Field Report:
Kahtoola Footwear Traction System KTS

Date: May 4th, 2004

Reviewer Information

Name: Jim Sabiston
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Height: 6' 3" (1.9 m)
Weight: 207 lb (94 kg)
Foot Size: 12 US
Email address: JimSabis(at)aol(dot)com
State: New York
Country: USA

Backpacking Background:

I've been camping for several decades. I joined the Adirondack Mountain Club four years ago, the Appalachian Mountain Club a year later and am active in both. I have also expanded my backpacking to include more winter trips, mountaineering and backcountry cross country skiing, and participated in the AMC's Winter Mountaineering training program with Chauvin International Climbing Guides. More recently, I have actively studied ways to backpack lighter and more efficiently. During the summer months, my style tends toward very light, but not quite ultralight. I use a hammock or tarp for warm weather, and a small four-season tent for winter trips. Most of my other gear is very changeable, as I am constantly experimenting with gear and techniques.

Product information:

Manufacturer: Kahtoola Inc.
Manufacturer's URL: www.kahtoola.com
Year of manufacture: 2004
Size: Large (Medium and Small sizes are also available)
Listed weight: 19 oz (540 g)
Weight as delivered: 19.25 oz (546 g)
MSRP: $129.00

Field Experience:

Overview:

The Kahtoola KTS Traction system has proven to be an excellent piece of equipment for the snow and ice conditions typically found on the well packed Catskill trails. These are generally easy to moderate grade trails, with occasional rock pitches. Technical equipment is rarely needed, and then only briefly. My standard choice had been a pair of commonly available steel 10 point crampons. The Kahtoola KTS traction devices offer several advantages over the steel crampons. The first and foremost is that of lighter weight and smaller pack volume. The light weight aluminum castings and ability to fold up to almost half the open size make them a joy to pack along, just in case. As they can be folded and packed 'point-to-point', there is no threat of wear on my packs.

The second advantage is that they give away very little in performance to the heavier, larger 10 point steel crampons in mild to moderate conditions. The shorter, square tipped points give far more traction than their appearance would lead one to assume. One of the great advantages I found of the shorter points is how easy it is to walk with them. The shorter points permit a much more natural gait, as I did not have to lift my feet so high to clear the points. I could almost forget I was wearing them.

Third, is ease of use. The Kahtoolas are much easier to put on and take off than my usual crampons. They can be a little fussy to initially fit to a pair of boots, but this seems to be improving as the toe plate webbing becomes a bit less stiff with use. Once fitted, however, it takes a very brief moment to slip the toe of my boot into the toes straps, clip on the ankle loop, then snug both the toe and ankle straps with a simple tug and I'm on my way. With practice, I find it takes about half the time to put the Kahtoolas on as compared to my old 10 point crampons. The boots used for the test period were my Asolo Fusion 90s. These are a moderately lightweight, Gore-Tex lined leather and Cordura hiking boot with a fair amount of rocker and moderately flexible sole.

 
Fig. 1 & 2: Typical 10 point crampons (left) and the Kahtoola KTS Reaction Device (right) on a mid-weight hiking boot. It is easy to see why the shorter points of the Kahtoolas are easier to walk in. Note the difference in the front point design.

For a detailed description of the Kahtoola KTS, please refer to my Initial Report

Field Tests:

Balsam Mountain
Temperatures : 40 F (4.5 C) at the trailhead, near freezing at the summit
Winds : light
Conditions :    clear and sunny
Mileage : Approximately 5 (8 km) miles total
Elevation Gain : 1600 ft (488 m)

The approach was on a level trail with deep, fairly well consolidated snow. The Kahtoola KTS's were donned at the lean-to, which provided a convenient spot to sit down, even though the ascent proper was still some distance off. There was no ice to speak of. The actual ascent seemed to start rather suddenly, transitioning from a nearly level approach to a very steep ascent up through McKenley Hollow to the col. The snow was well packed from the trailhead to the col. I would posthole only if I went off trail, where the snow had not been packed down. The snow was less packed from the col to the summit, showing only scattered snowshoe prints, but I only experienced minor postholing just the same. Traction was very good. The ascent to the col is generally known as the steepest sustained climb in the Catskills. I experienced no slippage at all during the very steep ascent, regardless of snow consistency. The Kahtoolas provided superior traction to snowshoes and were far easier to negotiate around the tighter spots. Of course, all this assumes that the snow is consolidated enough to support my weight. The down angled front points seem well suited to a natural climbing gait, aiding nicely on the steep ascent which did not requiring front pointing. I was, for the most part, able to walk straight up the very steep grade.

The descent also went well, but required careful side-stepping on the steeper portions. This was also easier on my knees and my nerves! Side-stepping is a more cautious, albeit slower technique, but makes a slip far less likely. As the north side of the trail was essentially a steep drop-off into a snowed in gully, a bit of caution seemed in order. The traction was good enough to encourage a quicker pace, but the protests of my knees dictated a more reasonable rate of descent. The shorter points permitted a natural walking gait, which also encouraged speed.

The Kahtoolas were a snap to put on and take off. I found the best way to remove them is to loosen the front toe strap slightly, then release the rear ankle strap and them pull straight down from the heel plate while applying a slight forward pressure. The Kahtoolas will slide off easily.

Panther Mountain and Giant Ledge
Temperatures : 40 F (4.5 C), dropping to mid 20's (-4 C) at summit and descent.
Winds : generally light except at col, where they were quite strong, blowing from the west, at a right angle across the traverse.
Conditions : clear and sunny before nightfall.
Mileage : Approximately 6.5 miles (10.5 km) total
Elevation Gain : 1345 ft (410 m)

Trail snow was hard packed and very slippery. Ice was to be found on most of the exposed, steep rocky pitches, more so as I gained altitude. The extra traction was much needed and welcome. This time, I put the Kahtoolas on while kneeling on the hard packed snow, which proved to be very easy and only took a couple of moments. Having the crampons fitted and adjusted before going out is a great advantage and greatly simplifies installation in the field.

Once again, the Kahtoolas proved superior to snowshoes, due primarily to their lighter weight and smaller footprint. Feet fitted with crampons are much easier to maneuver around obstacles and tight, rocky places. As the snow was well packed, postholing was essentially non-existent. After crossing Giant Ledge, ice became much more evident as I descended into the col, which must be crossed before ascending Panther. Thaw and freeze cycles had created several areas of thick, clear ice which had to be crossed while traversing the col. These tended to form as relatively level patches and the Kahtoolas handled them easily. I was initially a bit skeptical of the effectiveness of the flattened aluminum points, but experience demonstrates they work quite well. I tried to induce a slip on a nice flat spot of glare ice and was totally unsuccessful. The summit was reached uneventfully. The route required climbing several moderate rocky, but snow covered, pitches with the occasional steep bit. Once out of the col, the ground cover was mostly well tramped snow, with the rare icy patch. I retraced the path back down in failing light, finally putting on a headlamp to light the way. Conditions of mixed ice and snow made a couple of the rocky pitches a bit sketchy in the dark, but the crampons never slipped. The descent was completed with a pleasant hike out, and I left the Kahtoolas on until reaching the end of the trail. The Kahtoolas provided a nice feeling of security while descending the last few miles of snow covered trail in the dark.

Sugarloaf Mountain Backpack
Temperatures : hovered around the mid to upper 30's (3 C)
Winds : Light breezes
Conditions : Skies were overcast with occasional sunshine
Mileage : Approximately 5 (8 km) miles total
Elevation Gain : 1800 ft (549 m)

Snow had disappeared from the lower elevations by the time we made it to Sugarloaf in mid March, but became more prevalent as we neared the flat summit. Summit snow was generally hard packed and covered with a 1 to 2 in (3 to 5 cm) layer of small ice shards which had fallen off the summit balsams during the morning thaw, which was in full swing. I put on the Kahtoolas when we reached the more continuous snow cover of the upper elevations. Traversing the summit was a pleasure, as we saw mostly well consolidated snow with the occasional patch of hard ice. The Kahtoolas easily dispatched with any sketchy sections.

Things became far more interesting during the descent of the western side of Sugarloaf into Mink Hollow. The descent was a mix of hard packed snow, hard and/or rotting ice, and rocks. The whole mix gradually transitioned into rock, leaf litter and mud as we descended, until the snow and ice tapered off completely. As we descended, snowmelt became more common and it as not unusual to have to cross ice soaked in melt-water. Several pitches were quite steep and required great care. In these conditions, I find the Kahtoolas work best if given a sound kick to assure a good bite in the snow or, especially, ice. My partner was using a common steel ten point crampon and I was generally able keep pace without undue effort or risk. The Kahtoolas never slipped once, but I took care to make sure they were well planted with a good kick or side step before committing my full backpack loaded weight to them. My hiking poles proved to be very handy braces for much of the descent.

The only problem occurred when I took the Kahtoolas off and tried to stow them. The right side device jammed when I tried to slide the ends together for packing. As we were in the middle of a steep pitch at the time, I just clipped them to the outside of my backpack for closer examination later.

Once we reached the lean-to, we set up camp. After settling in, I took the Kahtoolas off my backpack to find out what the problem was. The cause of the jammed device was not immediately apparent, but the forward aluminum casting refused to slide more than an inch or so down the flex plate. At first everything seemed fine and the problem was a bit of a mystery. I finally noticed that the two steel layers of the flex plate were slightly separated and the extra resulting thickness was sufficient to prevent the plates from fitting through the aluminum slot in the front casting. Closer study revealed the true culprit: Mud had worked its way into the space between the plates and had gotten wedged in there, forcing the plates slightly apart. Once found, it was a simple matter to rinse the offending grit out with water while gently spreading the plates apart. Once cleaned, the Kahtoolas packed easily away. The split design of the flex plates makes wearing them with flexible boots more comfortable, and should reduce, if not eliminate, fatigue failures of this part. Unfortunately, it is obviously affected by its exposure to grit, as there is no way to seal this area off. This should only be an issue in mixed snow cover, however.

Summary of Field Experience:

Thing I Like:

1 - Light weight and small packed size.
2 - Ease of use: easy on, easy off.
3 - Surprising traction for such small points.

Things I Don't Like:

1 - Watch out for dirt and grit to avoid jamming the crampons.

Generally speaking, my field experience with the Kahtoolas has been very, very favorable. They pack small, are lightweight and offer a combination of traction and ease of use that make them a natural choice for snow and ice in the Catskills. The light weight and small pack size are a real inducement to carry the Kahtoolas when conditions are a bit marginal, but full blown crampons seem to be a bit much. I would consider them for any hike or backpack that offered the potential for crossing moderate snow or ice covered terrain. This is especially so if the snow and ice are only occasionally crossed, as the Kahtoolas offer a minimal weight and volume penalty for the potential return in safety.

Mechanically, if that is the proper term, the Kahtoolas have held up quite well. The only wear to speak of is on the aluminum points, as I would expect. I have subjected the traction devices to some particularly nasty conditions, especially on the descent of Sugarloaf Mountain. The rotting snow and ice, mixed with actively flowing ice melt, mud and grit amounted to a really horrid environment to subject any piece of gear.


Fig. 3: The aluminum points are holding up well.

The Kahtoolas took it all in stride (no pun intended). They never loosened and I was never able to induce a slip. I never had the chance to get them on steeply angled ice, as the sedimentary ledges of the Catskills do not lend themselves to this sort of formation. I would not advise using the Kahtoolas for steeply angled, hard ice, but this is decidedly not what they are intended for, nor do the short, flat-tipped points encourage it. That being said, they performed far better than I would have predicted on the icy sections I encountered on both Panther and Sugarloaf Mountains.

But, if the Kahtoolas had a weakness, the nasty, mixed conditions of the Sugarloaf descent would bring them out, as they did. The ability of sand or grit to work its way into the space between the plates is certainly an inconvenience, but it appears to be no more serious than that. The condition, once identified, was simple to rectify with a simple water rinse and the Kahtoolas operated as good as new afterwards. I should note that the jamming had no effect on the performance of the Kahtoolas while being used, the jamming simply prevented the devices from folding for packing. In fact, a fringe benefit was that I learned that the Kahtoolas can be easily and securely attached to the outside of my pack, either by looping a pack strap through the stainless steel heel brace, or by wrapping the heel strap around a pack strap. This is certainly an easier temporary stowage method when in an awkward position on a mountain or trail. Also, this is an attractive option when transitioning frequently between areas of snow and rock, etc., when packing and unpacking might be a nuisance.

Continued Testing:

The one thing I haven't had the opportunity to test is using the Kahtoolas with my trail runners. I use my Asolo boots for nearly all my late fall, winter and early spring hiking and climbing, so naturally my primary focus would be how this boot/crampon combination would perform. A further consideration is that my trail runners are not waterproof. I would have gotten a good soaking on Sugarloaf. Just the same, I confess to being  awfully curious to see how well the combination works. Accordingly, I will try them out together, but as the snow and ice have succumbed to our mild and wet spring, I will have to search for some non-rocky terrain to avoid unreasonable wear and tear. Anyone know a soft, grassy hill that needs aerating?