Kahtoola KTS Steel Hiking Crampons with Snow Release Skins

Neither of us had ever hiked or climbed in the snow before. I was wearing Merrill Vibram boots, which are standard hiking boots with extremely flexible soles—not the kind of boots that can be worn with crampons. My brother was dressed in a similar manner. We camped overnight at around 11,000', and there was deep snow from below our campsite all the way to the summit. br>br>Fitting the crampons to our boots was simple, as was putting them on the day of our hike. br>br> The slopes varied in difficulty from flat at the start to a 70-degree incline near the summit. The crampons were fantastic: They stayed tight and on our boots the entire time, and they gave us excellent traction at all angles of slope. The included silicone Snow Release Skins were also excellent, and neither of us had any problems with snow clumping on the crampons' bottoms. We would not have been able to summit without these crampons, and we would have been in grave danger of injury. br>br>Overall, the Kahtoola KTS steel crampons are a fantastic product that we would strongly recommend, especially to anyone who does not have access to standard crampons. Mountaineering boots that are compatible.

Kalel Conley

| Sep 01, 2021

They've become a go-to for hiking and running in deep snow and ice mountains. Both my Microspikes and my Hilllsound Crampons (which were far too stiff for anything but a thick boot) were completely replaced. Separately, I purchased a carrying case for them. They're extremely flexible, light, and form-fitting to footwear. br>br> It's as if you're not even wearing crampons. The 1" teeth give you the feeling of being unstoppable on even the toughest ice. br>br>I've used them a half-dozen times so far. They haven't worn down or dulled, except for minor paint wear on the red teeth. br>br>I'm hoping for a couple of seasons out of them. My Hillsound Trail Crampons were never worth the discomfort of wearing unless absolutely necessary, and I had to replace my microspikes every year.

Cassius Rojas

| Mar 05, 2021

Once I got them adjusted properly, I really enjoyed them. Slipping on ice with these on does not appear to be an option; however, the red paint job is of poor quality, and after only one hike, it began to fade, and a few days later, I noticed oxidation. After a few days, the rust had spread quite far. Black Diamond has stainless steel crampons that are less expensive than this garbage, so that's what I got.

Adriel Galloway

| Nov 14, 2021

We still don't have enough snow to barely cover the rocks as of 4 JAN 22 - I began a climb of Giant Mt. , but there was plenty of ice. I had these in my pack because I didn't want to expose my new crampons to the rocks while hiking in the Adirondack High Peaks with Kahtoola microspikes. Although the microspikes were adequate, I was eager to try out the crampons. As I gained elevation, the snow became a little deeper, so I switched to the KTS. br>br>In the near-zero temperatures, KTS's were a breeze to put on. What a difference there is. As I climbed, I purposefully chose the iciest, steepest routes. On the way up, I passed a young couple, but on the way down, I passed them again because their microspikes couldn't handle the steep shelves. I didn't take them off for the rest of the day - even where there was exposed rock at the bottom. These little ones were unconcerned. I don't think I'll ever need to bring my microspikes with me again. Wearing these over the micros has no disadvantages aside from getting used to the toe spikes. br>br>I'm a standard Men's 9 size, which puts me on the cusp of the smaller and larger KTS sizes. I ordered a large size for my Vasque boots, which are a size 10 and fit perfectly.

Sophia Bishop

| Feb 28, 2021

This pair of high-quality crampons is exactly what I've been looking for. In the winter, I use them to clear invasive brush from a steep slope with a chainsaw. For the past two years, I've been using them along with the g10s. br>br>With the one-inch spikes, I almost forget about slipping. Without these crampons, I wouldn't be able to finish this job. Spikes with rubber bindings, such as the micro spikes, would not be able to withstand the conditions. br>br>I also own a pair of Kahtoola g10 crampons. They are also of high quality. I prefer the bindings with these kts crampons, as well as the one-inch spikes. br>br>The snow skins didn't last very long, but that's not a problem for me. br>br>Thank you for a great product, Kahtoola.

Sage Mahoney

| Sep 11, 2021