Had a pair of Kahtoolas for 15 years and use them a lot here in Ontario. Consider them one of my best ever equipment buys if you hike trails regularly in winter. Anything that will get you out the door in shoulder season is a plus. Thanks for the review!
Kahtoola is an overpriced North American thing. Here in Europe, I've been usng microspikes from an Italian brand called Climbing Technology. The model name is Ice Traction Plus. Made of Stainless Steel, top product for 30 euros.
This whole video looks just like an advertisement. Basically the only benefits were the 1 year longer warranty. I don't care that the designers live in America, that is not relevant and doesn't mean the product is good.
This is actually a very fair review. My take is roughly the same: cheap spikes do 90% of the job for 10% of the price..... If I needed crampons for utility I would ALWAYS recommend dollar store crampons. If I needed crampons because my life depended on it (and possibly worked in the Arctic or Alpine conditions) I would buy the most expensive set on earth. I can actually fabricate and make stuff myself, so for me personally, cheap spikes are absolutely brilliant. As long as you only wear them in snow and ice, the steel parts will endure, and the rubber/plastic parts will wear out. This is ideal because the metal parts are a pain to fabricate, but if the harness fails you can improvise something with paracord, or head back to the workshop and make something superior to the original cheap cleats using leather, webbing, paracord, or some combination thereof. I guess its really about how much time, money and skill, you have. Good take brother. Nice to see someone isnt just trying to sell expensive crampons to tourists. Respect.
What a thorough comparison review, Justin! I've been using the Kahtoola's for years. I've heard of the less expensive Amazon options, but haven't had an opportunity to see a pair in action. This was a great video. Looks like Prairie Mountain... suicide in April without microspikes!
Great video and good news on the new Kahtoolas which, IMO, are too expensive either way you look at it. They're performance was no better than the budget spikes at a fraction of the cost, and there are better ones like Hillsound for the same price.
Very informative video. I'm definitely an amazon spike user (I have the 'Energetic Sky' spikes you showed in one clip). So far they've served me well hiking, trial running, and backpacking. I think you're point at the end is the main driver for me--how often I use them. Right now shelling out $70 for spikes isn't worth it, but if I lived in an area similar to yours, I could definitely see it being more of a priority. Thanks for putting the video together!
@@DoseofDirt Yeah I've had some expensive Kahtoolas for years and decided to buy an amazon brand to compare. There are slight improvements in the Kahtoolas but honestly I would get the cheaper ones if I ever had to replace
Thanks, Justin for the great review. I've been using the same pair of Kahtoolas for quite a few years now. They still look brand new and do the job flawlessly. When your life could be at stake, paying more for quality is something I feel is worth every penny. I'm a Kahtoola fan and just purchased their INSTAgaiters to add to my backpacking must haves.
Traction wise they both were similar, but my Amazon pair, the chain broke first hike out… and I don’t mean a little, I mean multiple breaks on both boots. My kahtoola have lasted all season… so worth every penny in my view.
my family is so clumsy that we always slipped on ice. is the amazon spikes good for us for daily use during winter season? let's say just for city tour, snowy parks and even on slopes ?
It's nice to know if the budget ones are any good. I'd probably invest in the better ones if I lived where you do but I'm on the east coast so I'll save my $$$😁
Would these work on steep hills for forestry work or hiking in steep mountain terrain when there isn't any ice or snow for extra traction on dirt and grass?
They might get mucked up with mud/dirt. I think your best bet is a good tread on your boots and/or caulked boots (based on 5 years of treeplanting experience).
Does anyone out there use microspikes with lone peaks right at the large end of the sizing? I wear 10.5 and the spikes in medium state they fit 9-11 I'm not sure how these things are supposed to fit but it feels like I have to stretch them pretty far to fir them on the shoe
Just came across this video in Jan 2024. Those microspikes on Amazon are now $20. Not sure if they'd made improvements over the last year, or just decided to start charging more 🤷♀️
Don't use these on steep slopes and definitely never bring them to high mountains. These are pretty much only for flat ice and snow. If you plan on going to the snowy mountains buy real crampons and a climbing pick.
@@helpfulcommenter Not sure what is your point. Boot laces works fine in emergency when someone doesn't have crampons which means micro spike would work even better.
Had a pair of Kahtoolas for 15 years and use them a lot here in Ontario. Consider them one of my best ever equipment buys if you hike trails regularly in winter. Anything that will get you out the door in shoulder season is a plus. Thanks for the review!
Kahtoola is an overpriced North American thing. Here in Europe, I've been usng microspikes from an Italian brand called Climbing Technology. The model name is Ice Traction Plus. Made of Stainless Steel, top product for 30 euros.
This whole video looks just like an advertisement. Basically the only benefits were the 1 year longer warranty. I don't care that the designers live in America, that is not relevant and doesn't mean the product is good.
This is actually a very fair review.
My take is roughly the same: cheap spikes do 90% of the job for 10% of the price.....
If I needed crampons for utility I would ALWAYS recommend dollar store crampons.
If I needed crampons because my life depended on it (and possibly worked in the Arctic or Alpine conditions) I would buy the most expensive set on earth.
I can actually fabricate and make stuff myself, so for me personally, cheap spikes are absolutely brilliant. As long as you only wear them in snow and ice, the steel parts will endure, and the rubber/plastic parts will wear out. This is ideal because the metal parts are a pain to fabricate, but if the harness fails you can improvise something with paracord, or head back to the workshop and make something superior to the original cheap cleats using leather, webbing, paracord, or some combination thereof.
I guess its really about how much time, money and skill, you have.
Good take brother. Nice to see someone isnt just trying to sell expensive crampons to tourists. Respect.
Also zip ties work great with repairing on the run.
bought a cheap pair and they snapped first use
What a thorough comparison review, Justin! I've been using the Kahtoola's for years. I've heard of the less expensive Amazon options, but haven't had an opportunity to see a pair in action. This was a great video. Looks like Prairie Mountain... suicide in April without microspikes!
Great video and good news on the new Kahtoolas which, IMO, are too expensive either way you look at it. They're performance was no better than the budget spikes at a fraction of the cost, and there are better ones like Hillsound for the same price.
Thanks for this review, Justin. I was wondering how these all work and your experience up north seems very helpful.
I have owned both types. Currently just running with a set from Amazon (like 20 bucks) and that's probably what I will continue to use.
Very informative video. I'm definitely an amazon spike user (I have the 'Energetic Sky' spikes you showed in one clip). So far they've served me well hiking, trial running, and backpacking. I think you're point at the end is the main driver for me--how often I use them. Right now shelling out $70 for spikes isn't worth it, but if I lived in an area similar to yours, I could definitely see it being more of a priority. Thanks for putting the video together!
Trust me there is very little difference and def not worth 5-10x the price
@@tamie341 Ya, just doesn't make sense for me right now. So far my cheap ones have been working well and no issues!
@@DoseofDirt Yeah I've had some expensive Kahtoolas for years and decided to buy an amazon brand to compare. There are slight improvements in the Kahtoolas but honestly I would get the cheaper ones if I ever had to replace
Thanks, Justin for the great review. I've been using the same pair of Kahtoolas for quite a few years now. They still look brand new and do the job flawlessly. When your life could be at stake, paying more for quality is something I feel is worth every penny. I'm a Kahtoola fan and just purchased their INSTAgaiters to add to my backpacking must haves.
I use the Hillsound micro spikes. One place I will never be cheap on is safety equipment.... good review!
Traction wise they both were similar, but my Amazon pair, the chain broke first hike out… and I don’t mean a little, I mean multiple breaks on both boots.
My kahtoola have lasted all season… so worth every penny in my view.
Or you can use Black Diamond crampons with mountaineering boots.
my family is so clumsy that we always slipped on ice. is the amazon spikes good for us for daily use during winter season? let's say just for city tour, snowy parks and even on slopes ?
As an Aussie who has very little experience with hiking on snow or ice, this was a helpful and interesting video
I need one of this. Three years ago I fractured my fibula from slipping on ice.
Would you recommend these for city/everyday use? A slip on ice last year gave me a concussion and a terrible fear of slipping 😅
It's nice to know if the budget ones are any good. I'd probably invest in the better ones if I lived where you do but I'm on the east coast so I'll save my $$$😁
Have you tried the new kahtoola exospikes?
Thanks so much for such a detailed review!!!
Would these work on steep hills for forestry work or hiking in steep mountain terrain when there isn't any ice or snow for extra traction on dirt and grass?
They might get mucked up with mud/dirt. I think your best bet is a good tread on your boots and/or caulked boots (based on 5 years of treeplanting experience).
Will I be able to use either of these cleats with size 16 boots?
They're all made in the same factory in china
Same factory or not, it’s for different price range and can be for different needs.
Which factory is that?
@Fitzmartin24 the one that makes them you knobhead and then stamps "made in China" on them
@@nickmail7604 😂😂😂 proper cracked me up that
Thanks for the review. I don't think that the Amazon spikes are made of silicon, but rather TPU
Great review. Microspikes are such a game changer for early season hiking in the Rockies! Not feeling like you are going to die on ice is nice.
Does anyone out there use microspikes with lone peaks right at the large end of the sizing? I wear 10.5 and the spikes in medium state they fit 9-11 I'm not sure how these things are supposed to fit but it feels like I have to stretch them pretty far to fir them on the shoe
Thanks for the side by side review...
Just came across this video in Jan 2024. Those microspikes on Amazon are now $20. Not sure if they'd made improvements over the last year, or just decided to start charging more 🤷♀️
I mean prices go up and down
Great review, thanks
Would rubber football cleats work on ice
No
I’m enjoying how much you know about this
Very good review.
Purple pants
The cheap one work then
feels like a secret ad for khatoola
I’d pay the extra or care at all if they were actually made in the USA. Doesn’t matter where the idea comes from.
lmfao who the hell is gonna buy cleats that cost like 10x more than the materials used to make them??
I have ice bug shoes.
This video sounds soooo sponsored.
Kahtoola is only $50 more what a small price to pay for slightly better quality. I’m being sarcastic
Def not $6….
This is so biased its actually cringe
Don't use these on steep slopes and definitely never bring them to high mountains. These are pretty much only for flat ice and snow. If you plan on going to the snowy mountains buy real crampons and a climbing pick.
@@helpfulcommenter Yeah and squids ride without a helmet just fine. Until something goes wrong and their brain falls out.
@@helpfulcommenter Wait until you slip and slide down the slope. Without a climbing pick you won't stop until you hit something.
@@helpfulcommenter I've seen Sherpas using boot laces as crampons for not too technical pass.
@@helpfulcommenter Not sure what is your point. Boot laces works fine in emergency when someone doesn't have crampons which means micro spike would work even better.
You're so cute...