HikePA - Instep Crampons

CMI Instep Crampons

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CMI Adjustable Instep Crampons
Reviewed by: Bill Ames
Where to buy: REI, Appalachian Outdoors or any store with ice gear.
Cost: $30

If you do any hiking when there is snow on the ground, these are a must-have accessory.

I had never hiked in the winter, and I thought I'd give it a try . . . aside from the cold, the main problem was how to climb steep hills covered in ice. Trekking poles and careful steps were enough for some trails, but in mid-March in Pennsylvania, some of the inclines are like bobsled runs.

I picked up a pair of instep crampons, expecting some relief, but what I found was truly remarkable. Not only do the CMI crampons give you good footing, they actually give you better footing than when there is no ice at all.

With the massive spikes stuck in the ground, your feet feel like they are cemented to the trail, and there's almost no chance of you slipping once you 'kick in' the crampon. I will never hike in the snow again without strapping these onto my pack--inside a tough container, of course.

The CMI design is well thought out, and they are adjustable for different size feet. My size 11 EEE fit well into the larger of the settings, and the straps were generously cut, and fit well. One nice feature is the inclusion of a hex wrench, of sorts, built into the crampon tooth (see photo at top right). This makes on the trail adjustments quick and easy, although once they are set for one person, they shouldn't need to be adjusted.

About the only thing that concerned me was the bolt holding the sturdy, 16 gauge steel together. Although it has a lock washer built in, it seems like it might come loose, but that's just my conjecture. After several hikes, they are still locked firmly together. I'm sure that some Lock-Tite would take care of it if it did become a problem.

If you don't think you need something as super grippy as an instep crampon, you might consider getting a pair of Yaktrax, reviewed here: Yaktrax ice grippers They're a nifty little contraption that let's you walk on ice as though it was dry pavement . . .

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