The 10 Best and Most Comfortable Running Socks treadmill and head outdoors for a run if you prefer—you just need to prepare correctly. Staying safe and injury-free during winter miles requires extra gear, and wearing the right traction on your feet is one of the most important elements.
There are several different “levels” of footwear traction to consider, with everything from trail crampons for extreme conditions to tiny, tungsten carbide spikes for slick roads. While there’s some crossover in traction styles, many runners keep a few options in their rotations for maximum versatility Sales & Deals.
Quick Summary
Choose Ice Cleats if You...
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- CA Notice at Collection
- Kahtoolas MicroSpikes use a TPE harness that retains its elasticity down to -22°F
Choose Crampons if You...
- Hike on mountainous (but non-technical) terrain
- Hike on trails with steep, icy slopes
- CA Notice at Collection
What Are Ice Cleats and Crampons?
Crampons and ice cleats are the two most common types of footwear traction, and are both optimized for different types of terrain.
Ice cleats (what we think of as MicroSpikes) are highly versatile, often used on moderate terrain with packed snow or ice—think of them like tire chains for your shoes. There are several varieties in this category, but they are all comfortable for running in a variety of conditions. These attach to your shoe with a rubber-webbing harness. In addition, they have an underfoot cleat or chain that’s studded with short stainless steel or tungsten carbide spikes.
Crampons are more aggressive, with one-inch spikes around the perimeter and toe spikes for purchase on steep, icy terrain. These are best for cross-training hikes or sections of your trail run with mountainous wintery terrain.
As you’re shopping, remember that brands also use conflicting terms at times. So, while crampons typically mean extreme traction, Hillsound’s Trail Crampons serve a similar function as Kahtoola’s Kahtoola’s MicroSpikes. To make it even more confusing, “MicroSpikes” is actually Kahtoola’s proprietary name for their webbing-and-spike traction system. The general term for this style is technically called “ice cleats.”
Ice Cleats for Trails
This type of ice cleat is the best pick for individuals who want one pair to handle both hiking and running on trail surfaces. Except, we don’t recommend these for road running, as the pavement can wear down the spikes. These are designed to provide the best traction on packed snow and icy trails, and can be worn with everything from lightweight running shoes to hiking boots.
The underfoot attachments are flexible enough to allow the traction to adapt to uneven terrain, and they also clear snow easily. This style has 12 to 14 1/3-inch stainless steel spikes attached to a low-profile chain, and are comfortable for running on dense snow, but you’ll eventually feel the chains and spikes on longer runs.
Our Top Picks:
Key Specs
| Weight | 5.9 oz |
|---|---|
| Spikes | 12 |
| Spike Length | 9.5 mm |
Black Diamond Access Spike
Black Diamond Access Spike
Key Specs
| Weight | 4.4 oz |
|---|---|
| Spikes | 14 |
| Spike Length | 8 mm |
Also, size matters here. The traction spikes on ice cleats are spaced underfoot to provide the best grip with each step, so make sure to choose the correct size that corresponds with your shoe size. Most brands offer a variety of sizes (small, medium, large). If you buy the wrong size, the harness won’t fit correctly, the chain will flap around, and the spikes will be placed incorrectly underfoot.
Road and Trail Ice Cleats
For runners looking for lighter traction that can accommodate the higher impact of a running stride—or those who want something better for icy roads—polymeric cleat-style traction is a great choice. The spikes are lower profile and you’ll feel less underfoot than you will with chains and longer spikes.
Styles like this have 12 to 18 1/4-inch tungsten carbide or stainless steel spikes on each foot, and are a good middle ground between trail-specific and road-specific traction. They are low-profile enough for icy roads, but extended enough for trails. And, most will have polyurethane plates that provide flexion with each step without the chain.
Our Top Picks:
Kahtoola ExoSpikes
Kahtoola ExoSpikes
Key Specs
| Weight | 3.6 oz |
|---|---|
| Studs | 12 |
| Stud Length | 7.4 mm |
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.2 oz |
|---|---|
| Spikes | 18 |
| Spike Length | 6.4 mm |
Ice Cleats for Roads
These are designed for running on hard surfaces like sidewalks and pavement. They use plates to disperse impact forces with abrasion-resistant tungsten carbide spikes for more durability. Similar to the FlexSteps and ExoSpikes, these will be less noticeable underfoot than a system using chains and larger spikes. They’re not as great for softer terrain, but are certainly more comfortable on the road.
Our Top Pick:
Kahtoola Nanospikes
Kahtoola Nanospikes
Key Specs
| Weight | 3.7 oz |
|---|---|
| Studs | 10 |
| Stud Length | 5.3 mm |
Trail Crampons
Crampons originated in the mountaineering world for traction on steep, icy conditions and are the most aggressive form of footwear traction. Hiking crampons are less technical than mountaineering crampons, and have modified underfoot plates and spike attachments that fit with flexible shoes. These are best for steep, icy trail sections because the front points will help gain purchase on extreme slopes.
“Trail crampons use a series of plates or platforms with longer, downward-facing metal spike points placed around the perimeter of the sole,” says Brad Lever, product design associate at Kahtoola. “This creates a stable platform and increases traction.”
Our Top Picks:
Kahtoola KTS Hiking Crampons
Kahtoola KTS Hiking Crampons
Key Specs
| Weight | 11.6 oz |
|---|---|
| Spikes | 10 |
| Spike Length | 1 inch |
Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro
Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro
Key Specs
| Weight | 11.7 oz |
|---|---|
| Spikes | 10 |
| Spike Length | 3/4 over the winter months |
Trail crampons use a strap-and-buckle system for a more adjustable fit than the webbing harness on ice cleats. While they provide more stability on steep and icy terrain, these aren’t as comfortable over long distances, so you won’t want to run very far in them. We recommend hiking crampons for boots or burly shoes—these are not made for extended runs. Granted, if you’re covering terrain that necessitates crampons, you probably won’t be running anyway.
Maggie Slepian is a full-time freelance writer in the outdoor industry and has tested gear professionally for almost ten years—she is an avid backpacker, trail runner, bikepacker, and horseback rider and has thru-hiked thousands of miles on the Appalachian, Colorado, and Ouachita trails, along with backcountry travel on terrain including coastal trails, the desert, and high alpine peaks. Maggie has written for New York Magazine, Huffington Post, REI, and Outside. She is a columnist with Backpacker Magazine and is the co-founder of BackpackingRoutes.com. Contact her at MaggieSlepian.com.
