Hillsound  FreeSteps6 Traction System

$64.95
Members get an est. $6.49 in rewards

Find secure footing with these adjustable, easy-to-wear traction devices. The Hillsound FreeSteps6 offer solid grip on everything from icy city pavement to packed snow to slippery river beds.

Color: Black
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Members get an estimated $6.49 (10%) back on this item.
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Features

  • Harness adapts to all types of footwear, fits securely and is easy to slip on and off
  • Tear-resistant, reinforced-elastomer construction maintains pliability in subfreezing temperatures
  • 21 spikes provide grip on a wide range of terrain; large spike plate at the heel provides good traction on downhill slopes

Imported.

Sizing for trail-running shoes
  • XS: US men's 6-8 / US women's 6-9 / Euro 38.5-41
  • S: US men's 8-10 / US women's 9-11 / Euro 41-44
  • M: US men's 10-12 / US women's 11-13 / Euro 44-46
  • L: US men's 12-14 / US women's 13+ / Euro 46–48.5
  • XL: US men's 14-15 / Euro 48.5–49.5
    Sizing for hiking footwear
  • XS: US women's 5-7/ Euro 35-38.5
  • S: US men's 6-8 / US women's 7-9 / Euro 38.5-41
  • M: US men's 8-10 / US women's 9-11 / Euro 41-44
  • L: US men's 10-12 / US women's 11–13 / Euro 44-46
  • XL: US men's 12-15 / Euro 46–49.5
    Sizing for insulated boots
  • XS: US women's 5-6/ Euro 38.5-41
  • S: US men's 6-7 / US women's 6-8 / Euro 36–39.5
  • M: US men's 7-9 / US women's 8-10 / Euro 39.5-43
  • L: US men's 9-11 / women's 10–12 / Euro 43-45
  • XL: US men's 11-13 / women's 12–13 / Euro 45-47
View all Hillsound Winter Traction Devices

Technical Specs

Best Use

Hiking

Multisport

Material(s)

Stainless steel/elastomer

Weight

11.2 ounces

Reviews
120 reviews with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

48 out of 58 (83%) reviewers recommend this product

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Average Customer Ratings

Overall Fit Rating

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Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for icy city walking
Peglegs
8 years ago
I've tried a couple other brands of put-over-your-boots icy walking aids. They fall off easily, or they don't grip all that well, or both. Sure, they've been okay, and they were better than going without, but when I had to replace the last set when they fell apart after one fairly warm winter, I decided to look at other options. These are AWESOME. I'm city walking, where sidewalks maybe aren't shoveled, so they get icy. Please note that I'm not climbing rocks or glaciers; I'm just trying to walk my dogs without slipping and breaking something. For that kind of walking, these are great. They grip well without destroying well-cleared sidewalks. They stay on well; the rubber part comes way up the back of my boot, and the front comes far enough over the toe that I'm not worried about its coming off. We've already had a couple of decent snows here, and these have proven to be just the thing. I don't think you want to wear these in the house; I suspect they'd be hard on nice floors. I leave my boots at the door, so that's not an issue. I think this is the product I'm going to stick with.
Peglegs
Chicago, IL, United States
39 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars
Great. Until they break
Alaskan Dad
9 years ago
I've purchased three pair of these for my winter walks on hilly city streets. They are great, until they break. All 3 pair broke about 2 months after I bought them. If they lasted I've give them 5 stars.
Alaskan Dad
AK
33 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

Lane B
Anchorage, Alaska
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Grip that snowy ice & icy snow!

7 years ago

Solidly constructed. No cheap feel here. Not easy to take off/on so put them on a dedicated set of hiking shoes/boots and leave them on for the winter. Not so sharp they will puncture your linoleum floor for a few steps while you get ready to go outside. But I wouldn't feel comfy walking into a grocery store, office, etc.. On the trail, go with supreme confidence without trekking poles. ADVANTAGE: they do not hide your hiking boot lugs/tread. This allows boot tread to do it's work keeping me stable in snow, and provides grip for the icy spots. These are for trails in town and out of town. These are not for dress/casual shoes commuting to work, stores, office.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
matureunicorn
El Segundo, CA, United States
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Like having velcro on my shoes

10 years ago

Bought these after hiking Cucamonga Peak through the snow, without crampons. A couple of weeks ago we did Baldy with these and the difference was night and day. Sure, lots of people were going up without them, but with these the snow was a non-issue. Once I put these on, I went from sliding around to feeling like I was walking on basically normal ground. My boots are 5.5 Lowas. I got the S (smallest REI carries) and they are a little loose on my boots, but not so much as to compromise grip or fall off. Husband's boots are 9.5 Lowas and the M works fine for him. Last weekend we went up to San Jacinto in the snow and these again worked great. I think a link opened up on one of husband's pair, but nothing that can't be fixed and didn't slow him down that day.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
Kenny
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Product is fine, but the reported sizes are wrong

6 years ago

We bought these crampons for my dad (size US mens 9), and we've had to return them twice because they've been too small both times. REI's website recommends size medium for hiking boots of US men's size 8-10), so these should have been fine, but the crampons turned out to be too small, so we returned them for a size large. However, even size L turned out to be too small for a US mens 9, so we've had to return them for an XL pair. The crampons themselves are fine, but beware the size problem. REI does not pay for the return shipping, despite the error on this product's website.

Helpful?
pulaskimik
NC Wi
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

every bit as good as the better known micro spike

4 years ago

These things are EVERY bit as good as the other brand of micro spike, but they clock-in at a deep discount! I maintain trails in Wisconsin, and I spend a good amount of time on Mississippi River Bluff sides with a chain saw in winter attempting to control invasives. I had worn Kahtoola brand micro spikes until I tore one BETWEEN eyelets! So, NO MORE kahtoolas on my feet. I ware size 10.5 wide with the Haix Airpower XR200 sawyer safety boots and I team those with the micro spikes for winter work. These bad boys hold me steady on steep side slope and help me traverse really slippery trails. I bought the XL size FreeSteps6 after reading reviews, and I become a bit sweaty getting these boys off-and-on.

Age:55–64
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10.5
Yes , I recommend this product

Overall Fit Rating

Runs SmallRuns Large
Helpful?
ideola
Woodstock IL
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Broke with less than 2 miles of use

6 years ago

I read all the glowing review for these and bought with confidence. What a disappointment. I wear a men's US size 9 winter boot, and bought the indicated size. I wore these for 2 days, amounting to nothing more than a 1 mile round trip to Sable Falls and ambling about camp. The morning of the third day, the left crampon fell off of my boot due to a complete failure of the rubber webbing.

No, I do not recommend this product
Helpful?
smaty
Seattle, WA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Worth every single penny

9 years ago

Went on a hike at rattlesnake ridge with these after a snow melt and refreeze and they made the difference! We were helping people down the icy hills like it was no big deal. While they were sliding on their butts we were going down like it was a walk in the park. With these the ice and snow was not an issue. Easy to get on and off and worth every penny.

Helpful?
Peglegs
Chicago, IL, United States
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great for icy city walking

8 years ago

I've tried a couple other brands of put-over-your-boots icy walking aids. They fall off easily, or they don't grip all that well, or both. Sure, they've been okay, and they were better than going without, but when I had to replace the last set when they fell apart after one fairly warm winter, I decided to look at other options. These are AWESOME. I'm city walking, where sidewalks maybe aren't shoveled, so they get icy. Please note that I'm not climbing rocks or glaciers; I'm just trying to walk my dogs without slipping and breaking something. For that kind of walking, these are great. They grip well without destroying well-cleared sidewalks. They stay on well; the rubber part comes way up the back of my boot, and the front comes far enough over the toe that I'm not worried about its coming off. We've already had a couple of decent snows here, and these have proven to be just the thing. I don't think you want to wear these in the house; I suspect they'd be hard on nice floors. I leave my boots at the door, so that's not an issue. I think this is the product I'm going to stick with.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
DianneInReno
Reno, NV
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Worked perfectly!

4 years ago

I bought these for my husband and I back in 2017 and just had our first opportunity to use them this weekend. We did a 7.5 mile hike near Truckee, CA on packed snow / ice, climbing around 1,750 feet to an awesome lake. We started with just our boots and were slipping and sliding. We put these on and had perfect traction. There were easy to put on and worked better than expected! Other than the improved traction, I couldn't tell I was wearing them. They did slide around a bit on my toes but this didn't impact their performance.

Age:55–64
Typical Shoe Size:Womens 9
Yes , I recommend this product

Overall Fit Rating

Runs SmallRuns Large
Helpful?
Ron Cater
Andover, MA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Great Product

8 years ago

After having several other brands of crampons, that either broke or kept sliding off while hiking on snow covered trails, I decided that I needed a more robust pair of crampons. These are great! They are easy to get on and off. Zero sliping while hiking through 6" of fresh powder with lots of ice underneath. Highly recommended. Size M, are a perfect fit on size 10 Asolo Fugtive boots.

Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
Marty
Park City
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars

Good - for 6 months.

7 years ago

I used these for fly fishing. They lasted a half a season (10 trips?) before one of the chains wore through. Very soft metal material.

No, I do not recommend this product
Helpful?
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