Gear Review: Hill Sound Trail Crampon

I'm planning on discussing gear that I've used in a review style format about once per week.  I wrestled with which piece of gear to start with, and decided that a fly ball to left field would be the way to start.  Ok, not really, but this morning has been our coldest morning of late summer/early fall yet, so I decided to look at a vital piece of winter gear first.

I've had my Hill Sound Trail Crampons for 4 years, and I consider them an indispensable piece of winter gear.  I spend a lot of time winter snowshoeing, hiking, trapping, ice fishing and hunting each year, and am planning even more in the next few years, and a fair amount of time is spent on packed trails or ice, where snowshoes (while capable) are simply too heavy to comfortably trek in mile after mile needlessly.

Enter the trail crampon.  The style I have (now marketed under the "Ultra" series, are an approximately 1" series of metal unsharpened triangular blades held together with a light chain.  These blades are positioned at the toe, ball, and heel positions to enable walking or hiking in near vertical conditions, as well as the flat ice which the northern US and Canada is famous for.

The style I have is mated with a flexible rubber fitting which is designed to fit over a winter boot.  I have a size 10.5 (US) foot, and usually wear size 11 boots for additional sock layers, and the Large size I have easily fits over my boots, and is held fast by a Velcro cross tie over the mid-arch of my foot, behind the toe cap of my boot.

Putting the crampons on can be a bit tricky, as you need to assure that the rubber ring at the top secures over the heel of the boot, as well as both side of the toe cap.  I have run into trouble while attempting to throw them on in a hurry, only to discover after a dozen steps or so that one side of the toe cap has slid off, as I failed to assure it was over.

As far as performance, on icy packed trails, such as frequented hiking trails or snowmobile trails, I've yet to slip or slid in these crampons, unlike some other products I have tied.  It is difficult to clog these crampons with snow which sticks to the bottom of your boot (although not impossible, even with a heavy application of non stick cooking spray).  I feel almost like Spiderman in these crampons, able to cling to surfaces at a 45 (or more) degree angle.

On the icy flatness of winter lakes in Maine, these are a superb crampon.  I've fished with others who wear other types of grips and have never had a slip or fall while others have.  I especially appreciate the traction afforded by these crampons while boring holes, as the torque caused by the auger can sometimes cause you to slide laterally around the hole without these traction devices.

Unfortunately, I've yet to do any serious mountaineering with these crampons, but I plan to this coming winter.  We'll see how they stand up on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire's White Mountains, home to the worst weather in the world.  Stay tuned.