Comments on: Microspikes – a solution for hiking in icy conditions?

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:55:29 +0000

Hi Steve,
We have worn them on three different occasions. Mainly in ice and snow. They were fantastic on ice where it was frozen on rocks, (in a thin film) worked a treat because they gripped enough to stop you slipping. Also wore them at Falls Creek (in Australia) to get around the ice covered roads in the village. Again, perfect. After a while you don’t even think they are on.

We have also worn them in the snow for a while but in the end they were not necessary.

Re slippery surface. They DO work well on rocks and roots. They are not long spikes or sharp points that “dig in” It is more like adding car chains to tyres. Hard to say go ahead and splash your cash but if you have a bit spare would not hurt! (btw, if you go to the Otways, we are in Geelong, happy to show you one day)

Frank

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:00:20 +0000

G’day Frank,

I’ve been thinking about this post of yours for the past few weeks or so, so thought I’d dig it up and post a comment. Have you used your micro spikes much since posting this?

I was reminded of your post because I was hiking in a very slippery area, but slippery with slime and sludge, rather than ice. It just got me thinking how it would be great to have some greater traction that could reach through the slippery surface and ground me on the stable rock below. I was reminded of it again when I was down in the Otways recently, around the Yannathan Falls area, again with lots of slippery surfaces as we scrambled up over the falls to head further upstream.

From your time playing with them, do you think the micro spikes would help in these sorts of terrains? Or does their ‘spikiness’ make them really just mini crampons, and so only ideally suitable for ice? Would love to hear how you’ve gone with them, I’m thinking of treating myself to a couple gifts courtesy of the tax man

Cheers,
Steve

By: Mount Kilimanjaro – Planning the climb | Our Hiking Blog

Mount Kilimanjaro – Planning the climb | Our Hiking Blog — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:44:59 +0000

[...] also take some micro spikes for the summit day for better stability in the snow. I expect the hypoxia will make me unsteady on [...]

By: Frank and Sue

Frank and Sue — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:01:50 +0000

Hi ya Wolfix,
Thanks for the great comments and questions. We just finished the Overland Track and unfortunately the weather was too warm for ice and we did not need to use the Microspikes at all!
There was a fair bit of snow up around Kitchen Hut and we used Yowies BUT the snow was so soft and soggy we still sunk into the snow – made for a slow tough first day!
There was a heap of water around but not as much as expected at Frog Flats. All the watherfalls etc were booming.

Will throw up a post about the trip soon and thanks for the king words!
Frank

By: wolfix

wolfix — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:02:08 +0000

Hi! It's great to finally find a good hiking blog (and well laid out) for Aussie hikes.

I'm planning on doing the OT in winter as well and wasn't sure there'd be enough snow to make snow shoes worthwhile. Having read this post I'm very keen to know how the microspikes perform. Have you done the OT in them yet?

Also, on walking through the dreaded Frog Flats (our least favourite day on the Overland), how does it compare in winter to summer? Less slippery balancing acts and feet in bogs or is it much the same ankle-twisting muddiness?

Thanks for blogging. I think most adventurers spend too much time outdoors to bother putting up a decent site.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Wolfix