Winter Hiking

Hillsound Trail Crampon Guide: How to Choose

The Hillsound Trail Crampon Family Compared

Hillsound makes three different types of winter hiking traction aids, which unlike traditional mountaineering crampons, are primarily designed for use with flexible-soled winter boots and shoes. Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra Hillsound Trail Crampon Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro Unfortunately, Hillsound chose to name …

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Crescent Moon EVA All-Foam Snowshoes Review

Crescent-Moon-All-Foam-Snowshoes

Crescent Moon’s EVA All Foam Snowshoes are high flotation snowshoes that are made of foam without any metal crampons or heel lifts. Highly rockered, (curved like a banana), they’re good for walking and running on well-packed trails and groomed cross-country tracks. They …

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Winter Hiking in a Thin Baselayer

Winter Hiking in a Thin base layer

The biggest mistake that new winter hikers make is overdressing by wearing heavy or medium-weight baselayers that are hard to remove if you start to sweat. You’ll be much better off wearing a very thin crew or quarter-zip shirt and adding additional …

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Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra Review

The Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra is a winter traction aid compatible with all types of shoes: trail runners, hiking boots, insulated boots, and mountaineering boots.

The Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra is a winter traction device that has 18 half-inch stainless spikes connected to an elastomer harness compatible with all hiking boots, shoes, and trail runners. They’re essentially tire chains for your feet, designed to give you better traction for …

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What are Rock Spikes?

What are Rock Spikes?

Rock Spikes are Kahtoola Microspikes, Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras, and any other lightweight (chain-based) winter traction aids with dull spikes that have been worn down from heavy use. Rather than throw them away, hikers and peakbaggers use them during the early winter …

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Winter Hiking in Trail Runners

Winter Hiking in Trail Runners

If you use trail runners for hiking and backpacking in three-season weather, it is possible to keep using them in winter instead of insulated winter hiking boots or mountaineering boots. There are some advantages to doing this. Trail runners are substantially lighter …

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KEEN Targhee High Lace Winter Hiking Boots Review

Keen Targhee High Lace Insulated Boots Review

KEEN’s Targhee High Lace Winter Hiking Boots are full-height (not mids) waterproof/breathable insulated boots rated to -25F/-32C. They are amazingly comfortable for a winter boot, with soft leather uppers that require virtually no break-in period to wear. Specs at a Glance Temperature …

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Tubbs Flex VRT Snowshoe Review

Tubbs Flex VRT Snowshoes Review

The Tubbs Flex VRT is a plastic decked snowshoe with an aggressive crampon setup that’s ideal for snowshoeing in steep and mountainous terrain. It has an easy-to-use Boa binding system that clamps down around your boots and won’t slip in use, along …

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