Another positive comment on Microspikes.

Mine broke yesterday! I have been waiting for this for some time. According to the GPS, they survived about 200 miles of decomposed granite, river gravel and hard pan. There was probably another 50 miles of ice and snow. All of this is in steep trails in central Idaho. Many trails are very steep with loose sand on top of hard rock.

One of the wire links that attaches between chains broke.

On another thought, I use them on grass sidehills when I mow or do yard work. The basically work well where ever traction is needed.


I am 200# and carry a 40# pack. My wife is 140 and carries 10#’s. Both of our spikes are worn down to about 75% of the original length. The difference is her links attaching the chain to the rubber are much less worn.

No slip and falls, no slide offs, no slip off the slimy log, no slides down the hill on your butt because of lack of traction.

For those that think that they can repair the Microspikes with a pair of good Leatherman tool, forget it. The links are too tough to bend.

Being I am paranoid about survival, the broken one, got me out to the truck and my spare pair!

Just out of curiosity, where did they break? (rubber or steel) I bought a pair on sale sometime around February or March, but have yet to get to use them (I have to drive to the mountains to find real winter weather).

One of the wire links that attaches between chains broke.

On another thought, I use them on grass sidehills when I mow or do yard work. The basically work well where ever traction is needed.

For those of us not familiar with this apparently very cool product, here's a link.

Kahtoola Microspikes

Assuming they are hardened, and that's why you can't bend them in place to try and "fix" it, you should be able to heat them with a torch to soften the metal (and relieve stress) and allow you to bend it. Course I guess you could just chalk them up as used up and get a new pair.

Id have to say thats the first time I've heard of the metal breaking in them. Every other report I've heard of them breaking it was the rubber that finally let go.