Review on Kahtoola FBA_KT04 16 FG01 K 10 Hiking Crampons by Michael Nard

January 31st, 2015: Today I tested my new Kahtoola K10. Conditions were 20 degrees Fahrenheit, about 10 inches 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 microcleats (which still offer really impressive traction and weigh nothing in the pack). But I found two flaws when I returned to my car and attempted to remove the K10. First, the K10s are held in place by heel and toe straps that attach with small plastic Fastex buckles. I found it difficult 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.