Talkback: It's A World Of Microcrampons... I have a pair of pogu spikes and they're great. I've used them for anything from walking the kids to school, walks or running over the hills...
Yup, snow (fresh or consolidated) is somewhere that the longer spikes of 'proper' ultralight crampons become much more useful but saves the weight of full size ones and fit comfortably on trainers. I find that long spikes can cope with a wider range of conditions, at the cost of a little more concentration. No matter how hard you concentrate with microspikes its hard to eliminate sliding when contouring steep slopes, or floungering in deeper snow.
On the PCT, microspike users (mainly Yaktrax in those days, which I accept were potentially an inferior design) universally either abandoned them or switched to some other form of lightweight traction device. My early experiences with such things were so awful I've not gone near them again. The idea of having to carry a proper pair of crampons to compensate for the inadequacies of microspikes kinda defeats the point to me.
Hi again,
Thanks so much for including taking the time to test & review Stabilicers! Very fair. I'd like to stress that Stabilicers Sports are not designed for advanced hiking on sheer ice, ice climbing, etc. We definitely recommend spikes for that level of winter adventuring. The critical point is to choose a product that best matches the level of activity to ensure safety & comfort. What we love about our line of ice cleats is their durability and replaceable cleats for long life. Whatever brand/style you choose stay safe and have fun! Now...if we'd just get some real winter weather here!!!
32northHeather
www.32north.com
On the PCT, microspike users (mainly Yaktrax in those days, which I accept were potentially an inferior design) universally either abandoned them or switched to some other form of lightweight traction device. My early experiences with such things were so awful I've not gone near them again. The idea of having to carry a proper pair of crampons to compensate for the inadequacies of microspikes kinda defeats the point to me.
I carry the microspikes to cover the inadequacies of crampons - comfort, stability on mixed rough ground, weight.
Personally am rarely happy to go out winter hill-walking in Scotland without crampons - but I prefer not to use them.
First thing first... I've never had any type of micro-spikes. I have some heavy traditional crampons and lightweight titanium instep-type crampons. Either of those do the job for the sort of icy gradients I'm likely to tackle. I don't like the idea of front-pointing up seriously steep slopes, so I stay well away.
Anyhow... today I decided to have a look at the easy Ingleton Waterfall Trail, with all its concrete steps. The weather forecast seemed undecided last night, saying it was either going to be heavy rain or heavy snow. In the event, it was neither. What actually fell was light, but treacherous, freezing rain.
Changing buses in Kendal, I was skating down the high street. Same thing happened in Kirkby Lonsdale, but I spotted an outdoor shop and wondered if they sold micro-spikes. The shop was shut, but I saw they had Yaktracks in the window. I shuffled and slid down to Devil's Bridge, and the only person I saw who was able to tackle the sloping path with ease was a woman wearing Yaktracks.
I hitch-hiked to Ingleton rather than wait two hours for a bus, and the guy giving me a lift had abandoned his trip from Yorkshire to Carlisle because he'd been spooked by the number of crashes along the A65 and M6. (The news says there were 97 crashes in 6 hours in Cumbria because of the icy roads today!) In Ingleton, I was still sliding along the road, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get round the Waterfall Trail. So... I popped into an outdoor shop and asked if they had spikes. They had Yaktracks, and the woman in the cafe above the shop had walked to work wearing them, without any problem. I wasn't going to get anything else, so I bought them.
The difference out on the street was amazing, and I deliberately sought out the steepest, iciest bit of road down to the Waterfall Trail. It was fine, but the man at the toll-gate hadn't let anyone onto the trail this morning, and wasn't keen for me to go. I insisted, and had no problem with the icy paths, icy steps and icy slopes. In fact, half-way round I met three folks from the farm who were skidding around their own property and demanded to know how I was able to walk! As for other walkers... there weren't any... and this must be one of the most popular short walks in the whole country. I've never had the whole trail to myself before, and without some form of traction underfoot I wouldn't have been there at all. Alternatively... without traction I might now be in hospital... or dead!
I've never quite seen anything like it before, and I've just seen a clip of a weatherman talking about it, and he's only seen it once. I sat on the top decks of two double-decker buses today and watched the windows freeze over. On the walk, everything was covered in ice because of it. Not just the paths, but trees and plants, drystone walls, wooden fences, wire fences, and it effectively welded gates together so that I had to break the ice before I could operate latches. By the end of my walk the thaw was setting in, and the gritters had been along the roads.
Paddy, this stuff got me near to Winter Hill on the Saturday just gone. I have photos of me literally frozen. As soon as it hit my jacket, hat, pack etc. I froze, like a big lolly. Today I drove over the A666 towards Bolton and the walls, tress etc. were looking like glass. It's odd and strangely fascinating to watch it in action.
I was in Ingleton last Saturday as well... but I left in the afternoon. Folks in the village told me that the same thing happened in the evening... leaving everything covered in ice.
We used to get that when whitewater kayaking in a slight variation. The water came from the river and it froze over our spraydecks, cags, bouyancy aids and pogies. Then when the next bit of water washed over us it melted and re-froze again. Of course being a human popsicle isn't too bad if you have good gear. It is not ok when you are paddling down an easy grade 1/2 (below your level so you are taking it easy) and you have forgotten you rgloves / pogies. Add strong winds and everything else the weather gods can throw at you and you end up with hands frozen solid!! Never good losing or forgetting essential warmth for your extremities in cold conditions. Not least when you can't get warm because your hands won't grip on your clothes to change into warm, dry kit!! Coldward spiral!!
Kahtoolas are a must i think not only for hill walking but for generally getting around town on icy pavements etc when its lethal underfoot. The amount of people i have put onto them i wish i was on commission . They can't believe how good they are and how easy to get on and off. Fair enough they are not cheap but for an investment that will last for ages and the mobility/security they give you it beats the price of a broken ankle or leg. Oh and you can keep that freezing rain never seen it before and don't want to again absolutely lethal to drive and walk in.
. They can't believe how good they are and how easy to get on and off. Fair enough they are not cheap but for an investment that will last for ages and the mobility/security they give you it beats the price of a broken ankle or leg. Oh and you can keep that freezing rain never seen it before and don't want to again absolutely lethal to drive and walk in. 
