Kahtoola Microspikes

What you get A dozen ¾-inch-long stainless steel teeth give you serious ice traction without the weight of crampons. A durable elastomer band stretches over any type of shoe without snapping in cold weather, and the welded chains underfoot won’t break, even when smashed against rocks.

Trail cred “Before Microspikes, winter hiking in the Grand Canyon offered two miserable options: crappy wire traction or heavy mountaineering crampons,” says Southwest Field Editor Annette McGivney. “The Microspikes are light and strong enough to dig in on icy trails. Thanks to these, I now plan winter backpacking trips on steep, icy routes with no worries.”