Kahtoola EXOspikes Traction System
Designed for trail runners and hikers, the Kahtoola EXOspikes help you navigate everything from icy roads to snow-packed urban paths to frozen mountain trails with dirt, mud and rocks.
This purchase pays for membership!
$7
10% Reward
on this and every eligible full-price item*
+
$30
Bonus Card
valid for 60 days after joining*
=
$37
Value
Keep shopping
- Applying 20 years of design experience, EXOspikes combine the approachable and durable material set of NANOspikes® with the secure fit and superior traction of MICROspikes®
- Durable thermoplastic polyurethane Traction Matrix fully engages frozen and mixed terrain, with an open design that sheds snow and adapts to a range of flexible footwear
- Designed to take a beating, TPU Traction Matrix is more lightweight and abrasion resistant than steel
- Twelve 0.29 in. integrated spikes per foot provide 3 levels of traction
- Aluminum steps grip uneven surfaces while TPU lugs dig into loose terrain and tungsten carbide tips bite into ice and packed snow
- New elastomer harnesses optimize fit and remains stretchy to -22°F (-30°C)
- TPU inserts reinforce key stress points and keep the toes securely in place
- Raised heel tabs provide easy on/off access
- Tote sack included
- These are 40% lighter than the award-winning Kahtoola MICROspikes footwear traction
Imported.
- X-Small fits Women's sizes 6–7.5 / Men's sizes 5–6.5
- Small fits Women's sizes 7.5–9 / Men's sizes 6.5–8
- Medium fits Women's sizes 9–11 / Men's sizes 8–10
- Large fits Women's 11–13 / Men's sizes 10–12
- X-Large fits Women's 13+ / Men's sizes 12–14
| Best Use | Trail Running Hiking |
|---|---|
| Material(s) | Harness: elastomer; traction: thermoplastic polyurethane/aluminum/tungsten carbide |
| Dimensions | 5.75 x 3 x 2 inches |
| Weight | XS: 6.6 ounces S: 6.9 ounces M: 7.3 ounces L: 7.8 ounces XL: 8.1 ounces |
Review this Product
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Most Helpful Critical Review
Customer Images
EXOspikes Work Great!
These EXOspikes are light weight, stay on my boots and work fantastic! Just make sure they are large enough for the intended footwear, which helps make putting them on relatively easy (no straps to deal with). I have used them on Solomon hiking boots for several trail walks on compacted snow & glare ice here in Minnesota, where conditions this year have resulted in a lot of slick surfaces. They stay in place and the polymer webbing that supports the spikes appears and feels very durable.
Excellent grip, but minor fit & stability issues
The Kahtoola EXOspikes provide excellent grip on snow and ice, but I couldn't honestly give them 5 stars due to a couple minor drawbacks. First, the fit is slightly small for my size 13 AKU Alterra GTX hiking boots. The XL spikes just barely fit over the sole and onto the back heel, leaving the two metal links (see pics) in an awkward spot. From marketing photos/videos, it seems the ideal fit is for the metal links to be flush against the side of the boot/shoe, well clear of the corner and bottom of the sole. On my boots, the links are close to the bottom of the sole, and this seems to put extra stress on the small rubber loop connecting the bottom portion of the spikes to the upper portion. I've only hiked with these 3 times (so far so good), but I don't feel especially confident that they'll hold up over time. Obviously, time will tell. The second minor drawback is that the spikes, while providing excellent grip, functionally narrow the base of support for your feet. Upon first trying them, I instantly noticed that my boot/foot would tip more easily to one side or the other, since my weight was transferred through the spike system, whose "footprint"/profile is significantly more narrow than my boot sole. It's not so much you feel like you'll fall over, but there was definitely a period of adjustment and learning to step so that I maintained consistent balance and grip. So, there's a slight compromise of stability for grip. This could just be my boots and their tread pattern/depth, as I haven't tried these on any other shoes or boots. But something to consider and perhaps try in-store before buying, if lateral stability is a concern for you while hiking/running. Overall, this seems to be a solid product that effectively serves its purpose. I'm skeptical about how long they'll last given the fit issue, but I'll gladly be proven wrong if they do last. The stability issue isn't terrible, though it's enough that I wouldn't feel good about running with these. Hiking is fine once you adjust to them, and the grip/traction on a variety of surfaces is excellent.
I felt like a mountain goat!
Firstly, size up. An XL barely fits over a men's 12 Lowa Renegade boot. With that out of the way, man these are amazing. Areas where I slid a lot (without wearing them) suddenly because easily traversable. My walking speed is possibly even *faster* with them on due to the extra traction from the spikes. So far, I've used these on heavily iced-over walkways, like sidewalks and stairs. I think this is where they were designed to be used, and it shows. The grip is unparalleled, and switching to bare pavement doesn't feel horrible, though I do worry about damaging the spikes on hard surfaces. I can't comment on longevity yet, but for where I've used them so far (Yamadera & Otaru), these have been the difference between surefooted confidence and just another woefully-underprepared tourist
Great for icy running
I purchased these in preparation for a trail marathon after a significant Winter storm. The day of the race, the entire course (all trail) was ice/snow covered but for a few short patches that were bare pavement. I wore these over my trail shoes and was able to complete a full marathon without wiping out once. I saw several people who were not wearing traction devices fall during the race. Despite having to use these on the fly, they were reasonably comfortable to use and kept me safe. Would highly recommend for trail running in wintery conditions.
Best spikes on the market!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! I live above 5000ft where we regularly have snow and ice. These spikes are durable, fit snugly with my shoes. I actually fall between the sizes on these and took a chance on the smaller size (medium vs large) which was a great decision. My running shoes are women 9.5 and the medium was perfect. These are Great for walking or even trail running. I ran many, many miles with these on the icy mountain roads. These gave me a lot of extra confidence out there this winter. The grip on these is awesome! HIGHLY recommend!! (I owned some YakTrax before and these spike FAR SURPASS the YakTrax)
Fantastic but Size Chart Off
These are amazing! Just got through a snow fall then an ice storm with these. Gave me great traction and I felt very secure while out walking (only using these to safely get around - no hiking or anything for us in the snow). There’s an inch of ice on the ground today and I was safely able to go out to salt the property. The only problem we had was that the size chart was way off. I’m a women’s 7 and a Small fits. Bought some for my mom who is a women’s 8.5 and a Medium fits her. The sizes the chart recommended for us were an XS and Small which were way too small for both of us, regardless of whether we tried putting them over tennis shoes or snow boots.
Makes walking on icy trails easy
These are awesome. I’m so glad I got these as our winter here has been very snowy and icy. With these on I have not slipped yet. These are great for walking the dogs on icy trails. The first few times they were a struggle to get on my shoes, but they stretch a little after a few uses and it gets easier. I tried the nano spikes first but the spikes were not big enough to get a good grip on the ice. These also have more spikes than the nano and felt more comfortable. They are secure on your shoe once on.
saved my life probably
i went to hike mt baden powell and reading all trails someone said they wouldn't attempt it without spikes so I thought "what the hey why not" and bought myself a pair. 1. I love that they come is size XS. thank you for thinking of the little people aka me. 2. they're so easy to put on- the front part litterally says front. 3. they come in two colors- i chose black like my soul but to each their own 4. they pack up quite nicely into a small little bag 5. once they're on, you don't notice, like they don't hinder your steps what so ever. my boyfriend and I literally felt invincible walking over the snow on our hike. you are so grounded and secure with these bad boys. big fan!
Night and day on all kinds of surfaces
I hiked the same trail with and without the EXOspikes and there was just no comparison. The reason I purchased these was because I had great difficulty on some icy sections the first time I hiked. Those sections caused no issues with the EXOspikes. In fact the day I hiked with them was more like a torture test for the product. As the trail gained altitude things switched from mud to snow and to then to wind-blown ice. Paired with my Lowa Renegades I was sure-footed on all these surfaces. I had expected great behavior on the ice but was pleasantly surprised at how they helped on mud. There is no going back.
Perfect for neighborhoods
Have yet to try them on the trail, but definitely perfect for neighborhood walks on all surfaces- ice, concrete, snow, iced-over snow. Comfortable to walk in, with the exception on walking on concrete I didn't even notice I wear them (except for the greatly improved traction, of course). Their grip on sheer ice has room for improvement, so when you are mostly treading on sheets of ice, crampons might be better for you. Relatively easy to put on (keep in mind they work by sitting snug on your shoe, so a bit of work comes with the design), but so far, they showed no sign to escape (a big problem with my old ones). I bought the medium for size 9 and they even fit over my big Sorel boots.