Crampon Recommendations?

[Sleepy Creek]

Looking for tips on what mildly aggressive strap on spikes guys have had luck with. I am looking for something to replace my caulk boots for hunting steep timber etc. so not needing the large ice spikes. I think I remember someone mentioning kahtoolas? or Hillsound Trails?

 

[idig4au]

If steep and technical terrain is expected I use black diamond neve pro.

Not so technical but need extra traction I use the hillsound trails. I like these as I can still use the toe of the boot for sensitivity. A little more versatile for varied terrain. Downside is they are heavy to pack.

 

[dotman]

I really like my Hillsound trails, highly recommend them! Not much to say other then easy to put on and they keep your feet where you want them. You can get some snow balling if there is slack between them and your boot but it is easy to remove and not a big deal.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I never want to get too technical when I'm hunting because I don't have enough experience with technical gear and I don't want to get myself into something that I cannot get out of. That being said, I have only used Kahtoola microspikes and they have worked very well for me. I have hiked up some pretty steep icy trails and felt very comfortable and confident that I wouldn't lose traction. I think that if you don't plan on doing any serious ice/glacier climbing, where the traditional, aggressive crampons are needed, Kahtoola's should serve you just fine.

You can't tell from this picture but this is about a 45° slope up an icy trail.

 

[Sleepy Creek]

Thanks guys. I think it was Luke who destroyed a pair of kahtoolas on a goat hunt? I am notoriously hard on things.

 

[AK Troutbum]

The main, and I think only, problem that Kahtoola had with their microspikes is sometimes the grommets would rip out if you were really hard on them. They reinforced all of the grommets on their new ones and they're bomber now. I have a pair of both, old and new, and I don't think I could tear out the new ones if I tried. I'm fairly hard on my gear also but haven't had any issues with the grommets even on my old pair.

 

[Ray]

If you have boots with stiff soles use the Trails. They also have tip points for steeper terrain. They are not technical enough to work for any type of serious climbing.

If you have boots with more flexible soles then use the micro spikes.

Neither will replace the stuck to the earth feeling of caulk boots, but I think the micro spikes would handle walking on tree trunks better than the Trails. However, their points are not as pitched as caulk spikes and may not sink in enough to provide as secure a grip. An affordable experiment though.

 

[CA Karen]

Another vote for Kahtoola micro spikes, have the old style for general purpose for trail hiking and easy/moderate off trail, but if I am in steep terrain I use hinged crampons. You really don't need rigid crampons unless your ice climbing.

 

[luke moffat]

Have used half a dozen different types. My favorites for most of my uses are the hill sound cypress 6. Super fast on/off and the ratchets allow you to really suck them up so they won't roll on ya on long heavy side hills like the hill sound trails or kahtoola micro spikes.

 

[HJ Handy]

I can speak for use of Kahtoola KTS crampons. I had a set of aluminum KTS crampons I've used for years and now have a set of the steel version. They are light and once you get them dialed in for the fit of your boot they are easy on, easy off. They have the K10 crampon now that is even easier to put on and take off. I've used them in steep slick alpine grass, icy approaches in the Chugach in winter and trail hiking in icy conditions. I've used them with my Lowa leather boots, Salomon hikers and Koflach hard plastics. The spikes arent overly aggressive. If I'm expecting wet grass, snow or ice they are always on the pack.