Review on Kahtoola FBA_KT04 16 FG01 K 10 Hiking Crampons by Jason Cavett

January 31, 2015: Today I tested my new Kahtoola K10. Conditions were 20 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10" of loose snow over hard packer and ice. Traction was great, but the terrain wasn't particularly challenging. On my boots (Scarpa Kailash GTX) the K10 didn't move at all, unlike my Kahtoola micro lugs (which still offer really impressive traction and weigh nothing in the backpack.) But I found two flaws when I got back to my car and tried removing the K10 Firstly the K10s are held in place by heel and toe straps which attach with small plastic Fastex buckles I found it difficult g to undo such a small buckle with cold fingers. But more importantly, one of the buckles was iced over and couldn't be opened until it thawed. Luckily the frozen buckle was on the toe strap and I was able to get the cat off my foot just by undoing the ankle strap. So I think the K10 would be a great crampon, but it needs a different attachment system that is less prone to icing and easier to use with cold fingers. Update (February 1, 2015): K10s have been used in today's much tougher terrain (http://www.mapmyfitness.com/workout/862518819) with significant gain/loss. Traction was excellent and the crampons didn't move on my boots at all. At the end of the hike, one of the belt buckles was difficult to undo again due to icing, although the buckle eventually came loose. However, another possible design flaw was identified. The rear snow guard came off both crampons while hiking (maybe I'll find them on the trail in the spring) and now they need to be replaced and are $19 a set. Luckily the cats didn't get iced even though the skins were gone.