Kahtoola MICROspikes Review: Traction, Not Crampons
Twelve heat-treated stainless steel spikes per foot, eight at the forefoot and four at the heel, on a reinforced elastomer harness with welded stainless chains, packing to 5 by 3 by 2 inches. Buy them for icy trails, frozen mud and packed snow, where they transform footing. Do not take them onto steep snow or ice where a fall matters, because that is crampon and ice axe terrain and microspikes are not a substitute for either.
Twelve stainless spikes per foot for icy trails, and no substitute for crampons and an axe.
Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction for Winter, Snow and Ice Trail Hiking, Black, Large
Under $100
A traction system with 12 stainless spikes per foot on a reinforced elastomer harness with welded stainless steel chains.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spikes | 12 heat-treated corrosion-resistant stainless steel per foot |
|---|---|
| Spike layout | 8 at the forefoot, 4 at the heel |
| Harness | Elastomer with patented eyelet design and TPU inserts at stress points |
| Chains | Welded stainless steel, resisting snow buildup while staying flexible |
| Pack size | 5 x 3 x 2 in, 30 cubic inches |
| Intended use | Winter hiking, backpacking, ice trekking, ice fishing and trail running |
| Warranty | 4 year manufacturer |
Specifications above come from Kahtoola's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Twelve spikes with a forefoot bias is the right layout for walking. Traction where you push off matters more than traction where you land.
- Welded chains rather than crimped links is the detail that separates these from cheap traction devices, which fail at the links.
- The reinforced eyelet design addresses the standard failure point of every elastomer harness, which is the rubber tearing where the chain attaches.
- Thirty cubic inches packed means they live in a pack all winter without being a decision.
- A four year warranty on a wear item is unusually confident and matches Kahtoola's reputation.
Where it falls short
- They are not crampons. Short spikes on a flexible harness do not hold on steep hard ice or firm steep snow, and using them there is how people get hurt. Steep terrain needs rigid crampons and an ice axe, and the training to use both.
- Elastomer harnesses stretch and eventually tear, particularly if pulled on in the cold. Warm them slightly before fitting and pull from the reinforced points.
- They can come off. On deep soft snow or in mud, the harness can roll off a shoe, which is why checking them periodically matters.
- Deep unconsolidated snow is not what they are for. That is snowshoe terrain, and spikes just sink.
- Sizing follows shoe size and it matters. Too loose and they come off; too tight and the harness is under permanent strain and will tear sooner.
What owners report
MICROspikes have a long reputation as the traction device other traction devices are compared against, and owner reports consistently describe them lasting years. The recurring failure people mention is harness tearing, and Kahtoola's four year warranty covers the timeframe where that would be a defect rather than wear.
The important distinction is between traction and mountaineering. Microspikes make an icy trail walkable. Crampons and an ice axe make steep snow and ice climbable, and they exist because the consequences of a slip on that terrain are severe. Treating one as the other is the mistake worth naming.
If poles are part of your winter kit, the pairing matters. Our carbon versus aluminium poles comparison notes that carbon snaps and aluminium bends, and on ice a pole that survives a hard plant is worth more than one that saves an ounce. Our cold weather guide covers the wider winter kit.
Who it suits
- Hikers on icy trails, frozen mud and packed snow.
- Trail runners who want traction that packs to nothing.
- Anyone who has slipped on a frozen approach trail and decided once was enough.
Who should skip it
- Steep snow and ice, which is crampon and ice axe terrain.
- Deep unconsolidated snow, which needs snowshoes.
- Anyone expecting them to substitute for winter mountaineering skills.
Alternatives worth considering
Black Diamond Distance Z Poles, Aluminium, Z-Folding, Pewter, 130 cm
Under $250
Aluminium bends where carbon snaps, which matters on ice when a pole takes a hard sideways load. The same Z-fold packing, and the failure mode you want in winter.
Check price on AmazonOutdoor Research Men's Helium UL Jacket, Black, X-Large
Under $250
Winter trails are where a windproof shell earns its place more than a waterproof one. A brim-wired hood and taped seams in a jacket light enough to carry always.
Check price on AmazonBlack Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp, AAA Powered, Dimmable
Under $50
Winter hiking means walking in the dark at both ends of the day. AAA power is the right choice in the cold, because you can carry spare cells and lithium AAAs perform far better than a lithium-ion pack does.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Carbon vs aluminium trekking poles
- Trail runners vs hiking boots
- Cold weather ultralight
- Layering system guide
- Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z review
- Best trail runners for hiking
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between microspikes and crampons?
Microspikes have short spikes on a flexible elastomer harness and are made for walking on icy trails and packed snow. Crampons have long, rigid points on a stiff frame, attach securely to stiff boots, and are made for climbing steep snow and ice. They are not interchangeable, and using microspikes on crampon terrain is how people fall.
When should I put them on?
Before you need them, not after you have started slipping. The moment to stop and fit traction is when the trail turns from patchy to consistently icy, and the reason people fall is putting it off. They take about thirty seconds each.
Will they work in deep snow?
No. Spikes need something firm to bite into. In deep unconsolidated snow you sink regardless, which is snowshoe terrain. Microspikes are for packed snow, frozen trail, ice and frozen mud.
What size do I buy?
By shoe size, following Kahtoola's chart. A loose fit rolls off in soft ground and a tight fit keeps the harness under permanent strain, which is what tears elastomer. Fit them over the footwear you will actually wear, since a boot and a trail runner are different sizes.
How do I make them last?
Warm the harness slightly before fitting in very cold conditions rather than stretching frozen rubber, pull from the reinforced points, rinse and dry them after salted or muddy use, and store them dry. Harness tearing is the usual end of life, and cold stretching is what causes most of it.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, listed weights, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every weight quoted here is the manufacturer's figure unless we say otherwise, so weigh your own kit before you trust a total. Going lighter also means carrying less margin, so treat insulation, navigation, water treatment and an emergency plan as fixed costs rather than places to save grams.
Weighing your own kit item by item? The Base Weight Reduction Planner is the paid version of these pages: 11 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, two filled-in examples, a companion spreadsheet and the full PDF, $29.
