YakTrax Walker Traction Device

Product Information

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 ® 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 Winner: Kahtoola MICROspikes ® – While I love the custom fit of the Summit, especially if you have wider or narrower feet than the average, there are quite a few complaints that the cables break under heavy use. The thought of being in the middle of a long hike and losing your spikes seems risky. The best hiking microspikes are the Kahtoola MICROspikes. The best trail running microspikes are the Kahtoola EXOspikes, and the best traction devices for urban running are the Kahtoola NANOspikes.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.Between 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. 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 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. At a glance, there appears to be little difference between Yaktrax and MICROspikes ®, but if we take a deeper dive, some significant differences will impact your choice. Activity Use and Terrain 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

Reduced weight is a major advantage to using microspikes over traditional crampons. Per pair, the selections in this guide run from 5 oz for the YakTrax Walk to 16.6 oz for the Unigear Traction Cleats. Yaktrax® Walk ice grips are the most popular ice grips from Yaktrax®. Lightweight and comfortable to wear. A ladies casual shoe and a men’s working boot may share the same EU footwear size and yet have quite different footprint circumferences. 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. Winner: Yaktrax Summit – coming in at 1/4 pound lighter is a pretty significant difference. The Spike MaterialNow, to compare Microspikes (traction devices, ice cleats, etc.) with Crampons... both Microspikes and Crampons are used to provide extra traction on snow and ice. The differences between them lie primarily in design. 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. Yaktrax® Walk ice grips are made out of an injection moulded thermal plastic elastomer designed for easy on and off. 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. 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.

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. 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 Firstly, I should make clear that MICROspikes is actually a trademark owned by Kahtoola. We often refer to all traction devices, ice cleats, etc. as Microspikes, due to the popularity of Kahtoola's MICROspikes, similar to how plasters are referred to as BAND-AIDs.

Yaktrax® Walk

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.

If you do a lot of non-technical mountain hiking where you are going up and down inclines, we choose the Yaktrax Summit – Because we feel the Summit is a little bit better for digging in when hiking up a hill and stabilizing foot on uneven terrain. 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. 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.After a day out in the cold, I’m not that conscientious and would probably leave my cleats in a damp bag where they could rust. Seriously, I just want a beverage and a fire at that point. Layout of the Traction Spikes The 1.2mm steel coils are protected against rusting and hand-wound to give you 360 degrees of traction on ice and snow. The footprint circumference in our Yaktrax® Size Chart is often more accurate than shoe size alone. Measure in a loop around the outside edge of shoe or boot, as shown, where the Yaktrax® naturally grip the outside edge of the footwear. The base Yaktrax, Walk or Pro, and Kahtoola MICROspikes ® are two different traction devices that offer many differences for people who need to walk on snow or ice. The price, weight, durability, grip, and longevity differ considerably between the two products. 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: