HikeArizona.COM

I'm wondering if anybody here has any experience with Hillsound Trail Crampons.

I have the microspikes and absolutely love them. But I have only used them a handful of times.

There were a couple of comments in the AZT forum that mentioned the Hillsounds ( @JimAH and @quester) but I'd be curious to hear some user feedback.

I've read online that the lower-price Hillsound Freesteps6 don't have very good durability, but I'd be interested in any feedback on those too.

I gotta get out of this heat and play in the snow!

Basic Stats (REI):
Kahtoola Microspikes $70 - 11oz - 12 spikes - 1cm
Hillsound Trail Crampons $60 - 15.7oz - 11 spikes - 1.5cm

@chumley
Wait you have micro spikes? Can I borrow them for a month

I have the Ice Trekkers Diamond Grips but have never used them-- any feedback on those? They're like baby micro-spikes.

@chumley
Good luck finding any. It hit 95 this weekend at our house at 7600' and 90 in Woodland Park at 9000'. BTW Use the Kahtoolas all the time no experience with the other brand.

@friendofThundergod
You may not need them after this week.

@Tough_Boots
I got a free pair of ice trekkers, and used them on the rim (shoshone point trail, etc) instead of my micro spikes ... they were fine for that.

Tough_Boots wrote:I have the Ice Trekkers Diamond Grips but have never used them-- any feedback on those? They're like baby micro-spikes.

They're great for icy pavement and best suited to urban and suburban settings, although they would be good on icy slickrock. For most other hiking applications I prefer Microspikes. I keep a pair of each in my car throughout snow and ice season.

HIllsounds rock. Blow everything else out of the water.http://www.ultrazona.com/blog/hillsound ... mpon-ultra

@ultrazona
They look pretty much identical to Microspikes, yeah?

@cactuscat
Very similar but I believe the Hillsounds have a superior tooth pattern. I also liked the security of the top velcro strap which really locks them down. I used them last year on the North Rim and they really bite into the ice. I had a pair of the Stabilicers and they were ok on mild terrain, but really didn't bite like the Hillsounds.

ultrazona wrote:@cactuscat
Very similar but I believe the Hillsounds have a superior tooth pattern. I also liked the security of the top velcro strap which really locks them down. I used them last year on the North Rim and they really bite into the ice. I had a pair of the Stabilicers and they were ok on mild terrain, but really didn't bite like the Hillsounds.

I have no doubt that they are far gripper grippier than Stabilicers, but that doesn't say much about observed performance difference relative to Microspikes. The tooth pattern may be slightly better, but I'd be surprised if that translates into enough noticeable improvement to blow them out of the water. FWIW, my Microspikes have never shown any indication that they'd benefit from the velcro.

@big_load The velcro strap only really shines when running in the Hillsounds. That is when you notice the security of the strap.

I just finally decided to look at this thread to see why people are talking about crampons during one of the hottest Junes in recent memory. I have to assume there is an element of wishful thinking...

azbackpackr wrote:I have to assume there is an element of wishful thinking...

I think there are a few people on this website that venture a bit beyond the greater tri-city valley Williamsland metroplex.

Just this past Sunday
Last Tuesday
three weeks ago

chumley wrote:I think there are a few people on this website

It's quite possible, although I'm not entirely certain of this, that there are a few people on this website who have a sense of humor.

@azbackpackr
If you're looking for humor you should try reading that other thread about the hot weather hiking ban!

@chumley
Cooked brains in the shell, add salt and serve with a side of mania.

I recently hiked Mount Whitney and wore my Hillsounds and they were fantastic. I chose to buy them over the Microspikes mainly because of the Velcro strap. My boyfriend has Microspikes and when I compared them, the footprint is nearly identical but the actual spikes on the Hillsounds were a little bit bigger, which gave me a lot more confidence. I highly recommend!