What to Bring - Winter Traction

Snowshoes are important for hiking when the snow depth reaches 8 inches or more but sometimes other types of traction will be needed especially on ice. When that ice is on a tricky slope, traction becomes even more important. Most hikers who are tackling the high peaks in the Catskills and the Adirondacks would not think of leaving home without some sort of traction device in their pack. The problem is that there are many brands and each brand has different models. It can be very confusing to pick the right device. This is compounded by the fact that they are not inexpensive.

Many articles have been written about the best traction devices to buy. This topic generates numerous comments on social media with many people becoming quite passionate. The best traction device is the one that you feel most comfortable with for the type of terrain you are going to hike. I suggest that you try out these devices before buying them by borrowing them from a friend or renting them. The best part about owning and carrying these devices is that they expand your ability to hike in almost any weather under almost any conditions. In some cases they may save you from a serious injury

The list below was compiled by Steve Olesen and gives a nice sampling of some the different traction devices available from minimal traction to hardcore. It also shows that a company may offer different models depending on the type of terrain the user wishes to navigate. Thank you Steve for your hard work and your willingness to share.

Image	Name	Spike Count	Spike Size	Spike Material	Best Use	ADK Use
	Yaktrax Pro	N/A Coils	Coil dia. I.4mm	Steel	Walking, Running	No
	Kahtoola Nanospikes	10	0.21 in	Tungsten carbide	Road running Walking	No
	Kahtoola Exospikes	12	0.29 in	Tungsten carbide	Trail Running Hiking	No
	Kahtoola Microspikes	12	3/8 in	400 Series Stainless Steel	Hiking Backpacking	Yes
	Hillsound Trail Crampon	11	2/3 in	Carbon Steel	Hiking (ice, snow, mud) Backpacking (ice, snow, mud)	Yes
	Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra	18	1/2 - 2/3 in	Stainless Steel	Trail Running Hiking / Backpacking Fastpacking	Yes
	Hillsound Trail Crampon PRO	10	3/4 - 1 in	Heat Treated Carbon Steel	Non-Technical Approaches Backpacking Glacier Walking Wet/Snowy/Icy Trail Ice Sheets Deep Snow	Yes
	Kahtoola K10 Hiking Crampons	10		4130 Chromoly Steel	Hiking, backpacking, non- technical mountaineering	Yes
	KTS Crampons	10	1 in	4130 Chromoly Steel	Hiking, backpacking, non- technical mountaineering	Yes
	Black Diamond Contact Crampon	10	1 in	Stainless Steel	Mountaineering Glacier Travel	Yes
	Grivel G10	10	1 in	Steel	Mountaineering Glacier Travel	Yes