Hillsound Trail Crampon PRO

2016-02-19T02:50:28

I recently used these hiking in the high peaks of the Adirondacks on very steep, icy trails and I was pleasantly surprised at how well they dug into the ice. The straps cinch down nice and snug, once you get them situated on your boot properly. I put on the locks (which prevent the racket from undoing accidentally), but did run into the problem of the locks freezing, which made then difficult to take off (once they thawed, they were fine). Overall, well worth the money for more aggressive, icy conditions.

Chris Z.

2016-02-08T15:16:40

Got these for a trip to Dolly Sods. Had 18-24in of snow. Used snowshoes for most of it but other areas I wore these on ice covered sections of the creek. Easy to put on. No issues.

Shaun G.

2014-01-14T19:00:00

For my purposes, hiking the mountains of upstate NY, these fit the bill perfectly. Easy to put on and easy to take off. Don't forget the alpine stops. They don't come with a bag. You'll need one. Also, the Allen wrench should have a hole in it to allow you to attach it to your bag or pack so as not to lose it.

bigsilk

2012-01-31T19:00:00

incredible service , shipping and delivery. I am amazed. Thanks

TomS

2012-01-14T19:00:00

Are you hiking during the winter and expecting to encounter hard snow pack and ice? These crampons do not need a dedicated mountaineering boot and are easy to adapt to your hiking footwear. They are light and compact enough to put in your pack. Not intended for full-on mountaineering or ice climbing, but they will fit the bill nicely for trail and off-trail use and they are definitely burlier than a microspike type traction aid. I've used them during a winter ascent of an 11,500 ft peak and encountered packed snow, ice, glare ice conditions and even did some moderate side hilling. The crampons did well and didn't slip, on ice or on my boots. I did have one issue when I was postholing in deep snow. The buckles released. This is due to the ratchet design of the buckle but Hillsound provides a device with the crampons called an "Alpine Stopper" which prevents the buckle from releasing in deep snow. I, unfortunately, forgot to pack them along in the crampon case and I had to stop and periodically check the bindings. Otherwise a great product. These are not designed for ice climbing. The crampon is adjustable but you need an allen wrench (supplied) to do so. It's recommended you fit them to the shoe you are wearing before starting your hike. Once I fit the crampon to my boot and tightened the bolt, it did not loosen. There are anti-balling plates attached and I did not have any issues with snow building up underfoot.

RR