The Best Ice Grippers for Alaska Hikers

You don’t necessarily need ice grippers when hiking on snow — but one solid stretch of ice, or a single slope with snow packed so hard your boots can’t really get a grip on it — is all takes to make you appreciate having these handy tools around on any winter hike.

And if you’re at the tail end of a freeze-thaw cycle or springtime solar radiation that’s left the trails a mess of slick, hard ice? Having a pair of ice grippers in your pack is the only way to hike without looking like a genuine cartoon character, arms flailing everywhere as you struggle desperately not to fall.

With that in mind, here are two ice grippers that are, reliably, the very best for hiking in Alaska. We’ll also take a look at Icebug boots and shoes, which have ice-gripping spikes built right into the soles and don’t require a separate piece of gear.

The best ice grippers for Alaska-style hikes

For 99 percent of the hikers up here, the best ice grippers are either Kahtoola MICROspikes or the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra. The two products are almost identical, with many substantial steel spikes mounted on a flexible chain framework and a stretchy polymer harness that holds the whole thing against the sole of your boot. As long as you’ve purchase the right size ice gripper, you can pull them over any shoe or boot.

1. Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra

Although both the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras and Kahtoola MICROspikes sport similar arrangements of spikes underfoot, I feel the ones on the Trail Crampon Ultras are arranged a little better to give multi-directional grip and stability — much like the multi-directional lugs you’ll find on serious hiking boots.

The harness that holds is Trail Crampon Ultras onto your feet also feels more durable than the harness on the MICROspikes. I’ve heard tales of the MICROspikes harness sometimes breaking, whereas I’ve never once heard of that happening with the Hillsound models.

Finally, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra has an extra hook-and-loop strap that passes over your forefoot, helping hold the spikes on your feet more securely. That, in turn, translates to better traction on ice and hard-packed snow.

2. Kahtoola MICROspikes

Kahtoolas by far have the best name recognition for any type of hiking spike or ice gripper, and I’d recommend them to any hiker. They also tend to be more widely available than Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras, and they sometimes cost a few dollars less.

With that said, I have heard multiple stories of the harness that holds the Kahtoola MICROspikes onto your shoes breaking, and the MICROspikes harness just feels less durable than the Hillsound harness when you grab and manipulate it.

Kahtoola MICROspikes also lack the Hillsounds’ hook-and-loop strap, which passes over your forefoot to provide a more snug fit overall. (The less play there is between your ice grippers and your boot, the steadier you’ll be on your feet.)

3. Icebug shoes and boots

Not all Icebug shoes and boots are studded — but those that do have short, carbide-tipped studs embedded right in the sole. Those studs offer excellent traction in most conditions, although they aren’t always enough for hiking (or running) on steep, hard ice, or on very slick ice that has melted and refrozen to the point of being almost impenetrable.

Of course there are a couple potential downsides to having spikes permanently embedded in your shoes: One is mixed reviews about whether it’s safe to drive with them on your feet (the spikes can “grip” your car’s foot pedals just as easily as they grip the ice) and the other is that they aren’t always suitable for walking indoors. Although the studs are built to retract slightly when walking on non-icy surfaces, I find they still stick out enough to scrape along when walking on hard surfaces indoors.

With all that said, in most hiking conditions Icebug shoes and boots do offer excellent traction, without any of the bother of remembering to bring an extra piece of gear along or wondering if it’ll fit your foot. (Unless you want to go traipsing around indoors — then, the proprietors of wherever you’re visiting will probably prefer that you bring other footwear along.)

Which ice grippers are really best?

I’ve used all three of these items — Kahtoola MICROspikes, Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras, and a variety of Icebug boots and shoes — extensively over the years. Based on that experience, I prefer the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras because I can put them on any shoes/boots, they offer enough traction for even truly slippery and icy conditions, and they offer slightly better fit and durability than the very similar Kahtoola MICROspikes.

With that said, I’d never turn my nose up at a chance to use Kahtoolas on the trail — and if you want the slip-your-shoes-on-and-go ease of a spiked shoe in mild to moderately ice conditions, Icebugs are fantastic.

Ice grippers I DO NOT recommend for hiking in Alaska

There are two types of ice grippers that I absolutely do not recommend for hiking in Alaska:

1. Grippers with coils underfoot instead of spikes

Metal coils do sometimes work well to give you extra traction, especially in softer snow. But right now we’re talking about hiking in icy conditions, and those coils underfoot tend to turn into ice skates when you use them on hard ice. It’s even worse if the ice is at any kind of a slope. For really secure traction, you need something that actually penetrates the ice: Spikes or studs of some sort.

2. Sheet metal screws

Many shoe stores will install sheet metal screws in your shoes or boots for a small fee. Some will even do it for free, especially if you’re a senior. (The sharp-ridged heads of the screws stick out from the sole of your boot to provide traction, and the screws themselves are short enough that the pointy ends don’t penetrate all the way through to your foot.)

While this is a wonderful, economical solution for most icy conditions in urban areas, I find that the heads of the screws don’t offer enough traction on the sort of sloped ice or really slick, hard ice you’re more likely to encounter while on a hike.

Your mileage may vary, and if it does, I’d love to hear about it! Please drop me a line and let me know.

Why expensive ice grippers are a worthy investment

If you’re shocked by the idea of paying $50 to $70 for a pair of ice grippers, or well over $100 for a pair of studded shoes, consider this: They’re a lot cheaper than paying for the hospital bills or private rescue efforts that might result from a bad fall. In certain exposed terrain, you might even pay for that fall with your life. Add in the fact that either brand of ice grippers should last for at least a few years of steady use, and they both start to look like a bargain.

Photos (c) Hillsound, Kahtoola, Icebug

There are affiliate links in this post. If you click on them and buy something, I may earn a small commission.