Crampons Can Help Keep You Upright On Winter Trail Hikes

Q: I like to go on short (less than one day) winter hikes in my area, but the trails are often covered in some ice late in the day. My boots are Merrell M2 Blasts, which are very comfortable. Are there any crampons that would fit these lightweight hiking boots? I was recently involved in a mini-epic that could have been avoided with better traction.

Tony Phelan, Calif.

A: Sure, you can fit some ice-stickers to your M2s.

There are several ways to go. One is to buy a pair of “instep crampons.” These are four-spike gadgets that strap under your instep (hence the name, but then you probably figured that out.)

They’re pretty good for non-technical situations, but obviously if you’re on steepish terrain and need to use your heel or toe to brake or climb, you’ve got a problem. Climb High makes a good instep crampon for $30. It’s available from Campmor, among other places.

Another solution is to get a pair of Sure Foot Ice Joggers. These are rubber outsoles that have six spikes about one-quarter inch long. It also straps onto you shoe, and like the instep crampons, works well in non-technical conditions.

Icer Joggers are $30, and often can be found in good running stores. L.L. Bean makes something similar called the Stabil-icer ($45) which is a bit more heavy-duty than the Ice Jogger and has more spikes.

Still, the solution I think is best - although the most expensive - is to buy some non-aggressive crampons. These would provide ample traction on almost any terrain, work well the M2s, yet not leave you walking around with foot-long daggers sticking out of the soles of your feet.

Several years ago Grivel introduced the G-10. It’s a 10-point crampon with relatively short and non-razorlike points. They’re $95, and really all the crampon most people need. Ideal for occasional use with light- to medium-weight boots on those trails where you might run into ice or hard-packed snow. REI stocks the G-10, as will most good outdoor and climbing shops.