YakTrax Walker Traction Device

Product Information

The best hiking microspikes benefit from an easy slip-on design. You pull the harness around the hiking shoes you're wearing and snap it into place. Some models come with an additional velcro strap for a more precise fit. There are also some heavier models like the Hillsound Trail Crampon that are tougher to slip on. OK, so let’s wrap up with some of the common questions people have about winter traction devices for traversing snow and ice. How Do You Select the Correct Size of Traction Device Too large and there is a risk of the Yaktrax® falling off and being lost or acting as a trip hazard. If the Yaktrax® are too small, they could become over-stretched and develop weak points which snap. If the size of Yaktrax® is too large for the footwear, the coils could extend beyond of the shoe or boot.

After decades of hiking and mountaineering, I have developed a nearly encyclopedic knowledge of outdoor travel. I’m here to share that knowledge with you.Yaktrax Run and the really grippy Kahtoola NANOspikes are perfect for running on snow and ice-covered trails. The Summit and the MICROspikes ® are not the best for running as the longer spikes are more likely to snag in the ice.

Winner: Kahtoola MICROspikes ® – It’s a tight one since we are comparing the value of strength to durability. But, the win goes to Kahtoola for adventuring out in snow and ice. The Kahtoola MICROspikes ® uses a rubber frame called the elastomer harness that you slip over your boot’s toe and then pull up over your heel. This design is familiar in many traction devices and is effective for a versatile fit. The toe bail, the rubber over the top of your boots, is wide enough to provide a snug fit. Yaktrax® Walk ice grips are made out of an injection moulded thermal plastic elastomer designed for easy on and off. There’s a few obvious features to each product that might make it preferable to the other. For example, Yaktrax are much more affordable and work better for road running in slushy conditions whereas Microspikes would dig into the tarmac and slow you down. However, Yaktrax break more easily and don’t stay on the foot quite as well as Microspikes. Microspikes are much more sturdy and durable, they stay on your feet better and the spikes definitely cut deeper into the ice to provide better traction, but they come with a heftier price tag and aren’t suitable for running in.

Yaktrax vs MICROspikes®?

The layout of the spikes is different between the two winter traction devices, with the spikes providing somewhat different advantages. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, many people compare apples to bananas when looking at traction devices. Yaktrax and Kahtoola both have a wide selection of styles, each meant for a different purpose. P.S. Yaktrax is a brand of 12 different styles of winter traction devices. In comparison, MICROspikes ® are just one of the 5 types of traction devices made by Kahtoola. A little further down, I’ll compare all the Yaktrax and Kahtoola models for each winter condition. Right now, let’s focus on moderate winter conditions, the perfect use of microspikes! Yaktrax Summit compared to Kahtoola MICROspikes ® However, if you are ice fishing or hiking into your hunting spot where you’ll be sitting most of the day, a little extra weight is not a big deal.

Hiking in the winter is a beautiful and sublime experience. It can also be dangerous if you’re not prepared. Without the proper grip, you could slip, trip, and slide your way to injury. Microspikes are the perfect traction device to keep you upright and uninjured. Now let’s look at the heel, where both cleats have 4 spikes in a circle. A minor difference is the Summit’s spikes are closer to the edge of the heel, while the MICROspikes ® are closer to the center. Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats are lightweight, affordable, and easy to put on and take off, making them a simple solution for winter walks. They are also comfortable enough to wear on hard surfaces like asphalt roads. Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats provide confidence on ice, snow and water with its non-slip traction material that grips with each step. Read Review The layout behind the heel provides even stability when your heel strikes the ground, which is very helpful for walking on ice or for winter hiking. In this comparison, the heel doesn’t seem to make much difference in overall traction. 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 EachBetween the Yaktrax Summit and the Kahtoola Microspikes, we recommend the MICROspikes ®. In this case, it is a pretty tough call; you have two very high-quality products that are proven to work in moderately difficult winter environments. In the guide below, we’ll take you through the 9 best hiking microspikes available today. Armed with one of these options, you’ll be able to grip snowy and icy trails while appreciating the understated beauty of winter hiking. My Review Process Yaktrax® ice grips have the ability to stretch by around 6cm. The Yaktrax® Size Chart shows the minimum and maximum circumference as measured in the photo. The 1.2mm steel coils are protected against rusting and hand-wound to give you 360 degrees of traction on ice and snow.