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Yaktrax have the "diamond?" shaped metal coils which helps if you're walking on top of compressed, icy snow or slick ice.  Microspikes have teeth that actually plunge into the surface, as said above like mini crampons.  That used to be the difference but it looks like yaktrax have started to make different, more aggressive models to compete with micro spikes. And for comparison, these are crampons. They are mostly rigid, strap or clip into your boots, also usually meant for mountaineering boots or stiff sole hiking boots with a solid toe and or heel lip. They're much more aggressive and meant for gripping into snow, ice etc. They're heavier with very sharp points. Each tooth is about an inch long. I've never felt more secure with my footing on snow than in crampons. 
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Feb 6, 2022 23:33
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I just need to get up poo poo like this without busting my tailbone in two. Microspikes do the job and stuff into my bag without perforating everything .  
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Feb 7, 2022 00:08
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There's another options still, something like the "Yaktrax Run", which have a combination of coils and hardened metal studs, and I believe there are some that just have the studs. Which you'll want really depends entirely on your use case. I personally have crampons, microspikes, and yaktrax run. I use them for: Ice climbing, winter hiking, and winter (mostly city) running respectively.
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Feb 7, 2022 00:44
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xzzy posted:I did the north shore this weekend, being a nerd taking pictures of rocks with icicles on them. I've managed to survive but I really gotta get a better cold weather bag and improve my layering system for hiking. The stuff I have made it harder than it should be to mange heat (biggest issue is my outer layer can't be compressed into a bag, it's an old school parka thing). I've only done one winter trip on the SHT so far this year. I love winter backpacking though, by far my favorite niche in hiking. Like you experienced you got to have a good layering system in place. Im sure this wont be new for a lot of people but this is what I use:
With things scrunched down and compressed I can get all of that in a bigger 60+ liter pack with everything else just fine. EDIT: I left out footwear! Cold down below 15F or so I go with my Steger Mukluks. Above that I use some Vasque Snowburban boots that work great.
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Feb 7, 2022 02:22
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I got to test out some new equipment for the first time this weekend while car camping at a regional park with the wife, our 12 year old daughter and her friend. Item 1) MSR windburner duo stove system. Used the pot at night to make ramen, and later at night to boil water for tea. What can I say, it was easy to use and was really fast. The next morning we used it to make pancakes. I was a little worried about too much of a hot spot in the center, but the pancakes cooked pretty evenly. Everyone ate them, I guess that is a win. The windburner will be used in the future for some planned multiday hikes. Item 2) 4 person Coleman instant cabin type tent. Big, heavy but relatively cheap on CL. The "built in rainfly" was the size of a sheet of paper, so I was a little worried about condensation. My wife and I shared the tent, and it ventalated well enough. Granted we are down in Socal and there was a mild Santa Ana condition. It said you could put it up in last than a minute, and that was correct. It took me longer to find the stakes than it did to put up the tent. Also, it went a bit under 30F last night, something of a surprise. The crap $25 Costco sleeping bags that we have had for at least 10 years were just at their limit, although my face was pretty cold. The problem was solved by curling up a bit so I could fold the hood over my face, sealing myself in. Item 3) Tesla model 3 in camp mode. The girl and her friend slept in climate controlled goodness as 68F. The rear seats fold flat and you pretty much just sleep with your feet in the trunk of the car. They said it was great. They listened to music, watched a movie are fell asleep looking at the stars through the skylight. With all of the extra storage available in the trunks of the car, we were able to pack a lot of gear, especially when it came to bedding. A good time was had by all. We finished up by going to the visitors center on our way out and handled a couple of the resident snakes. Moleman, the Gopher snake, and Houdini, a California King snake.
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Feb 7, 2022 04:31
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Arkhamina posted:Are microspikes significantly different than yaktrax? I have those already, the coil thingies with rubber toe/heel and a tarsal velcro strap... I absolutely hate yaktrax lol. The tiny bit of compression you get each step on the coils makes me feel like I never have stable footing.  I picked up a pair of these BOA closure spikes from LL Bean, and goddamn they're so much nicer to get on and off than the stretchy rubber type. Yesterday I did 6 miles up and down icy slopes and across a windblown lake without a single misstep. Best outdoor gear purchase I've made since my osprey pack.
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Feb 7, 2022 16:01
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I'll use YakTrax for walking the dog and thats about it. Usually break one pair a year. I would never take them on a winter backpacking trip though.
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Feb 7, 2022 16:59
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The Yaktrax diamond grip, which are a bunch of spiky metal beads that can spin around a metal cable, have been great for me. We've used them on tons of winter hikes, including hiking on sheets of ice in Zion in winter. They're only so-so on snow, though, as they can't really dig in deep. Having said that I got some Kahtoola microspikes and they are objectively better. My only concern (possibly irrational) is breaking a spike on trails that are a mix of ice and bare rock.
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Feb 7, 2022 17:13
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incogneato posted:Having said that I got some Kahtoola microspikes and they are objectively better. My only concern (possibly irrational) is breaking a spike on trails that are a mix of ice and bare rock. I've yet to have a spike break. What has happened is the rubber getting caught on something, me not realizing it, and ripping the chain through the rubber hole it runs through. I've only had that happen twice in over 10 years and I was able to jury rig it with some cordage both times to finish a trip at least.
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Feb 7, 2022 17:40
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incogneato posted:The Yaktrax diamond grip, which are a bunch of spiky metal beads that can spin around a metal cable, have been great for me. We've used them on tons of winter hikes, including hiking on sheets of ice in Zion in winter. They're only so-so on snow, though, as they can't really dig in deep. I've had the same pair of microspikes since 2015 and they are fine. I've probably put as many rock miles on them as ice/snow. Honestly I don't see how one of the spikes could break. They are short and stubby, not very thin, and made out of steel. I'm sure mine are a bit worn compared to when they were new, but they work just as well.
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Feb 7, 2022 18:27
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incogneato posted:The Yaktrax diamond grip, which are a bunch of spiky metal beads that can spin around a metal cable, have been great for me. We've used them on tons of winter hikes, including hiking on sheets of ice in Zion in winter. They're only so-so on snow, though, as they can't really dig in deep. Yeah I've been pretty happy with the yaktrax diamond grips. I got them originally for icy urban walking while carrying a baby, but I've used them for some hilly hikes through icy snow too. They have served me well in both. Importantly for urban use, they can also be stuffed into a bag while inside, without damaging anything. For legit mountaineering though obviously only real crampons will do
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Feb 7, 2022 21:37
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I'd trust Yaktrax for general stuff around the house/neighborhood in snow and ice. But when it comes to any sort of technical terrain where a slip could become quite problematic, I'm going with microspikes or better.
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Feb 7, 2022 21:40
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My MIL has been some yaktrax for use in icy conditions an seems to get around just fine. Then again, she's not going hiking due to only having a one leg.
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Feb 9, 2022 22:32
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Boot chat! I’m planning a 10-ish day Switzerland backpack for this Summer and I want to upgrade my footwear for it. I typically hike in Merrell Moab 2 vented lows and I want something mid and Gore-Tex for this trip. If my Moab’s are like my favorite fitting hiking shoe ever, should I just go with the mid GTX version of the same shoe or splurge on something a hundred bucks more? I love the brand but the fact that their boots are only 140 bucks has me questioning if there’s something miles better. Edit: to specify, I mentioned mid specifically but can go higher if a full boot is noticeably more stable. Edit2: internet seems to love the Salomon Quest 4 boots. Anyone have thoughts? Rolo fucked around with this message at 02:09 on Feb 15, 2022 |
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Feb 15, 2022 01:58
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I have both Moabs and Salomon Quests. The latter feels nicer for a variety of reasons, but as your own experience shows, boots don't have to be fancy to be good. I still prefer my affordable trail running shoes on warm/dry trips, but I'm thankful for my good Salomons when I need them. Do you expect to need the goretex? My feet get hot and sweat and are prone to blisters in goretex when it's warm. And as far as support goes, I've never had issues either way. I'd go with the lower option if I wasn't expecting to need to wade through muck or snow.
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Feb 15, 2022 02:54
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There’s gonna be snow, ice and maybe rain here and there. Im also the least sweaty person I know. If I’m wearing wool I won’t get soaked. I think hiking in the desert for years fried my brain or something.
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Feb 15, 2022 03:02
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I've had both, even the goretex moabs. I think moabs are more comfortable for walking and just in general but the salmons are more rugged and feel more well protected. The moabs low ankle height means you're constantly getting debris in your socks and you can still roll an ankle. The salomons are higher which helps with debris and a little more ankle protection but not much. The toe on the salomons feels much more robust. It's a big piece of rubber vs the little lip on moabs. I loved the vibram soles on the moabs. I've learned to really like and trust vibram rubber as it's really grippy. I realize vibram is vague as they have many varieties but ive not had as much luck with a lot of brands proprietary rubber. The salomons don't give me as much confidence. The soles feel harder and tend to lack the feel of the moabs. The waterproofing on the moabs wasnt great either. Even with an internal liner, the outer boot still got wet and eventually it would get in. Overall the salomons feel more like a boot whereas the moabs more like a shoe. I would pick the salomons for anything in snow/rocks and the moabs (non waterproof) for desert/mild weather.
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Feb 15, 2022 06:02
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Yeah the most important part about shoes is that they fit your feet well. The best boot in the world is useless if you're not at ease. Best thing is to try them both out and keep the one you prefer. Also, be aware that Salomon shoes are often narrow in the toe box.
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Feb 15, 2022 08:37
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I felt that y'all should be informed. REI corporate is fighting a unionization drive at their SoHo store. https://jacobinmag.com/2022/02/rei-union-busting-podcast-land-acknowledgment-liberals/ board@rei.com is where to send the angry emails.
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Feb 15, 2022 13:33
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That’s what I get for letting myself like a company.
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Feb 15, 2022 14:55
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Rolo posted:That’s what I get for letting myself like a company. Same 
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Feb 15, 2022 16:44
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There is no company you should "like," they're all capitalists and all they really care about is more money, even a co-op. I buy stuff from places that have good products and for outdoor gear REI does the best at that.
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Feb 15, 2022 16:50
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The best you can do is to buy as little as possible, and preferably secondhand, surplus or very good quality that will last for a long time before you need to replace it.
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Feb 15, 2022 17:18
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The wild thing about REI union busting is that because they’re a co-op they have no obligation to maximize dividends like companies with shareholders do. They’re just doing this to be dicks.
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Feb 15, 2022 18:11
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xzzy posted:I buy stuff from places that have good products and for outdoor gear REI does the best at that. No it doesn't. It just has sales and a good return policy. Year after year their stuff gets flimsier and their brands get sent overseas and morphed into yuppie jogging fashion
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Feb 15, 2022 18:58
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REI still makes really good basic gear with their name brand stuff. Packs, bags, tents, etc are all perfectly fine and usually a good value. The whole outdoor industry aesthetic has morphed from army surplus to yuppie jogging fashion in your words but thats been a thing for 10+ years now easily.
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Feb 15, 2022 19:11
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The only thing keeping me shopping at rei is the return policy and the ability to occasionally try things in the store. Even then with this union bullshit I will definitely steer clear for a while.
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Feb 15, 2022 19:56
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Internet Wizard posted:The wild thing about REI union busting is that because they’re a co-op they have no obligation to maximize dividends like companies with shareholders do. They’re just doing this to be dicks. something something exploitative dynamics of economic systems transcend capitalism something something human beings unfit to organize themselves
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Feb 15, 2022 20:01
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Internet Wizard posted:The wild thing about REI union busting is that because they’re a co-op they have no obligation to maximize dividends like companies with shareholders do. They’re just doing this to be dicks. The truly wild thing is that co-op members vote for the board, so Eric Artz's job could be on the line if enough members speak out in favor of the union.
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Feb 15, 2022 20:13
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Safety Dance posted:The truly wild thing is that co-op members vote for the board, so Eric Artz's job could be on the line. I was thinking the same thing. They could just all get voted out as their seats come up. Of course maybe they choose to not send out a mailer with candidate info like they have in the past.
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Feb 15, 2022 20:15
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How do members go about transmitting a middle finger to the decision-makers, aside from quitting?
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Feb 15, 2022 21:41
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withak posted:How do members go about transmitting a middle finger to the decision-makers, aside from quitting? SwissArmyDruid posted:
I included my member ID, how many years I've been a member, that my closest REI is the SOHO store, and that I'd be proud to shop at a union REI.
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Feb 15, 2022 21:55
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How are the Merrel Moab Speed GTX? Thinking of copping some for light to medium hikes as well as rainy days around the city Sweaty feet? grip on dry leaves?
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Feb 17, 2022 18:31
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Head Bee Guy posted:How are the Merrel Moab Speed GTX? Thinking of copping some for light to medium hikes as well as rainy days around the city I was wondering about these too! Also, has anyone tried injinji toe socks? I was thinking of getting some because my two leftmost toes are prone to blistering.
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Feb 17, 2022 18:53
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Fitzy Fitz posted:I was wondering about these too! We love those in the running thread! Definitely pick some up.
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Feb 17, 2022 19:04
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on the topic of boots - I presently hike exclusively in trail runners, and I'm a big fan of it, especially after past bad blister experiences with traditional hiking boots. However, we're hoping to do mount st helens in may. I have microspikes, but I imagine I'll still want/need something substantially more water/snowproof than trail runners?
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Feb 17, 2022 20:19
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Bloody posted:on the topic of boots - I presently hike exclusively in trail runners, and I'm a big fan of it, especially after past bad blister experiences with traditional hiking boots. However, we're hoping to do mount st helens in may. I have microspikes, but I imagine I'll still want/need something substantially more water/snowproof than trail runners? Anything is possible, but that's kind of early season for trail runners. There will likely still be snow so gaiters and waterproof boots might be nice. Then again this year is a weird snow year so it might be mostly exposed. The thing about volcanoes, especially in dry conditions, is the dust and debris that gets into your socks. It's very different than just regular sand or dust. It causes your feet to dry and crack. It's really coarse and gritty. If your feet get wet and gritty, that's a recipe for disaster. Gaiters and waterproof boots go a long way to prevent that.
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Feb 17, 2022 21:38
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Bloody posted:on the topic of boots - I presently hike exclusively in trail runners, and I'm a big fan of it, especially after past bad blister experiences with traditional hiking boots. However, we're hoping to do mount st helens in may. I have microspikes, but I imagine I'll still want/need something substantially more water/snowproof than trail runners? When I did Shasta I just rented boots and crampons from a local outfitter. Something to consider for one-off trips.
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Feb 17, 2022 21:44
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Now I’m looking for a protective way to check a 60L backpack. I was going to just get the pack duffel from REI but it’s way bigger and heavier packed than I thought it would be and I don’t want to carry it an entire trip. Anyone just say gently caress it or make a few extremely wasteful passes with packing material? Or is there a product I’m unaware of?
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Feb 17, 2022 21:54
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Wouldn't it be simpler just to rent a pack once you're there? I've wondered about trips like yours before and how to handle the gear. It seems like you could fit a large backpack inside your suitcase as well.
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Feb 17, 2022 22:02
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