, unbranded from Lidl, bought years ago. They work well on moderate gradients where my ankles have enough flex to keep them flat - beyond that full crampons are neeeded. . They are a bit fragile looking so I hunt out snow to walk on to avoid wear/cuts at the altitude there's the transition to snow cover.

Using mine yesterday:

Many traditionalists will shoot me for this view – I’ve even had a PM on Walkhighlands telling me to stop propagating such dangerous views! From someone who had not used them.

They absolutely have their place but they also have some pretty serious limitations which aren't always obvious.

Personally, I never use them. In the situations where I see people using them I'm quite happy just in boots or trail shoes. Once I feel like I need spikes it's a proper crampon I want.

In the situations where I see people using them I’m quite happy just in boots or trail shoes.

I'd love to watch you walking across water ice at just 15% in your trail shoes, however, with even the most minimal spikes you can stroll across. Try them before you diss them, they have their place. I've got Salewa strap on crampons and full on Simond Makalu step-in crampons/plastic boots, but for walking as apposed to mountaineering a stretchy bit of rubber with a few spikes can make all the difference. That's the Col de Torte on the GR10 in the pic, the spikes made what would have been an unpleasant and tricky venture with just Vibrams into a pleasant strool - full crampons would have been an unpleasant overkill.

I’d love to watch you walking across water ice at just 15% in your trail shoes

I'm not claiming some sort of super ability here, it's just that in the Scottish hills the conditions that make them really useful are pretty rare. Lots of people seem to use them on icy paths in Scotland but you can usually get by without them by just walking on the path edge.

Try them before you diss them, they have their place

I'm not dissing them and I'm not sure why you'd think I am? Did you read the bit of my post where I said 'they definitely have their place'? 😉

I’m not claiming some sort of super ability here, it’s just that in the Scottish hills the conditions that make them really useful are pretty rare. Lots of people seem to use them on icy paths in Scotland but you can usually get by without them by just walking on the path edge.

that's not always possible, I keep a pair of Hanwags just for snowy/icey winter upland doggo walks. Their aggressive soles are just about okay but there have been a few situations where an easily fitted/removable traction aid would have helped and made the situation safer.
My reluctance had been their durability but that seems to be a non issue.

that’s not always possible, I keep a pair of Hanwags just for snowy/icey winter upland doggo walks. Their aggressive soles are just about okay but there have been a few situations where an easily fitted/removable traction aid would have helped and made the situation safer.

I think part of the problem with microspikes is that they see such a range of use. Old grannies wear something like them them in the street and I know someone who soloed Tower Ridge in them!

I don't see either of those examples as a problem, Spin. 😉

Been using them (kahtoolas) for years for tramping around the peaks. Other than balling issue in the wrong kind of snow, they’ve been faultless. They go on when I get into consistent snow and come off when I leave it. In between - just walk normally with zero sliding whatever is under foot.

I have big crampons, but the spikes are WAY more versaltile and therefore used.

Lots of people seem to use them on icy paths in Scotland but you can usually get by without them by just walking on the path edge.

Agreed you can get by, but it's infinitely better to have them. Three situations I can recall (the standard approach to the Cobbler, the dip between Stob Binnien and Ben More and hiking back out from Bynack Mor) where crampons were comically and almost dangerously overkill but no spikes at all was just ridiculously slow going. For the sake of £35 and minimal extra weight (perhaps a different equation if you're climbing right enough) I would never be without microspikes in my rucsac during the winter months now.

I wonder if as a winter climber you're just not out in the sort of in-between conditions when paths are at their slippiest and spikes at their most useful?

I don’t see either of those examples as a problem, Spin. 

Me neither, the problem is when people at both ends of the spectrum are giving advice on them!

Never heard of microspikes until earlier in the week and a review of a bunch of them turned up on Flipboard, so it might be of interest to those like me who are interested:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-microspikes-for-hiking/

I wonder if as a winter climber you’re just not out in the sort of in-between conditions when paths are at their slippiest and spikes at their most useful

I actually bought a set when I started doing more winter hill running. Stuff like the Mullardoch Round and Cairngorm 4000ers as I thought they'd be great for that. After carrying them for a few years I stopped taking them as I never used them. I always run with poles in the winter and that makes a huge difference I think.

Winter climbing you encounter all sorts but you're always in big boots and always have crampons so there's hardly ever a time when microspikes would be of much use.

They don’t work for me but they obviously work for others.

I was up (and down) the Burma Road near Aviemore today wearing my spiked Hokas. There was a couple of spots where they were almost essential, most of the time they were just unnecessary. Something I can carry and just strp on when required would be ideal for those sort of mixed conditions, or where it's a low level walk/run in to the ascent.

So - what best option for fitting on running shoes?

Most will work on running shoes. My nortecs definitely do

Which Nortecs?

I've used the kahtoola ones for years, ususal stuff as above but also handy when you are out on spike tyres on boiler plate ice on the bike, stops that embarrasing slide when you forget how slippy it is and put your foot down

I thought about getting some but after reading around came to the conclusion that without any snow/ice hiking experience and not having or tried crampons/axe, they might just make it easier for me to get into places I shouldn't be going in those conditions. Can't know what conditions will be like until I get somewhere really. Open to being converted though.

Right at the basic end, I've got a set of slipon yaktrax, just basic coil ones and I've found them seriously useful. They don't ever tempt me to do anything really stupid, they just make doing regularly stupid stuff much easier and safer. They grip my shoes well enough to do nontechnical running though I wouldn't want to try that offroad. They're also pretty painless on normal ground, though they're so quick to fit and remove that I take them off more than you would with more full on kit. Not sure how well they'd last in the longer term but that's fine for my non-serious use.

Basically they feel like they were designed for normal people rather than climbers, which is both good and bad.

Which Nortecs?

We have Nortec Alp.
Great on more flexible boots

I think it gets cold and slippery enough to find microspikes useful down here about every fifteen to twenty years or thereabouts! There was 1962, then around 1982, there was the Beast of the Eastin 2018, when it was so slippery in a housing estate in a valley in Falmouth I had to be towed out by a tractor! There was sod-all snow at the top of the hill, though.

Sorry - i have the nortec fast micro. The neon yellow ones

I’ve used my Grivels with running shoes plenty of times - Scarpa, LaSportiva or Salomon shoes - never had a problem with them coming loose either. I’ve also got a pair of Scarpa Ribelle HD boots for more serious conditions. I’ll go up Ben More (on Mull) at least a couple of times over winter and between December and April some sort of crampon is near essential. I find it mildly amusing when a non-local takes it upon themselves to berate a stranger about their choice of gear - I was stood atop a snowy Ben Rinnes in running gear being admonished for not having ‘winter’ gear when I pointed out my house at the bottom. I can see the summit of Ben More a few miles from home, if I can’t see it, I go home or elsewhere.

I was stood atop a snowy Ben Rinnes in running gear being admonished for not having ‘winter’ gear when I pointed out my house at the bottom.

does being able to see your house prevent hypothermia? Asking for a friend…

I'm not sure that the microspikes keep you warm 🤔

Which model @TomB?

we’ve got the Kahtoolas, not tried any others but no failures so far.

Sorry – i have the nortec fast micro. The neon yellow ones

I have those as well graham; they seem to come up a bit small in my experience. A size Large (to fit size 42-44) is a very tight fit onto my size 43 running shoe.