The 6 Best Microspikes for Hiking
Microspikes are a must if you want to hike in the winter. Winter hiking involves icy and snow-packed trails, which require traction to provide stability and keep you safe. That is where microspikes come in. The best microspikes for hiking are durable, easy to use, lightweight, and provide excellent traction. This guide goes over everything you need to know to find the best microspikes for hiking!
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Why You Should Invest in Microspikes for Hiking
When you are hiking in the winter, the trails are icy and filled with snow, so you need traction to help keep you safe and prevent you from slipping. Microspikes are some of the best traction devices for hiking in the winter when the trail has packed snow and ice. They attach to the bottom of your hiking boot, so they are easy to put on when you are winter hiking. If you want to hike in the winter, microspikes are a must!
The Best Microspikes for Hiking
Hillsound Trail Crampons
Pros:
Large spikes for excellent traction
Durable
Easy to use
Flexible plate for mobility and stability
Cons:
Heavier than other microspikes because of the large spikes
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The Hillsound Trail Crampons are my favorite microspikes for hiking. They are durable, easy to put on, and perfect for winter hiking. The plate system is ergonomic to provide traction while reducting muscle fatigue, which is much needed when winter hiking. The front of the microspikes divides into two sections, which helps with mobility while hiking.
The spikes have heat-treated carbon steel, so they are long-lasting, strong, and durable. The Hillsound Trail Crampon spikes are also about ⅔ inches each, so they provide excellent traction. The microspikes come with a bag to store them in to keep them safe when you are not using them. The microspikes are also easy to put on, using a hook-and-loop strap to help keep them in place while you are hiking. The Hillsound Trail Crampons are some of the best microspikes for hiking!
Kahtoola MICROspikes
Pros:
Large spikes for excellent traction
Durable
Heel tabs for ease of use
Toe bales to hold the microspikes in place
Cons:
Heavier than other microspikes listed because of the large spikes
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The Kahtoola MICROspikes are fan favorites of many because they are some of the best microspikes for hiking! They are easy to use, durable, and provide traction on icy trails. The stainless steel spikes are ⅜ inches, providing excellent traction.
The Kahtoola MICROspikes are reinforced with eyelets to help increase durability and have stainless steel chains to prevent snowballing. They also have integrated toe bales that help keep the microspikes in place, so you don’t have to fix them while hiking. There are heel tabs to help put the microspikes on and take them off. They also come with a storage bag, so you can easily store them. The Kahtoola MICROspikes are some of the best microspikes for hiking, so you will not be disappointed!
Black Diamond Distance Spikes
Pros:
Great traction
Durable
Lightweight
Easy to use
Soft-shell toe cover
Cons:
The toe cover has minimal stretch and does not fit over wider shoes
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The Black Diamond Distance Spikes are among the best microspikes for hiking because they are durable, lightweight, and provide great traction. The 8mm spikes provide excellent traction and stability for icy trails. They are also made of heat-treated stainless steel to provide the ultimate durability and wear resistance.
The Black Diamond Distance Spikes stand out from the rest with their soft-shell toe cover and heel retention elastomer, which provide excellent fit, stability, and snow protection. The heel webbing loop helps you put on and take off the microspikes. The microspikes are only 6.7 ounces and pack easily into their storage bag when they are not in use. If you are looking for lightweight microspikes for hiking, the Black Diamond Distance Spikes are some of the best!
Kahtoola EXOspikes
Pros:
Great traction
Durable
Lightweight
Easy to use
Cons:
Difficult sizing
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The Kahtoola EXOspikes are some of the best microspikes for hiking because they are lightweight, durable, and provide great traction. These are different than the microspikes listed above because they have aluminum step NANOspikes instead of the traditional spikes. The 0.29-inch spikes have three levels of traction on icy trails.
The Kahtoola EXOspikes are designed with durable thermoplastic polyurethane Traction Matrix to provide stability, wear resistance, and shed snow. The heel tabs make it easy to put on or take off the microspikes. The microspikes are also lightweight and come with a storage bag to easily pack them when they are not in use. If you are looking for lightweight NANOspikes, the Kahtoola EXOspikes are some of the best microspikes for hiking!
Black Diamond Access Spikes
Pros:
Excellent traction
Durable
Easy to use
Lightweight
Cons:
Difficult sizing
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The Black Diamond Access Spikes are similar to the Black Diamond Distance Spikes but have different harnesses. These microspikes have stainless steel 8mm spikes that provide excellent traction on icy trails. The spikes are also heat-treated for additional durability and wear resistance.
The Black Diamond Access Spikes have an elastomer harness to keep the microspikes in place, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting them as you hike. The heel webbing loop makes putting on and taking off the microspikes easy. On top of an excellent design with great traction, these microspikes are lightweight at 7.4 ounces and pack easily into their storage bag. The Black Diamond Access Spikes are some of the best microspikes on the market!
Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip
Pros:
Compact
Durable
Great traction
Cons:
Heavier than other microspikes listed
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The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip is different than the rest of the microspikes on the list. Instead of spikes, Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip has steel aircraft cables with case-hardened steel alloy beads that provide excellent grip on icy trails.
The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip minimizes the amount of snow buildup with their self-clearing design, which enhances traction as you hike. The rubber harness slips on easily and stays in place. They also are compact because they don’t have traditional spikes and easy to store when they are not in use. If you are looking for smaller microspikes, the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip is for you!
Microspikes for Hiking Features
Spike Length
There are three main styles of microspikes: teeth, chains, and cleats. Microspikes with teeth use a small number of points to provide traction. These provide the best traction out of the three types. Microspikes with chains use sharp metal chains to provide traction. They tend to be more comfortable to hike in than teeth, but teeth have better traction. Cleats are the easiest to walk with but only work well on trails with a thin layer of ice or snow because they use small metal studs to provide traction.
The spike length you will need for your microspikes will depend on the terrain you will be hiking in. If you are hiking on flat trails, you can use smaller spikes. If you are hiking on more technical trails, you will need larger spikes to provide additional traction.
Durability
One of the most important things to consider is the durability of the microspikes. The best microspikes for hiking will be able to withstand freezing temperatures. Most brands will note the breaking-point temperature for the elastics on the microspikes, which is helpful to know.
You will also need to make sure the spikes have durable material. The bottom of the microspikes will have the most use, so making sure they are durable is crucial. Most of the best microspikes for hiking in this blog have heat-treated metal, which helps the spikes last longer.
Ease of Use
Usually, when you are winter hiking, you will need multiple forms of traction, depending on the terrain you are hiking. As the trail conditions change, you will need to change the traction you are using, which is why having easy-to-use microspikes is crucial. All of the best microspikes for hiking listed in this blog have some form of rubber body that makes them easy to put on and take off your hiking boots.
Weight
For me, weight is the least important because the focus should be on the traction microspikes provide. Generally, the bigger the spikes, the more they will weigh. If you are looking for larger spikes to give you the ultimate traction, you should expect to have heavier microspikes.
This guide is a great starting point if you are looking for the best microspikes! It includes everything you need to know, including the best microspikes for hiking on the market!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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