Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Traction System - 2004 > Steve Nelson > Long Term Report

Long-Term Report: Kahtoola Traction System
September 7, 2004

Reviewer's Information

Name: Steve Nelson
Age: 44
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Weight: 158 lb (72 kg)
Boot Size: 11-12 US (45-47 European)
Email address: nazdarovye at y..oo dot com
City, State, Country: San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

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 Name: KTS "Kahtoola Traction System"
Manufacturer's URL: www.kahtoola.com
Year of manufacture: 2004
Size: Large (available in Small and Medium as well)
Listed weight: 19 oz (540 g)
Verified weight: 19.25 oz (546 g) on a digital scale, plus 2.5 oz (71 g) for the tote bag.
MSRP: $129.00 USD

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.

Field Settings

We had an early snow melt in California this year, so I had fewer opportunities than I'd hoped to test the Kahtoolas after my field experience. However, despite those limitations, I did get to take the Kahtoolas on some additional hiking excursions in the Sierra Nevada and Snow Mountain Wilderness this past Spring and Summer, as well as to a mountaineering class on Mt. Shasta in June.

Elevations on my trips ranged from 5,500 to 7,900 ft (1,675-2,400 m), and weather was generally clear and mild, with temperatures from the 40s F (5+ C) into the high 60s F (15+ C). Conditions included dirt and mud trails, consolidated snow, slush, and rotten ice.

Long-Term Usage Observations

My long-term assessment of the Kahtoola Crampons is that they are a good solution for lightweight backpackers traversing non-technical routes.

In addition to using them for hiking on snow, ice and slush, I brought them on a mountaineering class on Mt. Shasta, where I was able to compare them with more traditional (longer points) crampons. The Kahtoolas served me well, providing adequate traction on ice and good traction on snow and slush, confirming my previous findings in the field. While they don't grip as well on ice as the more traditional crampons, they were perfectly fine for consolidated snow and slush and allowed me a more natural gait compared to the traditional crampons. They occasionally ball up snow and ice under their points, but less than the other crampons I used (when worn without anti-balling plates).

The straps on the top of the crampons and the pins on their springs are easy to adjust; I found no issue of concern with adjusting the crampons to different pairs of boots and running shoes, though it does pay to make the major adjustments at home.

That said, I would like to see a version made for larger/wider feet. The size "L" crampons actually just use a longer spring bar without changing the point plates, increasing the distance between the forefoot and heel plates without widening the stance of the points. It's hard to get my boots' toes fully forward into the crampons when I wear my larger boots (11.5-12 US) and the stance when lengthened to fit them is rather narrow and not as stable as I'd prefer. Despite this observation, I've never had a serious problem in the field with stability or loosening of the crampons, so this may be more a matter of preference rather than real need.

Durability

Wear in the field has been acceptable. While the anodized red finish has worn off a good portion of the crampons, the points, springs, brackets and webbing have remained in good condition and I believe they will last for several more seasons. I see zero corrosion on the crampons, despite frequent exposure to moisture. Given that these crampons are meant for hiking use, not technical climbing, I'm pleased with their performance.

The stuff sack that came with them has held up well—I see no significant wear on the fabric or cinch cord and toggle.

Summary

I think the Kahtoola Crampons are a great product for hikers occasionally traversing snow and soft ice fields. I'll continue to use them on my hiking trips, including high-altitude summer traverses in the Sierra Nevada and all-season snowshoeing trips. I think they're great!

Things I like:

• Light in weight and compact
• Once adjusted, they hold securely and are convenient to don and doff
• Fine traction in snow and mud
• Durable stuff sack
• Quality materials and construction

Things I don't like:

• A bit tedious to adjust the toe straps for different boots
• I'd like to see a version for larger/wider sizes (I wear 11.5 on average, and 12 in some of my winter boots)
• Not as grippy as I'd like on ice

Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Kahtoola for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test.

Reviews > Snow Gear > Crampons > Kahtoola Traction System - 2004 > Steve Nelson > Long Term Report