Microspikes or Crampons for the PCT?
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Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 10
WillN2Go1
I love my snowshoes MSR Lightning Ascents, but they're too heavy for long hike with only occasional snow. My snowshoes are metal with a nice serrated grippy edge, but I wouldn't trust them on an icy slope (on Mt San Antonio near Los Angeles, I turned back when the trail got buried in a steep icy slope with a long long. downside) Microspikes might be okay, but crampons AND ice axe the best option. A couple of months ago a hiker in the Sierras slid off a snowy slope and over the edge, so this is definitely an important safety issue. I've often had to cross old icy snow here in the states, but also in Japan and Scotland in summer months (June and July) Some of it was very slippery, thankfully not death slides. Your points about crampons are really good. I've never used them, but one of the reasons mountain climbers say they like tough gaiters is protection against their gaiters. How much post holing?
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I love my snowshoes MSR Lightning Ascents, but they're too heavy for long hike with only occasional snow. My snowshoes are metal with a nice serrated grippy edge, but I wouldn't trust them on an icy slope (on Mt San Antonio near Los Angeles, I turned back when the trail got buried in a steep icy slope with a long long. downside) Microspikes might be okay, but crampons AND ice axe the best option. A couple of months ago a hiker in the Sierras slid off a snowy slope and over the edge, so this is definitely an important safety issue. I've often had to cross old icy snow here in the states, but also in Japan and Scotland in summer months (June and July) Some of it was very slippery, thankfully not death slides. Your points about crampons are really good. I've never used them, but one of the reasons mountain climbers say they like tough gaiters is protection against their gaiters. How much post holing?
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Gary
Hi Dixie. If you get the opportunity could you test/review the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction System? i bought them last year in anticipation of a snowy Tiger Mountain conditioning hike. I actually went to buy Kahtoola micro spikes but my local REI didn't have them and I ended up getting the Yaktrax Diamond Grips out of desperation, but to my surprise they actually performed really well. I think what I liked was that the design made transitioning from snow/ice to normal conditions much easier. My hiking partner had the Kahtoola microspikes, but I didn't notice any difference in performance.
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Hi Dixie. If you get the opportunity could you test/review the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction System? i bought them last year in anticipation of a snowy Tiger Mountain conditioning hike. I actually went to buy Kahtoola micro spikes but my local REI didn't have them and I ended up getting the Yaktrax Diamond Grips out of desperation, but to my surprise they actually performed really well. I think what I liked was that the design made transitioning from snow/ice to normal conditions much easier. My hiking partner had the Kahtoola microspikes, but I didn't notice any difference in performance.
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chris
Micro spikes are really nice to have when just walking and there is a mixture of ice and rock, where you know that you are going to be on both terrains. For use on trails and icy city streets, places that you are going to remain fairly flat. Crampons are more of a high mountain, solid ice, ice climbing, hell in the high country gonna fall to your death if you dont have them type of thing. Crampons have the ability to point into ice, which gives traction at near vertical or vertical accent and descent. They dont grab rocks well, and if they do, it usually results in a broken tip.
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Micro spikes are really nice to have when just walking and there is a mixture of ice and rock, where you know that you are going to be on both terrains. For use on trails and icy city streets, places that you are going to remain fairly flat. Crampons are more of a high mountain, solid ice, ice climbing, hell in the high country gonna fall to your death if you dont have them type of thing. Crampons have the ability to point into ice, which gives traction at near vertical or vertical accent and descent. They dont grab rocks well, and if they do, it usually results in a broken tip.
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MRo
Great topic. A couple of notes for others. My Chainsen Light micro-spikes collapsed my NB Shoes in a way I could not walk in them because the NB sole was too flexible. The Altra Lone Peaks could handle them just fine. My Grivel aluminum crampons weigh 10. 5 ounces each but are not recommended for ice wall climbing but are great for glaciers and the High Sierras.
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Great topic. A couple of notes for others. My Chainsen Light micro-spikes collapsed my NB Shoes in a way I could not walk in them because the NB sole was too flexible. The Altra Lone Peaks could handle them just fine. My Grivel aluminum crampons weigh 10. 5 ounces each but are not recommended for ice wall climbing but are great for glaciers and the High Sierras.
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Ned
Hey Dixie just stopping by to say thanks for all this useful info! I've been buying my gear this past month and wanna say that your ch. has helped me out a ton! Got a trip to Zion lined up and am planning on hiking Mt. Whitney after that. Thanks again and keep up the good work. Watching your videos is a joy and you're attitude is something special. One love.
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Hey Dixie just stopping by to say thanks for all this useful info! I've been buying my gear this past month and wanna say that your ch. has helped me out a ton! Got a trip to Zion lined up and am planning on hiking Mt. Whitney after that. Thanks again and keep up the good work. Watching your videos is a joy and you're attitude is something special. One love.
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nomienos
Alright so, imo as a very experienced climber who's done the 7 summits, nothing on the pct is tech enough to require a full crampon. I would say that even micros are not needed if you have a really nice mountaineering boot. Now for runners or any light boot I would say that a micro is great, but that's just my opinion.
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Alright so, imo as a very experienced climber who's done the 7 summits, nothing on the pct is tech enough to require a full crampon. I would say that even micros are not needed if you have a really nice mountaineering boot. Now for runners or any light boot I would say that a micro is great, but that's just my opinion.
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James
I'm quite comfortable with crampons and full shank mountaineering boots, but I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time in trail runners with micro-spikes, as it sounds like it would be so much less draining.
What do you do for gaiters in the snow with trail runners?
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I'm quite comfortable with crampons and full shank mountaineering boots, but I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time in trail runners with micro-spikes, as it sounds like it would be so much less draining.
What do you do for gaiters in the snow with trail runners?
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Jennifer
Just an added bit of information - I am lucky enough to live in Hawaii right now and microspikes are necessary on many of the steep climbs to the ridges here. So if you get microspikes you might want to carry them on rainy hikes in mountainous areas they make a real difference.
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Just an added bit of information - I am lucky enough to live in Hawaii right now and microspikes are necessary on many of the steep climbs to the ridges here. So if you get microspikes you might want to carry them on rainy hikes in mountainous areas they make a real difference.
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Garry
Dixie
I hike in the Utah mountains every winter and have always felt very secure with each step using a good pair of micro spikes (snowline. They are great for when the conditions change from snow, ice, rock, dirt and back to ice again.
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Dixie
I hike in the Utah mountains every winter and have always felt very secure with each step using a good pair of micro spikes (snowline. They are great for when the conditions change from snow, ice, rock, dirt and back to ice again.
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Rody
I wonder if microspikes would work on Mount Whitney in certain sections close to summit without ruin them, I am talking about having the security to walk on those switchbacks which are really treacherous with patches of ice and rocks
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I wonder if microspikes would work on Mount Whitney in certain sections close to summit without ruin them, I am talking about having the security to walk on those switchbacks which are really treacherous with patches of ice and rocks
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