Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction vs Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Ice Cleats: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
MICROspikes combine longer stainless spikes, a harness rated for deep cold, published weights for every size and the longest warranty here. The Black Diamond Access Spike uses more, shorter spikes that stay stable on rock and mixed ground, at a slightly lower weight.
Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction
Buy itStainless spikes, a cold-rated harness and a 4-year warranty, in six sizes.
- 12 heat-treated, 400-series stainless steel spikes per foot, 0.41 inch (10.4mm) long, on welded stainless chains.
- TPE harness that Kahtoola says stays elastic down to -22°F, with reinforced eyelets, a toe bail and a raised heel tab.
- 4-year limited warranty on products bought from August 1, 2025, and published weights for XS to XXL.
- A medium weighs 11.9 oz (338 g) a pair, and the largest size 14.9 oz.
- Kahtoola notes that irregular footwear may need sizing up or down.
- Spikes this long can feel unstable on bare rock or pavement.
Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device
Buy itMore, shorter stainless spikes for mixed terrain, with an easy-on elastomer harness.
- 14 stainless steel spikes at 8mm, which Black Diamond says keep you stable on rock and hard surfaces.
- Full elastomer (TPR) harness with reinforced dual-density eyelets and a front-point spike for toe-off.
- Heel webbing loop for easy on and off, sizes S to XL and a 2-year warranty.
- The page lists two weights, 220 g and 250 g, without saying which size each refers to.
- Shorter spikes bite less deeply into thick ice than longer ones.
- No cold rating is published for the harness.
Side by side
| Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction | Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Winter hikers and walkers who need reliable traction on hard ice and packed snow. | Trail runners and hikers moving over a mix of ice, snow and rock. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Kahtoola MICROspikes Footwear Traction - Stainless spikes, a cold-rated harness and a 4-year warranty, in six sizes. Choose the Black Diamond Access Spike Traction Device instead if trail runners and hikers moving over a mix of ice, snow and rock.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Ice Cleats: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).