Winter shoe traction: Kahtoolah, Yaktrax, etc

DiRTY DOG

DiRTY DOG

Well-known member
Tell me about winter shoe traction for transitional winter/spring hiking in melting residual crunchy snow. Terrain is mountainous forest with lots of exposed granite like Yosemite or Montana. Snow coverage is 50% or so (shade, north faces) in April when I start hiking. I find my boots lack traction in the snow and end up hiking slow with too many near falls.

I hear great things about Kahtoolah MICROspikes but worry maybe I'll have to take them on/off while traversing bare soil or rocky areas because they're basically mini-crampons.



Yaktrax Pro looks like they can be used on patches of soil/rocks no problem, like cable snow tires. Probably more versatile. But they are not nearly as aggressive on snow.

Advice?
 
Haven't used them but the micro spikes look like they mean business.
I have used the Yaktraks and consider them useless. Minimum difference on real ice and zero if there
is a little snow on that ice. My operations are the NE US with all different ice/water, zero temps
walking level and mountain hiking.
True crampons are the balls but a little much for walking/hiking.
 
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