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Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Traction System - 2004 > Steve Nelson > Field ReportField Report: Kahtoola Traction System Reviewer's Information Name: Steve Nelson Backpacking Background: As an interface design and usability consultant by trade, I'm always excited by analyzing and improving designs and processes; backpacking provides a fertile and fun arena for that. I have been backpacking since I was a kid growing up in upstate New York: we backpacked and canoe-camped in all seasons throughout the Adirondacks and nearby areas, ranging as far as La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, Quebec. As an adult, I've backpacked and hiked extensively in California, but also have taken trips throughout the West, from New Mexico to British Columbia, and return often to the Adirondacks. Backpacking Style: In the last year I began educating myself about lightweight and ultralight backpacking, and have been applying more and more of this philosophy to my outdoor jaunts and gear upgrades. I like moving fast, and lightening the load facilitates that. I also enjoy urban strolls, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and aviation in addition to hiking and backpacking, so my gear gets exposed to a wide variety of uses and conditions. Product information Manufacturer: Kahtoola Product Overview The Kahtoola Traction System is an innovative 10-point crampon marketed as a lightweight solution for "recreational hikers" and adventure racers occasionally traversing snow and ice, as well as for mountaineering use in non-technical climbs and approaches. I provided pictures and further description of the Kahtoolas in my Initial Report, so I won't repeat that information here.Field Settings Despite our very early and extensive snow melt in California, I managed in the last two months to get in four trips with the Kahtoolas, across a good range of snow, ice and ground types. My trips included two to the Badger Pass area in Yosemite, one ascent of Little Round Top near Carson Pass, and a trip to Mt. Shasta. These trips took place in March and April, 2004. Altitudes where I used the Kahtoolas ranged from 6,500 ft (1,980 m) to 9,560 ft (2,940 m), and I give further specific details on temperature, snow conditions and terrain below. On most trips, I used the Kahtoolas along with Leki poles, and carried a lightweight ice axe that I used briefly on the Little Round Top ascent. Field Usage Badger Pass—Dewey Point, Yosemite My first trip of this test was a snowshoeing and snow camping overnight to Dewey Point at Yosemite in March. I donned the Kahtoolas after arriving early back at the parking area at the end of our trip and hiked back down Glacier Point Road to meet up with the rest of the group and accompany them back to the parking area. I probably hiked with the Kahtoolas for just under 2 miles (a little over 4 km) round trip. The snow was still several feet deep on the road, and mostly consolidated and hard-packed, but not icy. The road features pretty gentle grades, and so I didn't have any really steep slopes or challenging terrain to deal with on this hike. Still, it was a good first crack at wearing the Kahtoolas, and I was able to tweak their fit on a pair of Salomon GoreTex hiking boots (US size 11.5/Euro 46, moderately flexible sole; these are a year 2000 model whose name I no longer have, but which resemble the current ADV Trek model). Badger Pass—Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite On my second trip to Yosemite, about a month later, we took the Glacier Point Road all the way to the entrance to Bridalveil Creek Camp, then hiked on the side road to the Horse Camp, with further hiking and exploration beyond that. Here's a picture of the Kahtoolas on my Salomon Snow Time boots (US size 12/Euro 47; a rather stiff-soled, GoreTex-lined winter boot) while I was hiking along the Glacier Point Road:
Most of the hiking was in the conditions pictured above—hard packed, groomed snow that was crusty early in the day and softened up as the day progressed, along a gently-rolling grade. Temperatures ranged from freezing up to the 50s F (low teens C). I was able to move reasonably fast in these conditions and the Kahtoolas performed well. We came across a few short bare spots, which I elected to traverse by walking in the soft ground to the side of the road while still wearing the crampons. Other than getting a bit of mud worked into the crampon heel plates, this was uneventful and the crampons worked fine in the soft soil and mud. I also used the Kahtoolas briefly the following morning to walk around the hill near our camp, where the snow had frozen overnight into a hard crust. The slope there was on average no steeper than a 35° angle, and the Kahtoolas provided adequate, though not outstanding, traction on the icy crust. Later that day, I managed to find a patch of clear ice, and that was the only time in my use of the Kahtoolas to date where I felt they definitely weren't a match. The points simply are not sharp enough, nor are they long enough, to provide what I would consider good traction on clear, hard ice. Carson Pass—Little Round Top My third trip with the Kahtoolas was a long April day hike to the 9,650 ft (2,940 m) summit of Little Round Top, near Carson Pass in the Sierra Nevada. The following picture shows the view of our route from the northeastern side of the first of four smaller summits that lead to Little Round Top. The line we traversed leads in an arc toward the right and then back around to the left, culminating at Little Round Top. Despite the bare spots shown here, we were able to stay on snow most of the way by sticking to the right-hand side of the route, and prior to this point the route had been completely covered in snow.
Here's a view toward the final summit before Little Round Top, showing our route skirting the remnants of cornices:
This hike gave me a chance to experience the Kahtoolas in consolidated snow, some hard wind slab, ice and icy crust, stretches of snow pocked with sun cups, a bit of rocky bare ground, and eventually some afternoon slush. I wore the crampons all the way to the summit, across a total distance of over 5 miles (8 km) and a net elevation gain of 2,600 ft (790 m; though quite a bit more than that in aggregate gain). Temperatures were predominantly in the high 50s F (mid-teens C) and slopes exceeded an angle of 45° at a few points, though in general the route was fairly moderate. For this trip, I was wearing my older Salomon GoreTex hiking boots again. The crampons were fine performers for this route and conditions. My initial reservations about the lateral stability of the crampons on hard surfaces such as the rocky bare spots were not totally dispelled, but enough so that I am now comfortable that I am probably no more likely to twist my ankle in these crampons than in any other pair. I was also able to test both kicking and side-stepping techniques on a couple of particularly steep slopes. The Kahtoolas provided adequate traction in all of the conditions I encountered on this hike. There was some balling under the forefeet of the crampons—nothing that got in the way of walking, but enough that I occasionally needed to remove the buildup. I switched to snowshoes for the descent because we elected to glissade down into the Truckee River valley to take a return route that had deeper, less consolidated snow, but was quite pleased with the range of conditions I was able to try with the Kahtoolas on the ascent. Mt. Shasta My final hike with the crampons was an overnight snow camping trip from Bunny Flat to Panther Meadow and the Old Ski Bowl at Mt. Shasta. Temperatures got as high as the 60s F (high teens C), and the terrain was covered with approximately 5-7 ft (1.5-2 m) of consolidated spring snow topped by an 8-12 in (20-30 cm) layer of relatively fresh snow. The new snow had not yet consolidated but had developed a crust due to several melt/freeze cycles before our arrival (by the time of our trip, temperatures had warmed up again and I don't think it got below freezing even overnight). After a quick test of the Kahtoolas on a gentle, wooded slope near camp that ended in struggling and postholing (obviously no fault of the crampons), I put them away—the conditions were just not suitable for their use (even in snowshoes, we were breaking through the crust and sinking considerably). I'll just have to bring them back for a summit attempt! Of note: this trip further illustrated that the compact stowed size and light weight of the Kahtoolas make them a no-brainer to carry on any winter trip, even if they end up not being put to major use. Observations Resulting From Field Usage The Kahtoolas provide adequate traction in a wide variety of snow and trail conditions. They're not as effective on ice as more aggressive crampons, but this of course is not their intended use or design, and thus not a surprise. A side benefit of the shorter, blunter points is that I have found them even easier than normal to keep from catching on clothing or snagging while moving fast (or, ahem, tripping.) I've noticed no substantial difference in feel between these and another lightweight pair of crampons I own in terms of flexing, so I have no comment one way or another on the "leaf spring extender bar," but the Kahtoolas have been comfortable to wear. Their light weight also contributes to comfort on a long hiking day. The Kahtoolas are easy to put on and remove even when wearing thicker gloves or mittens—once adjusted, that is. The adjustment of the toe straps requires some dexterity and I found it possible to do only with thin liner gloves or bare fingers. Since this adjustment is a task that really doesn't need to be done except when switching boots, and thus is pretty unlikely in the field in "real" use, it's not a huge concern to me—just a bit tedious. Properly adjusted, the Kahtoolas have always felt solidly attached to my boots; I've experienced absolutely no slippage or loosening. I like the storage sack provided with the Kahtoolas—it's made of tough material that has held up well to the crampon points and also has served adequately to prevent them from poking other gear whether lashed to my pack or stuffed inside. I also like that the bag has an enclosed bottom and seems pretty waterproof—this so far has prevented mud and melting snow from seeping out onto other gear. The sack is a shade smaller than I would like, but I've learned how to most efficiently collapse the Kahtoolas to minimize the struggle of slipping them into the bag (reset the heel pins to the shortest setting on each crampon, then stack the crampons heel to toe). The lovely red anodized finish has quickly started to wear off. Other than that merely cosmetic issue, the Kahtoolas appear to be holding up well to wear. There are a few nicks here and there—just what I'd expect given where I've taken them. All moving parts, straps and buckles remain in good shape. Long-Term Testing Plan I will continue to use the Kahtoolas wherever I can find appropriate conditions in the coming months. Due to this year's early snow melt, I can't guarantee extensive access to snow, but I do have several backpacking trips planned through the summer where it is still a possibility on high passes and summits in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. We also have been discussing ascents of Mt. Shasta and a couple of other non-technical 14-ers early this summer, which have a good chance of providing some decent snow and ice. The Kahtoolas will accompany me on all of these trips. I will continue to document snow/ice and temperature conditions, trail conditions (including angle of slope and existence of exposed rock, scree or dirt), and boot information for each use of the crampons. Summary Things I like:
Things I don't like:
Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Kahtoola for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Kahtoola gear Read more gear reviews by S. Nelson Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Traction System - 2004 > Steve Nelson > Field Report | |||
