If you need winter traction action on icy trails, Microspikes and Yaktrax are your two main options.
Both are grippy, lightweight, easy to slide on and off, and will help you stay upright in slick conditions.
But what’s the difference? Here’s a quick comparison:
Just looking at the two products side-by-side, you can tell that Microspikes will be grippier than Yaktrax. The 9.55mm spikes “bite” the solid ice better than Yaktrax 1.2mm steel coils. Microspikes are also made of stainless steel, which is stronger than the steel alloy used in Yaktrax.
After owning both Microspikes and Yaktrax, I can say that Microspikes last much longer, while the weaker material of the Yaktrax may snap at inopportune times. Before I knew about Microspikes, I purchased and broke two pairs of Yaktrax within a few months of buying them. In my opinion, Microspikes are well worth the extra money.
That said, Yaktrax are cheaper for beginners, and are much better than no traction at all. If you’re a runner, not a hiker, they’re good for road running on slippery/slushy terrain where the longer steel claws of Microspikes would slow you down.
When you should bring microspikes on a hike:
- On popular snow-covered trails, like Emerald Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, where the snow is packed down and now icy on top. Plan to wear them the whole trip. (For trails with deep snow, like Dewey Point in Yosemite National Park, use snowshoes instead.)
- On trails where snow has mostly melted, leaving some icy patches in the shade. Pack your spikes and put them on for icy sections only.
- On high-elevation trails with uncertain conditions. Pack them just in case, as ice may linger into summer in shady or higher-elevation sections of the trail.
Whether you pick Microspikes or Yaktrax, you should avoid wearing them on rocky, non-icy roads and trails, which can dull or even break the coils/spikes.
Kahtoola Microspikes Sizing
If you plan to wear insulated winter boots with your Kahtoola microspikes, make sure to size up! Here’s the microspikes recommended sizing chart.
Personally, I wear a size 7 in both hiking boots and insulated boots, which puts me right on the edge of a size Small in Kahtoola microspikes.
The small is okay but just barely big enough for my insulated boots, making it hard to pull them on and off in freezing weather. If you’re on the edge of sizes, I’d recommend choosing the larger one.
Questions about Microspikes vs. Yaktrax or the best gear for winter hiking? Let me know in the comments!
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