YakTrax Pros

“I bought a pair of Yak Trax Pros a couple of weeks ago but haven't had the chance to use them yet. Does anyone have them, and if so, what do you think about them? Do they work?

Website is http://www.yaktrax.com”

“Interesting idea.
yaktrax”

“i saw them a couple of month ago already. Thought I posted a question aobut them on this board.

I think the reply was "get crampons"

....maybe it was all a dream...not sure..”

“From what I remember reading about them, they're fine for walking your dog on icy sidewalks, but they're not tough enough to stand up to hiking. They tend to tear up easy.

For hiking on icy trails, you might want to consider these. For mountaineering, talk to someone who knows about mountaineering and ice climbing, like gremlin.”

“Or these 'Stabilicers'. They're like sandals you slip onto your boots with screws on the bottom. They work pretty well, but it's a good idea to take along a few replacement screws. I've found that they wear out pretty quickly on rocky ground. I haven't tried the 'sport' models yet.

(or just go the steel crampon route)”

“Here's a selection of the lighter weight options for comparison purposes....”

“I was looking at these at Sport Chalet the other day. Then I looked at reviews on line. They seem to get pretty good reviews. I may get some and try them out on my first few hikes this year. May be great to have on the Sierra Rendezvous.”

“I have a pair of the regular Yak Trax. They work really well. I was actually able to jog on hard packed snow with them. The only concern is with durability on the trail.”

“Considering these...anybody got any additional input since this thread was originally posted? I'm in the market and toying with these before crampons...or should I just go straight to crampons?

moderate trail ice/snow...15 mile per day..wondering the yak's will hold up.
last edited: 1/14/08 12:15:04 PM”

“Well, they won't fall off your feet like the originals...I'm not sure how well they'll hold up...I don't use mine for that kind of distance...the problems I had in the past were the rubber connective "tubes?" breaking rendering them almost useless...hasn't happened with my "Pros" but, as mentioned before, I don't use them for distance hiking...”

“I've got a pair.
I haven't used them yet though.”

“I've used the non-pro ones, the only difference seems to be the strap to hold the pros on. Wouldn't hold them up to be especially durable if I needed to rely on them though. Hate to have them break and be stuck out in the ice.”

“I had a pair - past tense.

The rubber bandy material broke - wore thru from exposure to rocks and ice - you know, trail type material that one encounters in the backcountry.

They did fine for traction while they lasted.

I wore them 4 or 5 times. probably a total of less than 20 miles.”

“My Mom and Dad love the for their "walks" in the winter but I found them to not cut it for any type of hiking. As others mentioned they don't hold up to abuse and if it's below freezing out and I step in any water and then snow, serious ice/showball problem.

They have their place but hiking up mountains isn't that place.”

“If your not climbing or on truly icy and steep terrain, then crampons might be overkill. Yak trax would be great for trail hiking where you have occasional icy or slick spots, they just don;t hold up very well with much abuse.

I think they are really meant for slick sidewalks.”

“You looked at the Stabilicers? they look a little more durable.
last edited: 1/14/08 1:18:50 PM”

“i looked at a pair and they do appear to be more durable.”

“moderate trail ice/snow...15 mile per day..wondering the yak's will hold up.
last edited: 1/14/08 1:15:04 PM�
GatherNoMoss

no way they'll hold up for anything that serious. i'd skip the cheap crap and go right to crampons.”

“where the heck you hikin at girl? I can't imagine you need full blown crampons for anything in your neck of the woods.”

“Check out the Katoola Microspikes.
Saw them on View from the top board

Got a pair from basegear.com They work great so far... used them up in New Hampshire on some snow cover icy trails.

Not sure how they compare with Yaks, but they are made with stainless chains and spikes, and have an odd looking rubber ring which keeps them on your feet, up and down those steep White Mountain trails, even with a 40lb pack on.

They Yaks look like they are made from scrap stainless turnings.”

“The yaktrax do put me in mind of a brillo pad. Was tryin not to drop a wad of cash on high priced crampons right now...however, at least crampons would last. Yea I wouldn't want a "blow out" either.

They're for an upcoming AT section in central VA. but yea Roam generally I wouldn't need or want full mountain man crampons. Snowshoes look really fun..but here again..not something I'll ever need.

Got the stabilicers and the katoolas up now...I really like how the Katoolas pack down.
last edited: 1/14/08 4:04:12 PM”

“The Katoolas would be the good inbetween piece of gear. Seems to me that Sassafras was talkin bout them last winter too.

Between stabilicers and Katoolas, i'd go with Katoolas.

And, yeah - snowshoes are loads of fun! Come west sometime.”

“i have a pair of them... i love them but only for certain applications.

first... they are not a substitute for crampons... period. if you are going into an environment that you think may require crampons (instep or otherwise) then think twice before using these.

second... they are made for use on ice and snow... not on rocks or pavement. they won't last long on rocks and pavement.

that said... i use these running in the winter on ice and snow covered sidewalks. they work great! also, i put these on when i take the kids sledding. i can sprint up the icy hill while the kids flop around in their boots sliding to the bottom. outstanding fun.

these will wear out where the shoe meets the rubber/coil. so when you put them on make sure the coils are all on the bottom and especially that the coil and rubber are set in grooves in the bottom of your shoe so they don't get rubbed on the strike-zone of your shoe (the pack side of the heel of your shoe where your foot first hits the pavement as your pronation process starts).”

“Roam, I don't have the microspikes. I have the KTS. Kind've like a mini crampon with a flexible middle. Very nice but considerably more expensive, unfortunately. They seem like they'll last much much l;onger though.
Here's a link:

http://www.kahtoola.com/kts_aluminum.html”

“I almost bought the YakTrak Pros today and then I remembered a thread on TT about these. (This is one of the things I love about this site.) Glad I checked here, because based on the feedback, I don't think they would hold up under winter backpack weight and use.

Those Kahtoola ones look good, but dang they are expensive and I still have to buy more Christmas presents for my family.

I guess I will just have to hope I don't break my butt.”

“get the Kahtoola micros....a wonderful thing!”

“hmmmm...thanks GNM. Those are certainly more affordable. And you like them huh?”

“CD you'll luv the Kahtoola's

Don't get the Yack tracks they'll just end up breaking, especially when traveling on mixed terrain

On every winter trip, I've seen someone break a pair of Yack tracks before they finished the hike.

Basegear.com has theKahtoola's for 49.95.
Free shipping for orders over $50.00 (WTF?)”

“i do CD...and the microspikes aren't gonna break! they collapse well for packing too. the rubber that goes around your shoe isn't stiff and they can just be balled up and thrown in the bottom if you need to.”

“Thanks you guys! I'm sold.”

“let me know when you get them..you're gonna love em.”

“Thanks for the tip all. I just ordered a pair as well. I have a pair of YaxTrax that was sent to me as a promo when they first came out. I carry them during the cold months in the kit bag I carry to work. Never have gotten to use them though, and always wondered whether they would work.

I saw a pair of Stabilicers in the outfitting store in Fairbanks. I wondered about them but didn't buy them. Didn't need more stuff in the checked baggage. Glad I didn't.

Of course, buying the Kahtoolas means there will never be ice wherever I am, as long as I have them at hand.”

“I have the micro spike. fine piece of gear. Yo bear!”

“Okay, I ordered them. Got some sock liners too to get the free shipping. The shipping costs as much as the socks! So the socks are kind of free, right? haha”

“they "sock it to you" with shipping. They are worth the bucks.”

“Thats great Creek Dancer, you'll luv em.
Basegear has always been good for me esp when they have stuff on sale!

That's still not going to help you much CD when you're postholeing down off the mountains on that News Years trip!”

“We are going to let CD go first... She can post hole for us...

'32oz
last edited: 12/09/08 7:46:12 AM”

“Of course, buying the Kahtoolas means there will never be ice wherever I am, as long as I have them at hand.”
Geobeet
12:19:44 PM
12/08/08

I have the expensive kahtoolas and have never gotten to use them except at home. The one trip I could've used them on my foot was broke and hiking out w/ the kahtoolas would've been more painful than falling on the ice.”

“I may have to get a set of the Kahtoola micros. They look like they would be perfect for those times when the trails are icy, but there isn't enough ice to warrant full crampons.”

“I bought a pair for a trip I took to Mt. Rogers last February, but there wasn't any ice or snow when I was there, just cold and wind. So, I have never used mine either.”

“I have no idea how to post hole!”

“Just walk in deep snow. It'll take care of itself:)”

“Thank you for your insight Fumblefeet.

I am going to die, aren't I?”

“CD you're not gonna die, this is the stuff that builds character!

I've used my micro's a few times, mostly up in New Hampshire on the packed trails, they're also good for walking out on the iced up forest roads up there. But i've never used my crampons yet though.

If your size is near the cutoff, always buy the next bigger size, they seem to run a little small, depending on what type of boot ya have My boots are 12's and they fit snug, they're supposed to fit up to a size 14”

“I think I will those for me and NGB.”

“I call them ice insurance.”

“My Kahtoolas are coming via the US Mule. I should have them by summer.”

“Congratulations on a fine gear purchase Mr. Beet.”