Cheapest ⌛ Trail Crampon Ultra I Ice Cleat Traction System For Hiking & Trail Running Blue 🌟

3 reviews for Cheapest ⌛ Trail Crampon Ultra I Ice Cleat Traction System For Hiking & Trail Running Blue 🌟

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Paleotech – June 3, 2016

   I have recently taken to hiking/climbing the northeast Bakersfield bluffs. These bluffs offer a variety of surface materials including hard-packed clay, rubble, coarse sand, gravel, dirt, and scree and combinations of two or more of each. The clay provides the best traction unless it’s covered with coarse sand which makes for the worst traction. I’ve tested various types of footwear, boots and shoes, with different tread designs and depths, and found the Sketchers GoWalk shoes to be the best overall for the aforementioned surface materials. The soles provide good traction on smooth surfaces and moderately good traction on dirt and on tamped-down vegetation.As good as they are, the Sketchers are not suitable for walking up or down grades of thirty degrees or higher with mixed footing. So, on to the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras. The challenge they faced was creating a solid footing on all surfaces and on various incline angles — both for ascending and descending trail segments. A corollary challenge was that wearing the Ultras didn’t lead to sore feet.The Ultras, strapped onto my Sketchers, exceeded all expectations — including the sore feet part. They even took much of the effort out of walking on soft sand. They easily handled all the familiar slopes without a single instance of slippage, and after about three miles of this, I was tempted to try climbs that were previously inaccessible. So, next up were a few 50 – 60 degree inclines with mixed surfaces. With the Ultras, they became just a strenuous walk in the park.Since this was only the first time I wore the Ultras, I obviously can’t comment on long-term wear. However, with regard to reliability under extreme stress, they handled all foot orientations on all surfaces and inclines without any hint of slippage or deformation, despite the fact that I weigh over 220 lbs. About the only negative I have to report is that the toe guide refused to stay on the front of my shoes. I’m guessing this is due to the design of the shoe, the size 14 of my dainty feet or both. Whatever the reason, it did not present a problem.

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   PaleoMD – January 31, 2022

   My first set of microspikes were Kahtoola’s, back when they were the only ones available. I really liked them, but eventually they became too dull, as they all will do. By then, all of these cheap knock-off brands had appeared, and I gave one of them a try. At first it seemed like a bargain, but with a bit more use, they broke over and over, with weak links and front wire bars, and actually caused me to take a bad fall with injuries during one of their failures. I was going to go back to Kahtoolas again, but began seeing many reports of a decline in quality and reliability from them, with breakage of their newer, thinner, viscoelastic harness. I was a bit concerned by the greater weight and longer spikes of the Hillsound Ultras (I sometimes trail run in them, and didn’t want to catch my spikes and trip), but liked the inclusion of the velcro retainer straps to improve stability of the device on the shoe, and prevent losing it under the snow while post-holing. After 3 mountain hikes in them so far, including steep scrambling, I’m very happy with my purchase. I note better traction, especially on descent, from the longer heal spikes, and haven’t had any problems with tripping while running. My only other concern for the longer spikes which I haven’t been able to assess yet, is that they may be more prone to ‘snow-balling’ (cookie-cutter effect in packable snow), leading to loss of traction and falls. I’ll know more when we get some fresh snow and warmer days.

3. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   S. McG – February 25, 2022

   I ordered two pairs of these crampons, one year and two years ago respectively. How I use them: off-trail winter hiking up 45-degree-plus slopes in the Driftless Area of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Positives: Pretty decent entry-level crampons for trail hiking in state parks, etc. Product will serve you well on your level to moderate-slope winter trails. Handles frozen ground, ice, and snow below freezing without trouble. Straps on easily and provides a good fit on your average trail hikes. Excellent chain work and thick spike metal. Negatives: Sticky snow will invariably ball up in the arch of your boot and also stick to the inner surfaces of the spikes—you lose traction. Product will not accommodate an anti-balling plate, so just plan for this. Also, this product will frequently twist around on your boot if you’re hiking up steep slopes, meaning the spikes on their chains will be loose and not gripping well if at all. The rubber is great for putting them on but not great for a firm hold on the boot on steep slopes. ADDITIONAL NEGATIVE PICTURED: the chains ripped through the rubber on two separate pairs on two separate hikes, after I bought the second pair. Would grommets prevent the chains from ripping through the rubber? SUMMARY: solid product for casual use, but pricey for entry level. Lack of durability=go with a cheaper product.