I have used my ExoSpikes hiking on a trail that was pure ice transitioning to hard packed snow, and on a trail run. Hiking on flat or uphill ice, I noticed a disconcerting amount of slip with each footstep as I toed off. The forward spikes are pretty close to the toe of my shoe - as close as my MicroSpikes. I think the Exos slip because the studs are shorter than the cleats on Micros, so the toe of my shoe doesn’t have to pivot as far before the stud loses contact with the ice. For some reason, I did not notice this slip when RUNNING on ice though. The slip was annoying mostly because I knew I was losing a bit of effort with every step. I have also hiked the same icy trail with MicroSpikes and did not feel any toe slip at all. I did not notice any slip under the heel when running in the Exos (probably because I don’t heel-strike), or when hiking downhill. My run was on a mix of ice and dry dirt. For most of the run I completely forgot I had the ExoSpikes on! The only time I really noticed them is when one of the heel studs would land on an embedded rock, and cant my ankle to one side. It felt like my foot landed off-camber, but did not make my ankle roll or anything major. I did notice some wear on the aluminum part of the studs after running on the mixed ice/dirt trail. The rubber underfoot still looks really good - I think they will last reasonably well even if I don't use them exclusively on ice and snow. I did have a couple of scary instances where my foot slipped on ice running down gradual hills in the ExoSpikes. I didn’t fall, but it definitely lowered my confidence running on ice. I wonder if the NanoSpikes, with fewer spikes, would do better on pure ice because each spike would dig deeper into the ice? But I am pretty certain that the Nanos would have worse toe-off slip when hiking because the studs are shorter and farther back from the toe. If I had a pair of shoes only for winter running, I think I would choose to just put studs in the outsole lugs. That could fix the toe-off slip, putting studs in the front toe lugs, and would be more comfortable running on dirt or rock on mixed trails. But since I don’t, I think the ExoSpikes are the best solution for running on ice and very hard packed snow - I just have to beware of those occasional slips. For hiking, I will use the MicroSpikes to avoid the unnerving slip during toe-off.

These are amazing for winter road running! My husband bought me a pair last Christmas and I immediately started using on my daily pre-dawn dog jogs. Anyone who runs with large dogs knows that solid traction is critical to success. I've slipped, slid, been dragged, hurt my back and my IT band trying to run on icy roadsides. I wore them all season and was glad to get them out again this year with the first slick morning. They are comfy on your shoes (I wear with road running shoes or trail running shoes, often with duct tape over the toes to keep wind out), and you can easily remove if you find a dry pavement situation after your icy gravel commute. They bite in and give you the edge you need and allow your gait to be confident and "normal". This winter we had an 11 day cold snap (-20 to -36 with a high of 0 on one of those 11 days) and sadly, the hard plastic could not sustain the pressure. To be fair, not much can in this climate. The toe bars snapped off on my right foot on the way back one morning and I spent a few weeks using just one cleat and wishing I could repair them. Turns out they have a warranty and amazing customer service! I just received a new pair in the mail, which I will happily resume wearing until April - or whenever this snow finally melts. Completely worth the money and the security for your winter running. Buy now!

Bought these in January to cope with icy UK pavements and trails and have not been disappointed by the spikes either for walking or running and have enabled me to get out; running up and down icy and compacted snow covered pavements as well as tracts of sheet ice on trails. You feel really secure in them and confident to run at speed. So good I lost them to my wife during the day for walking into work; walking as fast as normal. I suspect I will be buying another pair (or two) next winter.

Bought these for my frequent winter hikes on a wooded, hilly trail in Michigan. They are superb! Contrary to reviews of some other traction devices where some reported they easily slipped off, these feel like they are welded to my shoes. I wear a size 9 light-hiking shoe, and the size M fits perfectly. Great grip in snow and ice, especially on the steeper uphill sections. I barely notice the extra weight on my shoes.Worth every penny.

I have a dog and live in an apartment complex, which means multiple walks a day weather be damned. We’ve had an unusual winter with more sleet and freezing rain than normal. Last week I took him out on dangerous sidewalks for extremely short walks fearing I’d slip and injure myself. Was stressful hearing forecasts for more inclement weather. Few days ago I went to a local outdoor store and these were recommended. Holy. Smokes. I’m talking night and day difference. With these babies on it’s a paradigm shift. The icier the better so they have something to dig into. Went on a few very long walks today on sidewalks that were a sheet of ice and enjoyed every minute...as did he. Felt extremely sure footed. While I expect to have these for years, they’ve paid for themselves already in my opinion. Enthusiastically recommended.

I have used my ExoSpikes hiking on a trail that was pure ice transitioning to hard packed snow, and on a trail run. Hiking on flat or uphill ice, I noticed a disconcerting amount of slip with each footstep as I toed off. The forward spikes are pretty close to the toe of my shoe - as close as my MicroSpikes. So I think the Exos slip because the studs are shorter than the cleats on Micros, so the toe of my shoe doesn’t have to pivot as far before the stud loses contact with the ice. For some reason, I did not notice this slip when running on ice though. The slip was annoying mostly because I knew I was losing a bit of effort with every step. I have also hiked the same icy trail with MicroSpikes and did not feel any toe slip at all. I did not notice any slip under the heel when running in the Exos (probably because I don’t heel-strike), or when hiking downhill. My run was on a mix of ice and dry dirt. For most of the run I completely forgot I had the ExoSpikes on. The only time I really noticed them is when one of the heel studs would land on an embedded rock, and cant my ankle to one side. It felt like my foot landed off-camber, but did not make my ankle roll or anything major. I did notice some wear on the aluminum part of the studs after running on the mixed ice/dirt trail. The rubber underfoot still looks really good - I think they will last reasonably well if I don't use them exclusively on ice and snow. I did have a couple of instances where my foot slipped on ice running down gradual hills in the ExoSpikes. I didn’t fall, but it definitely lowered my confidence running on ice. I wonder if the NanoSpikes, with fewer spikes, would do better on pure ice because each spike would dig deeper into the ice? But I am pretty certain that the Nanos would have worse toe-off slip when hiking because the studs are shorter and farther back from the toe. If I had a pair of shoes only for winter running, I think I would choose to put studs in the outsole lugs. That could fix the toe-off slip, putting studs in the front toe lugs, and would be more comfortable running on dirt or rock on mixed trails. But since I don’t, I think the ExoSpikes are the best solution for running on ice and very hard packed snow - I just have to beware of those occasional slips. For hiking, I will use the MicroSpikes to avoid the unnerving slip during toe-off.

These spikes are perfect for trail runners. Took them out on an icy mountain run in CO, and they were absolutely incredible. I'd say they're like studded tires for your feet, but studded tires are no where near as capable as these are. I felt secure and stable running down steep hard icy trails at some fast speeds, felt like a kid at the playground. Best part is the transition (getting them out of their sack, getting them on the shoes) is super fast. I would recommend these to anyone who doesn't want a little ice to scare them off their favorite trails in winter. I'll take my Exospikes over running on a treadmill any day of the week.

Wow. These are awesome!!! I just used mine for the first time durring 2 days of hiking in the South Lake Tahoe area. After walking across frozen solid puddles and packed and iced snow, at inclines, and never once slipping over the course of 6+ miles of hiking on these surfaces, I have total confidence in these spikes. I think my friend in her snow boots and trekking poles was jealous LOL. I had grip while walking up/down at least 30 degree angle sloped ice. Best value of a hiking accessory I've invested in yet!