I love them because they provide excellent traction on even the most icy conditions when I run and they stay secure and never fall off. But I too have found that I get discomfort in the big toe area where the "front" tab is located and the metal link connects. This is regrettable because they are otherwise terrific. I also experience some pain in the tarsal bones due to the pressure exerted by the device after longer runs of 10K +. I am currently wearing Mizuno Wave Rider running shoes and yes they have a soft upper like most running shoes do. I should note this happens only on my right foot. The other side is fine. Maybe there is an insert I could slip under the toe area to distribute the pressure more evenly or perhaps you may have a suggestion.

This company make a VERY GOOD product, Nanospikes. After my dog demolished one of my pair and I couldn't get another replacement pair from Calgary (out of season), I CALLED THE COMPANY. Oh, I am not just a satisfied customer, It was an INCREDIBLE phone call and to say that I got satisfaction is an understatement. EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE. Thankyou to Kahtoola, I will buy another set IF and when these wear out. https://kahtoola.com/product/nanospikes/

Kahtoola NANOspikes I wholeheartedly recommend NANOspikes! I have found NANOspikes to be very effective for running on both ice/snow and mud. A couple days ago, I did a trail run where the conditions were more mud than ice. I applied the NANOspikes to my Merrill All Out Peak trail shoes before starting out. I was very impressed with the performance of the NANOspikes. Where other runners (who were probably not even wearing trail shoes) frequently slipped in the mud, I was able to maintain traction throughout. NANOspikes provided me with increased confidence when running under conditions what would otherwise have produced anxiety. There were no issues with clogging (balling). I did notice that after a while, the NANOspikes shifted slightly on my shoes, but they were never close to becoming detached. I attributed the shifting to the constant direction changes as I was running. That said, I may attach straps to the NANOspikes for my next run. If for no other reason than to prevent loss of the device if it should become detached from the shoe while running. I have also had the opportunity to test NANOspikes on my Lowa Camino GTX hiking boots while hiking in Harriman Park in New York. Once again, I was very impressed with the NANOspikes’ performance. There was a snow cover of a few inches, with a thin glaze of ice covering powder snow. On much of my hike, the trails were previously broken by other hikers, so I was walking on partially packed powder. The snow was dry, so I did not have a problem with balling. There were a few spots where the snow was wetter, but there was no balling even in those spots. If you know Harriman Park, you know that there are lots of places where you must step up onto rock slabs, which are not flat, but angled steeply. When these rocks become icy, they are extremely hazardous, and can be impossible to negotiate. Often, the hiker must walk off the trail, into the brush just to avoid these steps on the icy rock. On a previous hike, wearing an old pair of instep crampons, I found my footing on these icy steps to be precarious at best. On the other hand, with the NANOspikes, I was able to simply step up onto the icy rock as though it weren’t ice covered at all. This gave me confidence, making my hike much more enjoyable. One note: I always hike with TWO poles, not just one. This can make all the difference when negotiating slippery slopes. While the poles cannot stop a fall once it has started (you need something stronger, like an ice axe to do that), they will help you stabilize yourself to prevent the fall in the first place! Also note: Before using the NANOspikes (size Large) on my hiking boots (U.S. size 11), I was not sure they would stretch to fit the larger shoe profile. My concerns were allayed when I tested them on the boots before setting out for my hike. The rubber components of the NANOspikes stretches (and recovers) well. I was very pleased to find they fit my hiking boots, since my only other option (other than an old pair of instep crampons, which aren’t very effective) is my Koflach mountaineering boots with full 12 point crampons. For the conditions I hiked in Harriman, the crampons would have been extreme overkill, and most likely would not have worked as well as the NANOspikes did (the ice was far too thin for crampons to get a good bite).

Living in NE Wisconsin, my options for running are the treadmill or deal with snow and ice. I have put about 30 miles on my first pair of Nanospikes after getting a good recommendation from my running partner who also owns a pair. I do love how light they are and I have been very happy with the added traction. They’re not big enough that my stride changes or are very noticeable on shorter runs. I have tried them on several shoes including my go to winter shoes, Saucony Peregrine 7 Ice, and a pair of Brooks Adrenaline 18s. On a size 11.5, I have been using the Large Size. I’ve had no issues with toe pinch as other reviewers have stated. My only complaint is that the front traction area slides inward towards my big toes and gets cockeyed on the bottom of my shoe. This requires me to stop every mile or two and readjust. Not a terrible experience but it can be pretty annoying, which is why I lowered my review. It’s better than sliding or falling on ice or having to stick to the treadmill so I guess I’ll tough it out.

I have just finished 9 days trekking through the Drakensburg - STH Africa , the NANO spikes are not just for ice and snow , they are magnificent for - river crossing on wet rock , traversing steep mountain sides , slippery clay track , log bridges and moving down steep slippery , silty rock tracks The Best

I haven’t been so impressed in a product in a long time as I am with this one. I can not believe the traction these have, even on pure ice! I have never felt so unafraid to walk on ice before!! I would recommend these to anyone who walks in the winter.

I love these NANOspikes so much I've bought two sizes for myself and a pair for my son and tell everyone about them. I generally wear a size 7.5 women's shoe, which is right on the border between XS and S in the NANOspikes. I have an XS to go with my "barefoot" style of Merrell Trail Gloves and just bought an S to go with my hiking boots and larger athletic shoes. I read tons of reviews on both outdoor and running websites before deciding on these spikes. Still, until I could actually use them myself, I was skeptical about my first step on ice. I am extremely pleased to hear the extra "crunch" of the spikes and to feel secure as I walk and run. So yes, if you live in an area with ice, these are the spikes to buy.

These work so well-wish I would of purchased them sooner! Ran 10+ miles today on hard packed snow/ice and never slipped once. As with other reviewers on here, I also noticed how the front seems to press fairly hard into the top of your shoes. I too used them on Altra Timps and stopped a couple of times to try and adjust how they were sitting on my toes. It wasn't bad enough to make me stop running but I may go back to where I purchased them and see if they will let me try a different size. Overall I will still highly recommend these!

These are the best!! Winter running in northern Wisconsin can be a challenge with the snow and icy conditions. I've used my Nanospikes now in multiple conditions without any problems and feel so much more confident. They transition well from ice and packed snow to pavement on partially cleared roads and allow me to run without obsessing about hitting a path of black ice. Highly recommended!