Review on Discover PETZL VASAK - Premium Crampons for Classic Mountaineering by Justin Goff

1) Are you frustrated with your micro-studded chain links breaking when you walk in them? 2) You want to be able to navigate much more aggressive trails on snow and ice, what can you safely do with micro lugs? 3) Do you have really great boots that you like but don't fit the toggle crampon system? Then these FlexLock cats are for you! Don't trust your life to a pair of $30 micro rivets. Get the real deal. It's worth the money. They are impressively well built. They are so easy to set up and fit perfectly. The spikes are really heavy and big. They offer a lot more bite than the micro spikes and make me feel a lot more confident when things get a little more vertical and when the stakes are high when the fall can be very serious. Fair Disclosure - Just got them and haven't used them yet, but tomorrow (February 2020) I'm going to Grand Tetons National Park hoping to summit there. After that I will update this review. UPDATED 10/25/20: I took her to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, went in and climbed the ice. They have met and exceeded my expectations. My friend who used to hike with micro spikes is now buying them and we are looking forward to winter activities this season. The level of stability and bite they offer cannot be underestimated. I wear them on fairly heavy boots which I think makes a difference but I really think you can attach them to almost any boot as they are very adjustable. I really like the two front teeth, they really allow you to be aggressive and vertical in these things, but at the same time they don't get in the way of your normal heel-to-toe walking when you're on the flat. Heavy-duty ice climbing crampons require you to step sideways unless you're standing on something vertical. Not so with these. I walked very comfortably and normally on hard ice that was flat or almost flat. So here's what I want to warn you about: 1. They're so awesome you have to be careful not to get a false sense of security. They bite so well and are so durable you'll think they could just walk over anything, no matter how upright. Nothing is 100% and the straps on them can certainly come loose. I've only had them loose once when I didn't fasten them properly. But I've gotten into the habit of making sure they still look good, especially when I'm going into dangerous terrain. But be careful and check them often. Remember this is a flexlock, not a cam lock.2. The spikes are really deep and sharp. If you're not going to be wearing them for the entire hike/climb, consider how you plan to store/pack them. They will easily pierce anything. I bet they can poke a hole right in your backpack or tote bag. Most hikes/climbs I've used them on have had them in my backpack for part of the route. I didn't even bother with the tote bag you could buy for them because I think they could even slide it through. So I just folded them together with spikes, wrapped them in a light towel and put them away. You have to get used to them. They are a lot bigger and sharper than the micro lugs and I have to admit I ripped the inside of the legs. If you step forward on uneven ground and accidentally hit the inside of your opposite leg, the spikes will rip apart anything they come in contact with. It gets better as you get used to walking in it. All in all they are fantastic and I love them. I can honestly say that I am now actually looking for more winter activities just to be able to use these things when in the past I have avoided being in the woods during winter.