Basejumper.com - archive

I have to do a shameless, unsolicited plug for these babies. They fold up to fit in your pocket when you don't need them and offer peace of mind when traversing sketchy snow slopes on the way to your favorite exit point! They are also cheap as fuck (like $30).
They won't prevent you from post-holing and they aren't guaranteed to get you laid by chicks predisposed to mountaineering types, but they DO keep you from slip sliding away!

http://www.yaktrax.com/

I saw some of those at Costco the other day (not sure if they were the same brand) for more like $15.

Yaktrax work well but the metal coils tend to cut through the rubber on uneven terrain, rendering them useless. They work best on packed snow surfaces. Stableicers have a somewhat more rugged design that utilizes metal studs and handles uneven, icy terrain better.

Both models have problems with the rubber breaking while trying to put them on in really cold weather. It can be avoided by keeping them warm before use.

Either model is better than nothing and are much easier to use and jump with than crampons in light use situations.

 
I've been looking at the Icebug shoes as interesting option since I do not like to wear crampons but jump quite a bit in slippery winter conditions. Anyone have any experience on these?

http://www.icebug.se/Fullstory.aspx?m=25
http://www.icebug.se/Product.aspx?m=470

I was just in Ostersund, Sweden earlier this month and people were wearing these things like it would make them King of Scandinavia. Never tried them, but by their popularity Id say theyre good.

Use Kahtoola Microspikes.

They cost 60 USD and are worth every penny. Have been using them in Europe for about a month now and walked by many a slipping and sliding jumper. They makes hikes on ice and snow easy yet are small enough to walk over rocks and mud without hassle or need ot remove them. When the exit point is icy, they fit over your ws booties. When its not, they easily fit in your pockets. Much better than the yaktrax / spring type crampon.

http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php

I have a pair of those as well and they are awesome. I would only add to be careful if wearing them jumping as I can see them getting hooked on something at exit and causing an accident. They have caused me to trip a couple times when they got caught on a branch/stump and I could easily see something getting hooked on the high ultimate ramp or similar.

I think they're kinda shitty for most base environments where you would want to use them. For example, the swiss valley is no bueno for these things, leaves, dirt and brush thats mixed in with the snow clumbs up and you end up walking on platform shoes. They're good if you're in an environment with no vegetation, but thats about it, imho