Kahtoola Micro Spikes???

[Eric Cantona]

Morning all

In the current deep freeze that has brought the entire country to a standstill, whilst slipping, sliding & falling o'er (more than usual), I was wondering how it could be possible to run on the white stuff (or dance on ice, without having to go on't telly), then I noticed these beauties!

http://secure.lakesrunner.com/kahtoo...html?p=product

Has anyone tried them out yet?
Obviously it's not wise to venture out onto yonder high fells at the mo, without the full gear, but these babies look the business.
Can almost hear mesen chuckling at pedestrians doing acrobatics, whilst I clank up the pavement on Morley High Street........

[skennaugh]

I looked at these in the climbers shop (Ambleside). Slightly cheaper, look like just the job though.

[IanDarkpeak]

Morning all

In the current deep freeze that has brought the entire country to a standstill, whilst slipping, sliding & falling o'er (more than usual), I was wondering how it could be possible to run on the white stuff (or dance on ice, without having to go on't telly), then I noticed these beauties!

http://secure.lakesrunner.com/kahtoo...html?p=product

Has anyone tried them out yet?
Obviously it's not wise to venture out onto yonder high fells at the mo, without the full gear, but these babies look the business.
Can almost hear mesen chuckling at pedestrians doing acrobatics, whilst I clank up the pavement on Morley High Street........

Disscussed before here.
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ampons+running
and here
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ampons+running

[nikalas]

after just almost killing myself in frozen packed snow/ice have just ordered a pair... will let you know how they perform.

[skennaugh]

Carefull with that shop, some of the prices are way off.

[andy k]

was out on Saturday recceing BG legs 1 and 2, following in the footsteps of the attempt (literally).
I was wearing orienteering shoes with dobs (titanium studs embedded in the rubber studs of the sole).
These were absolutely ideal.
They kept me upright when descending neve and allowed me to fly up any neve I was ascending. They grip well on rock and the studs are ideal on any rough or soft ground.
I'd say they are safer than crampons because they are permanently on your feet, allowing you to always keep moving. With campons you might be tempted not to bother putting them on for a short stretch and just hope for the best and that is when you would take a flyer of course. With these you just keep moving
For info have a look at
http://www.compasspoint-online.co.uk...ing_Shoes.html

I seriously think they are a far more effective and safer solution than strap on spikes.

As they are orienteering shoes they are really robust.
I often wear them for fell running and racing even when there is no snow or ice.
"This season I 'ave mostly been wearing" The Jalas Black.
(and the season before that, and the one before that, and......)

And yes I did get some looks as I clanked and clattered up the market square in Keswick

[Fellhound]

Interesting andy k, d'you find the dobs stay in OK (I hear they fall out of the Inov8 ones).

Andy W

[andy k]

they do
years ago studs would come out but not any more
Orienteering shoes are just built tough I think.

They are Swedish or Finnish made and they are perhaps a bit more experienced in the technology of studded car tyres, studded, bike tyres, O'shoes and even training shoes.

[stevenh]

Carefull with that shop, some of the prices are way off.

Cant say i've noticed the same...Pair of Walshes for £54 seems to be pretty standard. Customer service is really good there too. You can shop around the net if you want cheap gear.
Either way, i'm really pleased by the addition of a running shop staffed by fellrunners close to the north lakes...have often thought Keswick has lacked such a shop.

[Don't fear the sweeper]

One evening about a week ago four of us set off from Ambleside up to the top of Red Screes, with the intention of descending to Scandale Pass. The snow was fine going up, but once we started down towards the pass it changed to sheet ice. The guy in orienteering shoes as described above was fine, but the rest of us were slithering here, there, and luckily not everywhere. With steepening slopes below, we gave up and went back the way we came.

I've bought some Kahtoolas now and am dying to try them out, but unfortunately twisted my ankle coming down the stairs too fast! Just hope the weather holds...