On the usefulness of microspikes

Do I really need them?  I see them at REI and stand there rubbing my chin wondering if if I'll ever use them. I’ve always gotten by with boots on slopes where there’s boot pack, or switch over to crampons if it gets sketchy. Did you finally buy a pair and love them or neglect them?

Charlie Kissick wrote:

Do I really need them?  I see them at REI and stand there rubbing my chin wondering if if I'll ever use them. I’ve always gotten by with boots on slopes where there’s boot pack, or switch over to crampons if it gets sketchy. 

Trails where the snow has been compacted into a layer close to ice. While crampons would certainly work, they're often overkill.

They seem incredibly useful for winter hiking in my area (Virginia). I think they'd be dead weight in a real alpine environment, but for something with enough traffic for snow to get compacted down into that almost ice layer, but not enough traffic for it to be perfectly groomed (like some of the side trails off the AT or other well known ones like Old Rag) they seem quite nice.

I normally just resign to my fate and slip/fall a few times. Once I was chatting up some incredibly attractive people and fell and slid a foot or two down the trail while flailing and then gave up and just let it take me until I stopped about 10 feet later.  Still haven't bothered to pick up a cheap set of used spikes though....

A must in Boulder's flatirons in winter.

Depends on what you mean by microspikes, the rubber based ones are only good for iced up sidewalks, stuff like the BD distance spikes are really good for trail running in the mountains in winter. 

I've been on some hikes in early winter where the footing was essentially rock hard frozen dirt/mud. Too steep to flat foot, too hard to kick a boot edge into. I didn't want to hike a mile of that in my best ice climbing crampons, so microspikes were perfect. Also loved them on a nearly flat trail that was a sheet of water ice that you could skate on.

these are fantastic for iced up approaches and slippery logs at creek crossings.  i use them fairly frequently at org in the winter and it's literally a game changer (ie you made the crossing and those without microspikes turn around).

Agree with others: on popular hikes where there's compacted snow they're a total game-changer, turning super sketchy slippery ice into terrain that's easy to walk.

I've found even the crappy rubber ones are a game changer on packed down trails that have become slick ice.

Johnston Canyon in Banff in winter comes to mind. Busy busy.

Boots are not necessary with micro spikes. Here in SW USA, the snow is often not deep and not covering the trail all the way. Just a little more traction for a bit on a cold shadey morning makes it all still seem casual. 

If you do buy some, I recommend spending the extra $ for the ones with the Velcro strap that goes across the top of the shoe—or DIY your own strap. Otherwise if you snag something, the spikes go flying and you might not find it till spring!

I've found that Kahtoola's Nanospikes are perfect for trail running. The carbide spikes don't dull on rock/dirt, so you can put them on at the beginning of the run and forget about the. I also find spikes very useful anytime I want a little extra traction without needing crampons, as they are much lighter and pack down much smaller.