Ice axe vs whippet vs trekking poles?

[thinhorn_AK]

Does anyone have a brand or recommendation on micro spikes?

kahtoola

 

[AK Troutbum]

The Kahtoola's work great, until they don't. I've had several pairs of Kahtoola microspikes, and currently have 3 pairs with two of them now having almost as much bailing wire as they do rubber, to keep them together. The rubber will eventually tear or rip loose from the points where the chain connects to it. They redesigned them a couple years ago making the rubber grommets much more durable, but they still eventually break. Kahtoola has been very good to me with replacing broken microspikes, but anymore I've just decided to repair them with bailing wire and see how long that lasts. I wish there was a better option, and there may be, I just haven't found it yet.

 

[Low_Sky]

Does anyone have a brand or recommendation on micro spikes?

Kahtoola is the brand
Microspikes is the name of the product

They’re the only game in town for serious sub-crampon traction as far as I’m concerned. However, they do break and occasionally slip off. If high traction is a must-have that will make-or-break a trip, I’m bringing crampons.


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[AK Troutbum]

Does anyone have a brand or recommendation on micro spikes?

Amazon has a super good deal going on right now for the Kahtoola's.

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

 

[Low_Sky]

Amazon has a super good deal going on right now for the Kahtoola's.

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Smoking hot deal for the small-footed hiker.


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[tdot]

Hillsound is another option for the microspike style crampons. Newer then the Kahtoola, not as well known. But one of the local stores has them and said they've had zero returns in the last year, where as the Kahtoola were about 25%.

I've spoken to a couple people who have them, and they liked them, but they'd not used the Kahtoola, so no direct comparison.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Smoking hot deal for the small-footed hiker.


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Size small and medium. I wear size 10 (43 euro), boots and medium Kahtoola's.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Hillsound is another option for the microspike style crampons. Newer then the Kahtoola, not as well known. But one of the local stores has them and said they've had zero returns in the last year, where as the Kahtoola were about 25%.

I've spoken to a couple people who have them, and they liked them, but they'd not used the Kahtoola, so no direct comparison.

I've never actually had my hands on the Hillsound's, but they look like they're build exactly like the Kahtoola's but with an additional strap over the top. All my issues with Kahtoola have been with the rubber breaking, and the Hillsound looks exactly the same. I wonder if the type of rubber they're using is better/more durable somehow?

 

[tdot]

I've never actually had my hands on the Hillsound's, but they look like they're build exactly like the Kahtoola's but with an additional strap over the top. All my issues with Kahtoola have been with the rubber breaking, and the Hillsound looks exactly the same. I wonder if the type of rubber they're using is better/more durable somehow?

I'll look at the rubber specifically when I'm in there next week. Hopefully they have both brands in stock still.

How well did your Kahtoola's function with the binding wire? I was considering buying a set, cutting all the rubber off and replacing it with spliced dyneema, but I haven't decided how to introduce any elastic into the system. But if you're at 100% binding wire, and they still function, maybe it's not needed.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I'll look at the rubber specifically when I'm in there next week. Hopefully they have both brands in stock still.

How well did your Kahtoola's function with the binding wire? I was considering buying a set, cutting all the rubber off and replacing it with spliced dyneema, but I haven't decided how to introduce any elastic into the system. But if you're at 100% binding wire, and they still function, maybe it's not needed.

They're nowhere near 100% bailing wire, still mostly rubber, but I've replace the rubber, in the few spots where it broke, with wire. The times when the chain tore out of the rubber grommet, I just notified Kahtoola and they had me send a picture, then they replaced them based on the pic. If I remember, when I get home, I'll post up some pictures.

 

[SLDMTN]

Between all members of my family we've had roughly 30-40 sets of Kahtoola Microspikes. The older ones were good for a season of hard use and then they were demoted to only local short trips due to failure rates.

The newer style are better and I can get about 2 seasons out of them. However, do not take them into the hills without using them a few times. The rubber on a brand new set last year ripped the very first time I put them on my boot. Luckily they still held on to the boot well enough to get me by on the trip. Kahtoola sent me a new set for free and I've had no issues with them.

The only time Kahtoolas are less than ideal is in very heavy/wet snow. The snow will pack in and around the chains and soon you'll be on 6-8" of balled up snow. A few good stomps and it's free but it's still annoying. I have heard from Luke/Becca that the Hillsound are better in this regard but I haven't used them personally.

I'm considering getting an axe for a trip this year but I don't know if I want to spend the money when I really like my trekking poles, Black Diamond Trail Back for me. Original set from I bought 5-6 years back, they've been up a creek and down a river with me.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

What crampons are y’all using? I see camp makes some nice light aluminum ones. The only pair I have are some older grivels from my mountaineering days.

 

[ZachB]

Amazon has a super good deal going on right now for the Kahtoola's.

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction Black Small : Ice And Snow Traction Cleats : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

Definitely taking advantage of this.

 

[Low_Sky]

What crampons are y’all using? I see camp makes some nice light aluminum ones. The only pair I have are some older grivels from my mountaineering days.

Petzl Irvis hybrids. Wear them with my ski boots and mountaineering boots. Steel toe, aluminum heel.


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[AK Troutbum]

The newer style are better and I can get about 2 seasons out of them. However, do not take them into the hills without using them a few times. The rubber on a brand new set last year ripped the very first time I put them on my boot. Luckily they still held on to the boot well enough to get me by on the trip. Kahtoola sent me a new set for free and I've had no issues with them.

The only time Kahtoolas are less than ideal is in very heavy/wet snow. The snow will pack in and around the chains and soon you'll be on 6-8" of balled up snow. A few good stomps and it's free but it's still annoying. I have heard from Luke/Becca that the Hillsound are better in this regard but I haven't used them personally.

^^^This! I know that Kahtoola sees a lot of failure in their microspikes, I just wonder why they haven't come up with a better system.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Petzl Irvis hybrids. Wear them with my ski boots and mountaineering boots. Steel toe, aluminum heel.


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I like petzl stuff, I was looking at those earlier.

 

[AK Troutbum]

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[as.ks.ak]

Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro

It’s not a total glacier travel crampon, but that’s basically what I got it for. They’ll fit on any of my boots that’s aren’t crampon compatible. Which was a big selling point for me.

I’ve had them on three or four glaciers, I don’t do any ice climbing, just using glaciers for goat/sheep hunting. Off and on the glaciers and try to minimize my time on them. But when that time comes, these are good enough for me to trust my life with.

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[idahohikker]

Between all members of my family we've had roughly 30-40 sets of Kahtoola Microspikes. The older ones were good for a season of hard use and then they were demoted to only local short trips due to failure rates.

The newer style are better and I can get about 2 seasons out of them. However, do not take them into the hills without using them a few times. The rubber on a brand new set last year ripped the very first time I put them on my boot. Luckily they still held on to the boot well enough to get me by on the trip. Kahtoola sent me a new set for free and I've had no issues with them.

The only time Kahtoolas are less than ideal is in very heavy/wet snow. The snow will pack in and around the chains and soon you'll be on 6-8" of balled up snow. A few good stomps and it's free but it's still annoying. I have heard from Luke/Becca that the Hillsound are better in this regard but I haven't used them personally.

I'm considering getting an axe for a trip this year but I don't know if I want to spend the money when I really like my trekking poles, Black Diamond Trail Back for me. Original set from I bought 5-6 years back, they've been up a creek and down a river with me.

The 2013 Microspikes on sale are the older version you’re referring to? It sounded like it to me and I better just save for the new ones for lower failure rates.

 

[thrash907]

I broke the chain on 2 pairs of Kahoolas just testing them out on the front range. Ended up with the campusa snowline micro spikes and have had zero issues in the year I’ve had them.