Traction devices

[Mags]

Every so often, people ask about traction devices for winter use.

While technical mountaineering is far outside the scope for most of us (myself included), you will often encounter stretches of icy trail in not only winter, but also in the shoulder seasons.

This link provides a wonderful overview of traction devices for lighter footwear. Though aimed for trail running, it can apply to hiking. By the author's own admission, he often power hikes the steeper uphills. So the info can be useful.


http://mountainrunning.com/features/..._08/index.html

[Tipi Walter]

Great link. I've had my eye on the Kahtoola microspikes and thought of all the many times I could of used them coming off the icey mountains in North Carolina. Generally, though, the snow and ice I encounter in the southeast nowadays is much less than in the 1970s and 1980s, and I'm able to either walk thru the snow without traction or avoid the patches of ice. But not everyone lives and backpacks in the southeast, so thanks for the link.

[max patch]

Thanks for the link.

The paragraph about yaktraks was interesting. I wonder how many people who have said good things about them in forums have actually used them?

[Frosty]

Thanks for the link.

The paragraph about yaktraks was interesting. I wonder how many people who have said good things about them in forums have actually used them?

I can't use them because they don't make a size that will fit on my 16-17 footwear, but I'd hiked with maybe 4-5 people who wore them. None lasted an entire dayhike.

Not in the article were instep crampons (proably too unbalanced for someone running trails) that I carry when I don't think I'll need crampons. (For hiking Grivel G10s are hard to beat.) Insteps are great when you are slabbing on a sidehill and come across that ice flow with the evil sideways down slope.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...roductId=47886

[Mags]

Thanks for the link.

The paragraph about yaktraks was interesting. I wonder how many people who have said good things about them in forums have actually used them?

i think Yak Traxx are useless myself. I only know a few people who actually like them. I often find Yak Traxx scattered over the trails in winter!

[Mags]

IInsteps are great when you are slabbing on a sidehill and come across that ice flow with the evil sideways down slope.

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...roductId=47886

My buddy uses those on the very trails mentioned in the link. Worked well.

[jhick]

Great link. I am in the market for a traction device, glad I saw this first.

[Chenango]

I got a pair of Stabilicers a couple of weeks ago. So far, they seem to work real well in crusty snow, on iced rocks, and on ice build-up arounf roots and in depressions. I will be giving them a better test this weekend in the Berkshires. We have had lots of ice and freezing rain this week in the northeast.

[Alligator]

I have these 6 pt. crampons. I've carried them but have not needed to use them yet. About all I can say is they are light for crampons.

[Mocs123]

I just bought a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes. I will be taking them with me to Mt Rogers this weekend, but I might not need them. If I get a chance to use them, I will post a report.

[RenoRoamer]

I've not been on the site for long but I've already said something bad about Yaktrax (they break quickly in rough field conditions). Stablicers are what I use now, but those Kahtoola Microspikes look even better.

[LIhikers]

I've been using Stabilicers for several years and like them alot. Just stay away from their Sport version as they don't stay on for more than a few steps at a time.

[saimyoji]

I posted my thoughts on this thread. I've been using just a few lengths of chain strapped to my boots with hex screws screwed into the links. Works great and only cost my 13 bucks.

[Tin Man]

Hmm. Looks like the items discussed here would take away all the excitement of hiking on icy trails. My lekis have been sufficient for the shoulder seasons...most of the time.

[ScottP]

Thanks, Mags. I'm hiking the CDT early season this year (entering San Juans first week of June), and I'll either need some snowshoes or those kahtoola microspikes.

[Mags]

Thanks, Mags. I'm hiking the CDT early season this year (entering San Juans first week of June), and I'll either need some snowshoes or those kahtoola microspikes.

Go with the microspikes IMO. It will be hard and crusty snow..not deep powder. Snowshoes will be too heavy for the (likely) on and off use that will be seen.

Of course, the snow is through the roof this year in the San Juans..so who the heck knows. :O

[Tuck]

I found the limits of my Stabilicers a few weeks ago. I was in the Catskills the day after a rain/ice storm so everything was coated in ice. I'm ~250 pounds with winter gear on my back and wear a Large Stabilicer. I didn't have nearly enough traction on some of the steeper sections going up Blackhead and Balsam.

I resorted to using snowshoes (MSR Denali Ascent) to do the steepest sections on Blackhead because their crampon is much more aggressive than the Stabilicer. I gave up on Balsam after a couple of close calls. There were a lot of rocks on the trail that didn't have enough ice for the Stabilicers to bite. They were really easy to slip on.

My buddy who weighs ~200 pounds with winter gear didn't have the same problems that I did. I think a full crampon would have made things easy.

[mudhead]

Does anyone have an update for me? Ease of on/off? Going across granite? Ice? Especially ice!

[woodsy]

Does anyone have an update for me? Ease of on/off? Going across granite? Ice? Especially ice!

http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/index-vftt.html

forums>General backcountry>scroll down to: Product review-Katoola MICROspikes
pretty good hands on, I mean feet on review from New England hikers

[Chenango]

I used Stabilicers going up Stratton Mtn (VT) on Saturday. Conditions were very icy neear the bottom and crusty snow near the top. I had great traction on the ice (no exposed rocks and it was not very steep). On the crust snow it was marginal going uphill, but still much better than nothing. Going downhill, the Stabilcers did very well on the crust. I think part of that was due to my heel sinking a bit into the crust a I landed on them.