Microspikes vs crampons

Info on gear, conditioning, and preparation for hiking/climbing.
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
User avatar
polar
Posts: 1250
Joined: 8/12/2013
14ers: 2 
Trip Reports (1)
 

Microspikes vs crampons

Post by polar »

Alright, this topic seem to get enough passionate responses to warrant its own thread. So do you love or hate microspikes*? When do you use them? Do you break out your ice axe whenever you put on your spikes? How about crampons? Pros and cons?

*Note: by "microspikes", I'm not referring to a single product, but a group of traction aid with a similar design made by several companies like Kahtoola, Hillsound, Chainsen, and many Chinese copycats. I'm also not referring to Yak Trax, icetrekkers, or any other similar ice clates.

Let the battle begin!
"Getting to the bottom, OPTIONAL. Getting to the top, MANDATORY!" - The Wisest Trail Sign
User avatar
thebeave7
Posts: 2285
Joined: 1/5/2007
14ers: 58 
13ers: 128
Trip Reports (24)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by thebeave7 »

They each have their own uses and times, also are best used when you're comfortable with them on the terrain. My personal take...

Microspikes, good for traction when you don't need to kick steps or front point. IE best for flatter/moderate terrain, also very useful for running on snow and ice (cause you can't run safely with crampons on).

Crampons (steal or aluminum), most useful/necessary when the terrain becomes sufficiently steep enough that you want to use front points or if terrain is sufficiently icy that you want teeth to dig in more than just the non-slip aspect of microspikes. Steep snow couloirs/slopes.

Ice Axe, I'll use it if there's sufficient chance that a slip or slide down a snow/ice slope will result in injury or an uncontrolled ride. So, whenever self arrest will be important to protect oneself from injury or other dangers. Note this can be with just boots/shoes, microspikes or crampons. For me the footwear does not determine the necessity of an ice axe, though quite often if you're using crampons an ice axe will also be desirable.

Of course there are exceptions to all these rules/guidelines, just a personal generalization.

Eric
Me fail English? That's unpossible. http://www.ericjlee.com/Blogs
User avatar
DArcyS
Posts: 948
Joined: 5/11/2007
14ers: 58 
13ers: 552
Trip Reports (3)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by DArcyS »

What I seem to see is the experienced and knowledgeable people giving answers that indicate that they assess the situation and then they use whatever equipment is appropriate. What I wonder about is the people who are so dead set against boots that they try to make their trail runners work with microspikes in all circumstances (e.g., wearing trail runners in December, which runs the risk of serious issues if you get stranded, but hey, nothing bad ever happens in December, so the assumption is safe). Anyways, Is this happening?
User avatar
DArcyS
Posts: 948
Joined: 5/11/2007
14ers: 58 
13ers: 552
Trip Reports (3)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by DArcyS »

And by the way, Polar, many summers ago you organized summer climbs via this website. That was fun, and I still appreciate the efforts you made, thanks.
User avatar
Kristian
Posts: 2
Joined: 12/11/2013
14ers: 58 
13ers: 6
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by Kristian »

Crampons are for climbing and not for hiking graded trails. Study and learn correct crampon techniques if you are going to use them.

Aluminum Crampons are lightweight and are good for snow slopes only. Do not use them for ice or on rock.

Steel Crampons are heavier and are good for snow slopes, ice, and survive crossing sections of rock.

Hybrids have a steel front section and an aluminum heel section to save weight.

Crampon anti-bot plates are small sections of plastic material that keep snow from compacting and sticking to the bottom of your crampons. A must have for climbing snow in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Microspikes are for trails that are wet and then freeze over with a layer of ice. Microspikes allow you to move at relatively normal speeds over graded existing trails - particularly during early mornings and during and after storms. And sometimes an entire mountain can unexpectedly be coated with a thin layer of ice from a storm, so it's best to carry microspikes as a precaution.

Finally, spend time to experiment and be sure that whatever you buy is suitable and compatible with the specific shoes or boots that you are using, are the exact correct fit, and you have already confirmed that by actually practicing putting them on before your trip.
User avatar
Scott P
Posts: 9598
Joined: 5/4/2005
14ers: 58  16 
13ers: 50 13
Trip Reports (16)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by Scott P »

They are different tools for different conditions. I use both, depending on the season, route, and conditions.

I only use microspikes from about late fall through early spring. They work great on snow packed trails. They also work well when there is shallow unconsolidated snow over rocks, such as you would find in fall and winter on many routes under certain conditions. In this case, they work a lot better than crampons.

Crampons are for ice climbing and consolidated snow climbing. As mentioned they work poorly on unconsolidated snow, even if you are scraping rocks, but they are needed for consolidated snow climbs such as you find in spring and early summer. Microspikes ate not for couloir climbs, for example. Crampons work for those. This time of year and with this type of snowpack, crampons are the proper choice on climbs where one of the two would be needed.
I'm old, slow and fat. Unfortunately, those are my good qualities.
User avatar
Conor
Posts: 1108
Joined: 9/2/2014
14ers: 41  6  6 
13ers: 51 1 1
Trip Reports (7)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by Conor »

One use I've found for microspikes is class 2 light class 3 snowy/icy ridges. You pop them on and get a little traction on the icy boulders. And they are 20 times easier to use through rocky terrain vs crampons. Many talk about walking thru rocks with their crampons. But neglected to mention the ankle breaking, knee twisting difficulty they present.

Personally, this time of year i generally bring nothing. There is so much beta out there though, it would be difficult to not select the correct choice.
User avatar
dennywitte
Posts: 76
Joined: 9/21/2009
14ers: 57  4 
13ers: 10
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by dennywitte »

There is very good advice in this thread. Anyone climbing on ice or snow should have ALL three and know when and how to use them. The only thing I will add is that if you feel you need to use your ice axe, you likely are doing this in combination with spikes, crampons, or footwear with some traction.
User avatar
Wentzl
Posts: 1135
Joined: 7/29/2008
14ers: 58  22 
13ers: 55
Trip Reports (49)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by Wentzl »

Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish. Not like going down the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back your tourists, put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's just too many captains on this island. $10,000 for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.
User avatar
Traveler
Posts: 140
Joined: 8/2/2014
14ers: 30 
13ers: 4
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by Traveler »

Kristian wrote: Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:49 pm Crampons are for climbing and not for hiking graded trails. Study and learn correct crampon techniques if you are going to use them.

Aluminum Crampons are lightweight and are good for snow slopes only. Do not use them for ice or on rock.

Steel Crampons are heavier and are good for snow slopes, ice, and survive crossing sections of rock.

Hybrids have a steel front section and an aluminum heel section to save weight.

Crampon anti-bot plates are small sections of plastic material that keep snow from compacting and sticking to the bottom of your crampons. A must have for climbing snow in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Microspikes are for trails that are wet and then freeze over with a layer of ice. Microspikes allow you to move at relatively normal speeds over graded existing trails - particularly during early mornings and during and after storms. And sometimes an entire mountain can unexpectedly be coated with a thin layer of ice from a storm, so it's best to carry microspikes as a precaution.

Finally, spend time to experiment and be sure that whatever you buy is suitable and compatible with the specific shoes or boots that you are using, are the exact correct fit, and you have already confirmed that by actually practicing putting them on before your trip.
Great summary!
User avatar
polar
Posts: 1250
Joined: 8/12/2013
14ers: 2 
Trip Reports (1)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by polar »

DArcyS wrote: Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:46 pm And by the way, Polar, many summers ago you organized summer climbs via this website. That was fun, and I still appreciate the efforts you made, thanks.
That was a fun summer, thank you for coming out and belay me all the time. Unfortunately, climbing in Clear Creek after work is only going to be a fun memory now. I moved back to Centennial for work, so I'm back in RJ2 breathing chalk dust and greasing off polished plastic.
"Getting to the bottom, OPTIONAL. Getting to the top, MANDATORY!" - The Wisest Trail Sign
TomPierce
Posts: 2740
Joined: 11/21/2007
Trip Reports (2)
 

Re: Microspikes vs crampons

Post by TomPierce »

My choice(s):

-Winter, low angle 3 season use: Low angle to me is basically anything below 30 degrees. I pack aluminum crampons, but geez...they come out of the pack 1 out of 10 times? You can walk across rocks just fine with them, but they're not made for extended, technical rock climbs, duh. Anyway, the snow tends not to be as consolidated/frozen in winter, not so many freeze/thaw sections of ice, and besides I wear mountain boots in winter (Millet Davai's, fwiw). I can kick steps or edge pretty well without traction. But if it's going to be a long day with extended rock sections and it's too cold to fiddle with on/off breaks (e.g. Longs in winter), I'll bring my beater crampons, a pair of modified 10-point steel Simond (no ball plates, sawed extender bar, leashes made from REI belts). For 3 season use where I might be worried about extended snow sections, I'll still bring crampons, but I also hike in boots (nylon lightweights to light leather, depending). If the conditions are so tame as to use trail runners, I'm going to assume there's just nothing to worry about or anything slick can be bypassed. If I'm wrong and still worried, I turn around. No big deal.

-Trail slogging with potential patches of super hardpack/ice: Microspikes. No front pointing, very little side hilling. Example: A year ago I did the Cactus-to-Clouds hike out in California, 10K vertical. There was the possibility of frozen snow above 10,000', switchbacks, but that was about the last mile. I wanted to do the whole thing in trail runners, spikes made perfect sense.

-High angle/ice, etc: Steel crampons of course.

Just me.

-Tom