Crampons!!!

[ganghis]

A few years ago, @Bushcraft suggesting taking crampons on the high hunt, and a hilarity of memes ensued.  It was great.

But this is actually a serious question.  Has anyone had experience with lightweight aluminum crampons (like the Petzl Leopard) on wet vegetation in the Cascades?  There are a couple of basins for the high hunt that I go to that are pretty sketchy getting in and out of when they're wet (like 40 degree slopes covered with heather or blueberry bushes).  It's normally like a 3 steps forward, two steps back situation with veggie belays getting out of there and I was thinking lightweight crampons might solve that problem.  But I know aluminum crampons are less durable and wouldn't want to do it if they were done after a few uses. I could bring my steel grivels but that seems like more weight than is necessary.  Anyone use anything else for this situation? Yaktrax?

[Stein]

I have these on my Amazon wishlist, I wouldn't want anything much more that that, especially full crampons as it would mean I needed a much, much stiffer boot.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RXXM42E/?coliid=IWCOJUUUMBEG9&colid=12E8G8KHTKR5X&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

There are a bunch of YouTubes, several manufacturers make similar things and they have more or less aggressive spikes to fit whatever need a guy has.

I try not to use them as I have a habit of shredding my gaiters whenever I would use actual crampons.

[7mmfan]

I have a pair of the Kahtoola Microspikes. They have been absolute lifesavers in some situations like you're describing.

[Rob]

In hardish snow, the AL crampons vastly underperform steel.  They lack the bite needed to dig in.  I think the added weight of steel and ability of steel to hold an edge better than soft AL is the reason.  Everyone I know who got AL crampons ditched them for steel after 1 to 2 trips.   I occasionally saw them come back out for climbs with long approaches when the snow conditions were supposed to call for softer snow.

I have used steel crampons in vegetation before while transitionig from one snow patch to another. I found that they like to snag on roots and bushes and become a tripping hazard.   They do work pretty well on rocks once you get use to them.

I would vote for micro spikes i suppose if your boots are not working well enough.  Be advised that vegitation likes to pickpocket microspikes!

[Bushcraft]

It's all fun and games in the backcountry until it's not.

Foot fangs and whippets FTW.

#TheMountainDoesNotCare

[jackelope]

It's all fun and games in the backcountry until it's not.

Foot fangs and whippets FTW.

#TheMountainDoesNotCare

Those are the microspikes, no?

[Stein]

I have several pair of gaiters that look just like that....

[Smokepole]

I have microspikes, and they're great.  Be sure to buy the non-counterfeit versions.  I had a problem with one pair, and the Kahtoola company replaced them asap.  Well worth the price, and far better quality than anything else I've tried.   

[O. Nerka]

I've got aluminum's I love for Backcountry skiing and climbing on snow but there is no way I'd take them on heather and rocks. They'd get trashed. The Leopards are some sweet light crampons though!!

[Okanagan]

I have a pair of the Kahtoola Microspikes. They have been absolute lifesavers in some situations like you're describing.

^^ This^^

I'm on my second pair of Kahtoola Microspikes and never leave home without them.  First pair lasted five years of much use.  I wear them picking berries in summer, hunting on wet wood and slick steep slopes in the Fall, on ice and snow predator calling in winter.  Easy on, easy off, they work way better than I expected.  Kinda pricey for how simple they are but well worth it.

 I have full mountaineering crampons, which are too much for most hunting, though I'd sure take them if hunting mountain goats again.  Yaktrax are good for icy sidewalks in town and I have a pair for that, but they don't have enough bite for icy alpine slopes, etc.  Microspikes for the use you describe.

[Knocker of rocks]

It's all fun and games in the backcountry until it's not.

Foot fangs and whippets FTW.

#TheMountainDoesNotCare

Those aren’t Foot Fangs

[highside74]

Years ago I was hunting the Swakane late archery deer season. Snow and ice everywhere. I've never struggled or cramped up so much in my life. There was a few guys going anywhere and everywhere in the area I was hunting. At one point we crossed paths and chatted for a bit. My 1st question was, what boots are you wearing that you aren't struggling in this slick crappy snow? They turned their soles over to reveal Microspikes. Soon as I returned home I went out and bought a set of Kahtoola Microspikes. Easy insurance added to my pack

[NRA4LIFE]

Amazon has the Kahtoolas for $60 right now.

[ganghis]

Thanks for the replies, all!  Kahtoolas are on their way

[Rob]

Be sure to report back once you give them a go!

[Humptulips]

caulk shoes

[Bushcraft]

It's all fun and games in the backcountry until it's not.

Foot fangs and whippets FTW.

#TheMountainDoesNotCare

Those aren’t Foot Fangs

Correct. Foot fangs was a play on words.

I'm running Hillsound Trail Crampons. 

While somewhat similar, the Kahtoola Microspikes are okay and marginally lighter, but they are no where near as good as the Hillsounds on steep dirt, scree, bare rock, logs, slide alder, grass, river crossings, blueberries, heather, snow and ice.   They stick to everything.  It's crazy. Just put them on and go wherever you want.  Especially if you're running good stiff soled boots like the Scarpas in the picture.  I had just carried the last half of a boned out buck a couple thousand feet down an avalanche chute and was resting up before I waded the river while heading back to camp.  Just check 'em every now and again to make sure they haven't slipped around like this one did a little bit off the heel.

And yes, I've ran both of the Kahtoolas and the Hillsounds as well as the Black Diamond Contacts (but those have only been for glacier travel and while crossing a snowfield with a sometimes sketchy runout during The Season That Can't Be Named ).