Kahtoola MICROspikes vs Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra (2026)
Two stretch-on winter traction devices. Official copy aims the MICROspikes at icy mountain trails and the Trail Crampon Ultra at trail running and fastpacking. Neither is a mountaineering crampon.
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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec and pricing pages and the findings of the reviewers we name and link. We haven’t field-tested these products ourselves, and we don’t give scores. How we pick.
Quick answer
Choose Kahtoola MICROspikes ($89.95) if you want official per-size weights and a 12-spike MICROspikes kit or a $89.95 official price is acceptable. Choose Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra ($69.95) if you want 18 official spikes and longer heel points at $69.95 or official trail-running and fastpacking use language matches your plan.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check Kahtoola MICROspikes price (opens in a new tab)Check Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Kahtoola MICROspikes | Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Official price | $89.95 | $69.95 |
| Spikes | 12 stainless steel spikes per foot; 0.41 in / 10.4 mm heat-treated spikes in the official feature line (a comparison block on the same site also printed 0.41 in / 10.4 mm) | 18 stainless steel spikes; length 1/2–2/3 in (1.2–1.5 cm), including three 2/3 in heel spikes; double-link side chains; stainless toe bail |
| Official weight | Pair: XS 10.5 oz / 285 g; S 11 oz / 312 g; M 11.9 oz / 338 g; L 13.1 oz / 372 g; XL 13.5 oz / 382 g; XXL 14.9 oz / 422 g | 420 g / 14.81 oz, excluding the carrying case (one official figure) |
| Packed size | 5 × 3 × 2 in on the official table | Not a matching official packed-size figure on the block we used |
| Harness / extras | TPE / elastomer harness in official copy; tote sack included | Elastomer harness; official copy also mentions a steel toe bail |
We compared these devices using Kahtoola’s official MICROspikes page and Hillsound’s official Trail Crampon Ultra (US) page, both fetched November 10, 2026. Official use language differs: Kahtoola describes aggressive grip for icy mountain trails; Hillsound recommends trail running, hiking/backpacking and fastpacking. Ice changes by the hour. Spikes are not a substitute for judging the slope, the ice and whether you should turn around.
Choose Kahtoola MICROspikes if you want the official 12-spike, 0.41 in heat-treated stainless setup at $89.95, with official pair weights from 10.5 oz / 285 g (XS) to 14.9 oz / 422 g (XXL) — medium is 11.9 oz / 338 g — and a 5 × 3 × 2 in packed-size line on the official table. Choose the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra if you want more official spikes at a lower official price: $69.95, 18 stainless spikes (including three 2/3 in heel spikes; spike length 1/2–2/3 in / 1.2–1.5 cm), and 420 g / 14.81 oz official weight excluding the carrying case (one official figure, not a size-by-size table). We haven’t walked ice in either device, and we don’t give scores. These are stretch-on trail spikes, not a step-in glacier crampon.
Kahtoola MICROspikes vs Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra: side-by-side
| Kahtoola MICROspikes | Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Official price | $89.95 | $69.95 |
| Spikes | 12 stainless steel spikes per foot; 0.41 in / 10.4 mm heat-treated spikes in the official feature line (a comparison block on the same site also printed 0.41 in / 10.4 mm) | 18 stainless steel spikes; length 1/2–2/3 in (1.2–1.5 cm), including three 2/3 in heel spikes; double-link side chains; stainless toe bail |
| Official weight | Pair: XS 10.5 oz / 285 g; S 11 oz / 312 g; M 11.9 oz / 338 g; L 13.1 oz / 372 g; XL 13.5 oz / 382 g; XXL 14.9 oz / 422 g | 420 g / 14.81 oz, excluding the carrying case (one official figure) |
| Packed size | 5 × 3 × 2 in on the official table | Not a matching official packed-size figure on the block we used |
| Harness / extras | TPE / elastomer harness in official copy; tote sack included | Elastomer harness; official copy also mentions a steel toe bail |
| Intended use (official) | Aggressive grip for icy mountain trails | Trail running, hiking / backpacking, fastpacking |
What are the pros and cons?
Kahtoola MICROspikes: pros
- Official size-by-size pair weights, so you can match a size to ounces
- 12 official 0.41 in spikes and a packed-size figure (5 × 3 × 2 in)
- A long-running official MICROspikes design with an included tote sack
Kahtoola MICROspikes: cons
- Higher official price ($89.95 vs $69.95)
- Fewer official spikes than the Ultra’s 18
- Heavier official medium pair (11.9 oz) is still lighter than Hillsound’s single 14.81 oz figure, but a Kahtoola XXL at 14.9 oz is essentially a tie — compare your size
Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra: pros
- Lower official price ($69.95)
- 18 official spikes, including longer 2/3 in heel spikes, plus double-link side chains and a steel toe bail
- Official recommended uses include trail running and fastpacking
Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra: cons
- A single official 420 g / 14.81 oz weight, excluding the case, with no size-by-size table on the page we used
- No official packed-size figure we could pair with Kahtoola’s 5 × 3 × 2 in
- 14.81 oz excluding the case is heavier than official Kahtoola sizes through XL
Which should you choose: Kahtoola MICROspikes or Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra?
If you want official per-size weights and a 12-spike, 0.41 in MICROspikes kit at $89.95, Kahtoola is the documented pick — and a medium pair is officially 11.9 oz. If you want 18 official spikes, longer heel points and a $69.95 price, the Trail Crampon Ultra is the documented pick, at a single official 14.81 oz (no case). We have not walked ice in either device. Neither product is a mountaineering crampon for steep alpine ice. Confirm size using each maker’s current size chart, and stay off ice you have not judged for yourself.
Choose Kahtoola MICROspikes if…
- You want official per-size weights and a 12-spike MICROspikes kit
- A $89.95 official price is acceptable
- You hike icy trails more than you trail-run on them
Choose Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra if…
- You want 18 official spikes and longer heel points at $69.95
- Official trail-running and fastpacking use language matches your plan
- You will accept a single 14.81 oz official weight without a size-by-size table
These are stretch-on spikes, not glacier crampons
Official copy on both pages describes stretch-on harnesses and short spikes (about 0.41 in on the Kahtoola; 1/2–2/3 in on the Hillsound). That is winter-trail traction, not a step-in 12-point mountaineering crampon. If the route needs an ice axe, a harness and true crampons, this comparison is the wrong page.
What Hillsound says is different about the Ultra
A Hillsound article dated December 15, 2021 compares the Trail Crampon and the Trail Crampon Ultra. For the Ultra, it describes 18 stainless-steel spikes on a chain system, with 15 spikes at 1.2 cm and three heel spikes at 1.5 cm, a 2-year limited warranty, and recommended use that includes trail running and flexible-soled shoes as well as hiking boots. That is the maker’s 2021 line comparison, not a test we ran, and it is not a snow-travel safety rating. Official product figures we fetched separately are $69.95 and 420 g / 14.81 oz excluding the case for the Ultra, and $89.95 with 12 spikes of 0.41 in for Kahtoola MICROspikes, at pair weights of 10.5–14.9 oz depending on size.
When a land unit and a mountain-safety group say to use traction devices
A National Park Service page on hiking with traction devices, last updated January 14, 2026, says to carry and use traction devices when trails have hard-packed snow and ice, and that for soft, deeper snow it is best to switch to snowshoes. The page is written in a Rocky Mountain National Park context, but the hard-pack-versus-deep-snow distinction is the part we are citing. Mountaineering Scotland’s “Micro spikes or crampons?” advice says micro-spikes and similar devices are designed for icy paths and tracks with low-angle inclines, typically 15–20 degrees, and that they are not a substitute for crampons on steep, technical, or consequential terrain where a slip could lead to a serious fall. Those are safety statements, not a product test, and they are not a substitute for local conditions or training. We have not used either device on snow or ice.
Who should skip both?
- Mountaineers on steep alpine ice or a glacier travel day that requires a true crampon.
- Walkers who only need mild sidewalk traction. Both official pages are aimed at trail ice, not a city commute spike.
- Anyone treating spikes as permission to walk on ice they have not checked. Conditions decide.
Frequently asked questions
Which has more spikes?
Which is lighter?
How much do they cost?
How long are the spikes?
Are these mountaineering crampons?
Sources
Prices, specs and land-unit rules were checked on the pages below as of Nov 2026. Brands and land units change prices and rules often, so confirm them on the seller’s or official land-unit page before you buy or go.
- Kahtoola: MICROspikes official product page (price, 12 spikes, size-by-size weights, packed size; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (kahtoola.com)
- Hillsound: Trail Crampon Ultra official US product page (price, 18 spikes, 420 g weight; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (hillsound.com)
- Hillsound: Differences Between the Trail Crampon and Trail Crampon Ultra (December 15, 2021; 18 stainless spikes, 15 at 1.2 cm and 3 heel spikes at 1.5 cm; 2-year limited warranty; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (hillsound.com)
- National Park Service: Hiking with Traction Devices (last updated January 14, 2026; use traction devices on hard-packed snow and ice; snowshoes for soft, deeper snow; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (nps.gov)
- Mountaineering Scotland: Micro spikes or crampons? (micro-spikes for icy paths and tracks, typically 15–20 degree inclines; not a crampon substitute on steep or consequential terrain; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (mountaineering.scot)
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