Reviews & Ratings for Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System — 79 reviews — Page 1

I was bit skeptical when bought this. Tried this on the hike last week and it has very good traction on snow and very easy to use. I was fine walking with this on mud and some flat surfaces too. I did not want to remove it for small patches for plain / muddy terrain.

Hiking in the PNW often means snow and ice along the trail late into spring. Without these microspikes you may be forced to turn around or have your hike turn into a not so much fun fight for balance. We always bring them if there is a chance of snow or ice as they don't weigh much and take up little space. They are small enough to fit in a waist pack and come with a water tight pouch to keep the rest of your gear clean and dry when you store them away.
Very good for sections where there is snow / ice interrupted by stretches of dirt and rock. Due to the length of the spikes dirt / rock travel is no problem.
Despite the fact that the spikes look small, last year I left the crampons at home and used the microspikes to successfully summit Mt.Baker. Prue joy, lighter than crampons and much less likely to snag on your gaiters or pants.

I have used these for backpacking, hiking and trail running. They work exceptionally well. Easy to put on and they stay on. Outstanding traction on soft and hard ice or hard packed snow. I would recommend these to anyone who spends their time on the trail during winter.

I love these micro spikes! The small was the perfect fit over my size 8 Danner hiking boots. The fit is perfect where it tight enough to not fall off while hiking. They are also very eye catching. I can tell these will hold up over time. They were on back order but I’ll say they were worth the wait. Haven’t used them yet but I plan to use them next month on my Humphrey’s Peak Summit.

I've spent my whole life in the midwest and have therefore had my share of winter slips, falls, and bruised tailbones on winter ice. I finally bit the bullet and bought these microspikes to hopefully save me from my yearly fall on ice. I love these things. Have taken them around some of the park systems here in the twin cities where they have given me all of the traction. Can't believe it has taken me this long but so happy to have this extra sense of security.

My girlfriend and I have these for that transition area of spring hikes in the high country. They seem to be the most useful when descending the afternoon thaw when an actual snow shoe is too much and you want to avoid falling on your face.

I am 77 yrs old, and hike most weekends with a hiking club. We, (about 15 to 20 hikers per hike, all have these spikes, a few have other brands, but most have the Kahtoola, because they WORK..!!!. I tell my friends it is a small investment, to insure we do not slip and fall, no one wants a broken hip at this or any age. I feel anyone living in the north should have a pair, again, because they WORK. Excellent Product.

I've tried many traction devices over many years. Kahtoola is the best for all around use. They offer aggressive grip on packed snow and ice. The biggest problem most have is not staying in place or falling off. The Kahtoola MICROspikes stay put even in deep, wet snow or when breaking in and pulling up through crusty overlayers (if you know snow you know what I mean). They work well worn over running shoes and hiking boots. The elastic uppers remain pliable at low temps and can be taken on and off relatively easily with gloves or mittens on.

The sharp spikes will grip into bare rock but I advise avoiding dry dirt and bare rock as much as possible to avoid wearing down the teeth.

The only issue I've experienced is a tendency to clog and accumulate snow plugs when temps hover just above freezing. This is most likely due to the bare metal chains being cold enough to freeze water and then attract clumps of snow. The same thing has happened with several other similar devices I've used. The Kahtoolas can be cleared by dragging your foot a few times.

These are a must have when hiking out in icy weather. Especially when you’re 60 and 70 but are very useful and safe for any age. Great traction easy to put on. We feel safer and are not afraid to go out hiking even in the snow and ice.

I had a chance to discover the essential utility of microspikes on a hike this past January. Our winter was unusually mild, so the mountain trails were melted off in many areas making snowshoeing not possible. Wanting to get out anyway, I headed up in hiking shoes and brought along my Kahtoolas in the pack. As I progressed up the mountain, trail conditions varied between dry, muddy, patchy snow and ice. Once I hit the first bad section of trail I attached the Kahtoolas, and suddenly my ordinary hiking shoes became all-terrain demons. They were absolutely fantastic at totally conquering any conditions I encountered on the trail that day. I am a die-hard convert!

The Kahtoola's design is super rugged and makes attachment and removal super simple for almost any shoe or boot. They stay put when attached better than I expected, and when removed they easily collapse to a minimal profile for storage in my pack (the included storage bag is a plus for that). I found the sizing to be true according to Kahtoola's sizing guide for both my shoes and my wife's. I was concerned the full spikes might be too aggressive given some of the other designs I have seen, like the Yaktrax, that provide more of a traction chain design. But after using the Kahtoolas I have no regrets whatsoever about going for full spikes. The traction is amazing, and I never feel like I'm walking suspended on spikes or cleats. Highly recommended!