YakTrax Walker Traction Device

Product Information

However, as we’ve shown, the comparison between Yaktrax Summit and Kahtoola MICROspikes ® is worth looking at for moderately challenging winter activities. Although we prefer the Kahtoola MICROspikes ®, both are excellent products to keep you safe during winter.

MICROspikes ® vs Crampons is a bit complicated. Traction devices are generally called crampons when they have spikes instead of chains or coils in the sole. Crampons originally came about for scaling icy sections of mountains and climbing waterfalls and had long 1-2 inch spikes. As you can see, technical crampons are long and a bit scary spikes. Overkill for most hikes. In contrast, the strong elastomer harness of the Kahtoola MICROspikes ® is incredibly durable and will last for many seasons of winter hiking and adventure. The Cost of Each The base-level Yaktrax, with a series of heavy-duty coils on your sole, is intended for walking out to get your mail. Ice grips with spikes can use the irregular surface of concrete pavements and tarmac to give you a better grip in such conditions but you would still need to take extra care and the spikes would wear out.Winner: Yaktrax Summit – coming in at 1/4 pound lighter is a pretty significant difference. The Spike Material You’ll also notice that the MICROspikes ® have a generous pull tab at the heel to make it easy to stretch the spike frame over your foot. The proprietary eyelet design where tough TPU inserts strengthen critical stress points allows the elastomer harness to be lighter and more durable. With good traction for comfortable walking in dry conditions to deep snow, these are highly versatile

Footwear sizing is based on the inside fit of the shoe or boot to our feet. As Yaktrax® fit on the outside of the footwear, it is the actual footprint or circumference that is relevant when you choose the correct size. Over time, those traction devices have been adapted with smaller spikes for a variety of winter terrain. And the Kahtoola MICROspikes ® are a subset of crampons, with smaller spikes for challenging hiking or work conditions. Which is the best crampon for Traction When Trail Running Let’s start with the ball of the foot. Both have 8 spikes, 3/8 inch spikes located on the ball. However, the Yaktrax Summit has spikes laid out in a triangle shape that provides aggressive traction when hiking a hill. They will dig in and keep your hiking boots steady with your forward motion. While we do not factor price into our testing process or scores, it is absolutely a factor in the decision-making process. We consider a high-value product to be one that expertly balances an excellent performance with a fair price. Gear that lasts and also doesn't break the bank is a win all around.

The Yaktrax Summit has a fit system completely different from other traction devices. They use the patented Boa Closure System that is used in many high-performance gear. The idea behind it is that you turn the knob at the heel to pull the cables tight. As the cables tighten, they adjust the pull on both the front and side of the Summits. The fit is about as custom as you can get, especially in accomodating a variety of foot and boot widths. Yaktrax® Walk ice grips are the most popular ice grips from Yaktrax®. Lightweight and comfortable to wear. The fit systems of the Yaktrax Summit and Kahtoola MICROspikes ® are very different. When you are looking at the fit of a traction device, you need 3 things: The Summit uses carbon steel for its spikes, while MICROspikes ® are made of stainless steel. Carbon Steel is stronger and more durable than stainless steel. So you’d think that was a clear winner. However, carbon steel is more susceptible to rusting over time, making it critical that you dry your Summit spikes after each use if you want to get a long life out of them.