[pct-l] Kahtoola Microspikes vs Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

Chain designs have their time and place and those are on the flats and straight up and down grades. Even Kahtoola states that their Microspikes were never designed nor intended for steep snow traverses. They have Hiking Crampons for that. Chain-designed traction devices work well in flat-bottomed boot-tracks, though! So, as long as you have a "trail" in the snow or boot-track to follow, you can feel that you have sufficient grip on the snow to prevent falls by using chain designs.

Gary makes the point for the best tool for the job, but snow hikers are not ice climbers nor mountaineers, off-trail on steep, variable surfaces and pitches, so the Grivel 12-point crampon is not the right tool for their job, snow-hiking. 

The primary difference between Hiking and climbing crampons lies in two details, the flexibility of the frame to accommodate boot metatarsil flex and the forward points.

Forward points are great when toeing straight up hard or frozen surfaces, but snow hikers won't be doing that. Forward points can puncture or seriously lacerate the opposite leg when used for walking instead of climbing. Snow hikers walk and traverse more than climb, so 12 points are not the right tool for their job. That is why Kahtoola came up with hiking crampons.

So, if you want to make your own routes over snow and foresee yourself cruising across sometimes steep grades of morning-hardened snow, your tool of choice would be the hiking crampon. 

Using the wrong tool for the job always involves compromises and sometimes that decision leads to a dangerous one....

Most of my SAR patients usually said, "Well, one oversight led to another and here I am!"


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education, Inc.
ned at mountaineducation.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: Pct-L [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of Gary Schenk
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 7:13 PM
To: PCT-L <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Kahtoola Microspikes vs Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra

If you are worried about snow, why buy some cheap imitation that will roll off your foot when you can get the real thing for about the same weight?
http://www.grivel.com/products/ice/crampons/12-air_tech_light?binding=3

Gary
--------------------------------------------
On Mon, 1/30/17, Tim Umstead <tumstead96 at gmail.com> wrote:

 Subject: [pct-l] Kahtoola Microspikes vs Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra
 To: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
 Date: Monday, January 30, 2017, 10:41 AM
 
 Most people I have talked to have
 used Microspikes.  I was wondering if
 anyone has any experience with Trail Crampon Ultra?  The two are very  similar in design and price.  The major design  difference being that the  Trail Crampon Ultra has an extra Velcro strap across the top  f the foot.
 
 For size 11.5 trail runners the Microspikes weigh 13.1 oz  and Trail Crampon  Ultra weight 14.9 oz so Microspikes are almost 2 oz  lighter.
 
 As for the spikes Microspikes have twelve 3/8" spikes were  as the Trail  Crampon Ultra have eighteen raging from 2/5" to  1/2".   The longer ones at  the back.
 
 All and all the two systems are very similar.  What I  want to know is:
 
 How well do they work while backpacking?
 
 Which is more durable?
 
 Does one clog more then that other?
 
 The Ravens
 PCT '96, '15
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