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Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Steel KTS > Rick Dreher > Initial Report
Kahtoola Steel Model KTS Footwear Traction Devices Initial Report Product Information
Tester Information
Backpacking Bio I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping the Washington Cascade foothills, and eventually took up backpacking as a singular pursuit and found a home away from home in the Cascades and Olympics. Now living in northern California, most of my hiking is in the Sierra Nevada, the trips ranging from overnight to weeklong excursions. Total pack weight for three-day summer trips, including food and water, is now roughly 25 pounds (12 kg), longer trips see pack weights ranging into the mid to upper 30s (17 kg). Introduction The steel Kahtoola Traction System (KTS) traction devices are strap-on spikes that are similar in appearance and function to climbers’ crampons, but are made to fit most any shoe or boot to aid in walking on snow and ice. Compared to crampons, the Kahtoolas have fewer, shorter, less-aggressive points. As a result, they’re easier to walk in compared to technical crampons. Climbers might still find them useful in less challenging conditions; in fact, Kahtoola notes they’ve summitted Everest. Also, a misstep or fall while wearing a pair of KTSs poses far less threat of a personal injury or shredded gear than while sporting an aggressive set of crampons! The KTSs are intended to fit a range of shoes and boots, from flexible low-top running shoes to full-on snow and hiking boots, in an array of sizes from men’s (US) 4 to 14. The KTS steel model is a follow-up to the original KTS aluminum. Here’s Kahtoola’s summary: “Utilizing the same innovations and components from the original KTS, like the LeafSpring extender bar and collapsible heel, this new chromoly steel version was designed for more abusive terrain. The points are 1/4" longer and a bit sharper thanks to the thinner material. When durability and sharpness are more important than light weight, choose the steel model. Perfect for non-technical mountaineering, glacier travel, peak bagging, hiking or rock approaches.” Product Packaging The KTSs ship in a snug cardboard box. They come complete with bindings and include a second pair of extender bars, a hangtag, an instruction sheet and a Kahtoola sticker. This test pair also came with the optional nylon tote sack. Design, Materials and Construction As noted, the KTSs look like crampons. Each comprises two sets of spikes--forefoot and heel--connected by a flat, springy stainless-steel bar. There’s also a two-part binding system. The spikes--ten per shoe--average about an inch (25 mm) long--some longer, some shorter. There are six forefoot spikes, two on either side and two that jut from the toe at what Kahtoola says is a 26-degree angle. The forefoot plate has a built-in “rocker,” i.e., it’s curved to facilitate a natural walking gait. The heel plate has four vertical spikes. The connecting bar (“LeafSpring Extender Bar” or E-Bar) is a sandwiched pair of long, thin, flexible metal pieces spot-welded together at the heel end to form a simple leaf spring (not unlike the rear springs found under every pickup truck). The E-Bar flexes with the foot and the two pieces are lubed with thick oil, evidently to help them bend smoothly (and prevent rust). The E-Bar’s heel end is drilled with a row of seven holes, used for length adjustment (about 2 in. [5 cm] range). Left and right KTSs are helpfully stamped “L” and “R,” it’s also easy to tell them apart based on shape, just by viewing them from above or below. The KTSs come fitted with long E-Bars and a second, short pair is included in the box for smaller feet. It’s a simple task to swap them out; the process takes about a minute. There’s a 2-inch (50 mm) length difference between the two sizes. Separate bindings attach the forefoot and heel plates to allow maximum flex without risking a loosening fit. The rear binding comprises a folding metal heel support fitted with a plastic “Heel Grip” that, in turn, holds the polyester webbing ankle strap. The heel support assembly folds flat for compact storage. A lace hook on the ankle strap anchors it to allow the KTSs to be used with low-top shoes without sliding up onto the wearer’s instep. The strap has a quick release buckle and rubbery strap keepers to secure flapping strap ends. The front binding is a crisscrossed webbing strap with a plastic Strap Guide where they cross. There’s a single buckle where the strap crosses the forefoot to adjust strap length. The strap attaches to the toe plate on either side by a D-ring attached by a welded, flexible metal tab at the rear, and riveted stainless straps passing through the plate on either side at the toe end. The long straps accommodate large and bulky boots. The KTSs are very nicely made. The steel spike plates are cleanly cut from heat-treated 4130 chromoly steel and sport a gray powder-coat finish. All points are smooth and even, and a small flat cut across each tip assures they aren’t dangerously sharp and won’t dull quickly. The E-Bar is made of stainless steel, as are the side strap guides and heel support rod. The webbing is polyester to minimize stretch, water absorption and freezing solid. Buckles and sliders appear robust and operate smoothly. The KTSs collapse into a tidy bundle. The heel supports fold flat against the heel plate and the toe plate, in turn, slides forward on the E-Bar until it touches the heel plate. Stacked one on the other, the KTSs slip easily into the (optional) tote sack. Fitting to Boots and Shoes Initially fitting the KTSs to a particular pair of boots or shoes requires steps that are fortunately not repeated when simply putting them on later. First, loosen the forefoot straps and approximately center the Strap Guides by pulling them back from the toe, towards the instep. Flip up the heel support assembly from its stowed position and unbuckle and loosen the rear straps. Pull the toe and heel plates apart by sliding them outward along the E-Bars. Adjust the KTSs to match shoe length by pulling the adjuster pin outward and sliding the heel plate to select one of the seven adjustment holes. The spring-mounted pin snaps into place to lock the length. After sliding the shoe toe into the toe binding, center the Strap Guide by sliding it along the straps. Once centered, tighten the straps and the tuck away and secure the strap ends under the strap keepers. Adjust the ankle strap length and center the lace hook, if needed. It takes me two or three adjustments per pair of shoes or boots to get the straps and Strap Guides adjusted just right and select the best length. But once done, no further tweaking seems necessary until there’s a change of footwear. Once the basic adjustment is done, it’s easy to slide into the KTSs, tighten the forefoot straps and buckle the ankle straps. Taking them off is simple: loosen the front strap, unbuckle the rear and either step out or pull them off. So far I’ve fitted the KTS steels to my Nike Air Tallacs, my leather and Gore-Tex Danner hiking boots and my all-leather Merrell hiking boots--all size US 11.5. The Merrells are the widest; the soles are quite a bit wider than the KTSs themselves. This extra width requires bending the D-ring strap tabs to fit the boots. Kahtoola assures the tabs will take this sort of abuse. The Mitten Test I can easily fit and tighten the KTS straps wearing thin gloves, but thicker mittens make it a challenge, even with warm hands. Initial fitting is definitely best done inside with bare hands. Transporting Pointy metal gear like the KTSs warrant some attention to ensure they don’t damage either our gear or us. If not using a thick tote sack such as Kahtoola’s, I stow them point side to point side, then strap them to my pack using whatever external strap is handy. I don’t plan to carry them inside my backpack unless I don’t expect any use that day. Even then, I need to ensure they can’t damage anything else in the pack, or the pack itself. Initial Conclusions The KTSs are far more “serious” than competing nontechnical traction devices sold for snow and ice travel, but don’t present the technical hurdles of climbing crampons. As advertised, they fit an array of footwear from sneakers to stiff and heavy boots. They’re nicely built and it’s difficult to see any shortcomings in the design or materials. Initially fit can be tricky, but once adjusted they go on quickly with little extra fuss. I’ve used the aluminum KTSs since testing them in 2004, so I’m in familiar territory with these steels. I fully expect them to handle nontechnical terrain equally well, and hope to find conditions where they prove even better. The steel points will certainly stand up to more abuse than the aluminums. My concerns are whether the longer points are any clumsier to walk on or whether they ice up more readily. The steel’s extra weight isn’t especially noticeable. Test Plan Because there’s no snow predicted in my California town for the foreseeable future, I’ll be traveling to the mountains to test the KTS steels. I’ll try them on whatever array of snow and terrain the northern Sierra Nevada might throw at me from now through mid-spring. Test area description: the northern Sierra Nevada, flat trails to steep mountainous cross-country terrain, 6k-10k ft. (1.9k-3.05k m) elevation, heavy forest to open alpine. I’m expecting early winter through mid-spring weather and snow conditions, with temperatures ranging from perhaps 0 deg. F (-17 C) to +60 deg. F. (15 C). Sun, snow and perhaps rain are all expected. For the depths of winter they’ll be backup for snowshoes and, depending on when spring arrives, I may get to use them exclusively if the snow compacts enough to make the snowshoes unnecessary. I hope to use them in a variety of snow types and perhaps pure ice as well. Especially in spring, I’ll probably have occasion to wear them intermittently on dirt, rock and pavement too. I’ll try them on slopes of varying angles to see how well they grip and increase my range/mobility/confidence over plain shoes and boots. I hope to answer the following questions: * How well do they fit a variety of shoes and boots? * How easy are they to put on and take off, especially with cold hands while wearing bulky gloves/mittens? Are they easy enough that I’ll put them on for short stretches of snow/ice and take them off for short stretches of rock, or will I “bag it” and slog through without making the switch? * Will they stay in position on the feet but not pinch my feet or create pressure points? Do the straps hold their settings, or will they need adjustment during wear? * How are they to walk in? Will the rocker provide for a natural walking gait? Will snow and ice stick to them and ball up? Will I notice the extra weight? * How well do they handle varying slopes when traveling up or down, and when side-hilling? Will they “front-point” steep stretches? Do they control foot and ankle movement well? Do they stay in place on the shoe or will the shoes slip inside them? * Do they grip well in varied conditions, from wet, compacted spring snow to glare ice(1)? * How do they handle brief stints of off-snow travel (stream crossings, bare spots, rock, etc.)? * How easy are they to stow and retrieve on the go? * What will they look like at test’s end? Will I need to resharpen or unbend any points? How will the paint hold up? My sincere thanks to Kahtoola and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to participate in this test! Rick Dreher (1) Extremely smooth ice with high reflectivity; can have serious effects on visibility while driving; very difficult to walk on because it is so slippery. Read more reviews of Kahtoola gear Read more gear reviews by Rick Dreher Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Steel KTS > Rick Dreher > Initial Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
