On one of the Facebook groups I belong to, the members were discussing the differences between Kahtoola K·10 Hiking Crampons and Hillsound Trail Crampon PROs. Since I own both, I snapped a few pics of them. Also, here are some notes of the key differences I’ve noticed.
- Binding system (not pictured, will get more pics later)
- I prefer the Hillsound bindings, but have heard about them breaking. I haven’t had any problems yet.
- “Front” Points:
- On the Kahtoolas, all points face down, including the points closest to the front of the crampons.
- The front points on the Hillsounds point forward
- If you draw a line from your heel to your toes, and assume this line is 0°:
- Points near the back of the ball of your foot:
- Kahtoolas – 90° angle
- Hillsounds – 45° angle
- Points near the front of your heel:
- Kahtoolas – 90° angle
- Hillsounds – 0°/parallel
- I’m not sure where I read or heard this, but I’m told Kahtoola used the 90° angle for these points to keep your feet from slipping on descents.
- Points near the back of the ball of your foot:
- Anti-balling
- Skins made from reinforced fabric
- Plates made from rubber/plastic
- Size Adjustment
- The Hillsounds require the use a set screw that requires an allen wrench for adjustment.
- The Kahtoolas have a spring loaded mechanism that requires no tools.
- “Flex bar” (bar connected the front sections and rear sections of the crampons
- The bar on the Hillsounds have minimal flex. This could be an issue if they are used with very flexible boots or shoes. I personally haven’t had any issues with this, using them with Baffin Zone Snow Boots and HOKA One One Tor Summit Mid WP Hiking Boots.
- The bar on the K·10s is very flexible.
Here is a table comparing the features of these crampons hiking crampons:
Trail Crampon PRO | K•10 Hiking Crampon | |
# of Points | 10 | 10 |
Point Length | 2.0 cm | 1.9 cm |
Front Points | Yes | No |
Weight (Large/Reg) | 680 g / 23.5 oz | 608 g / 21.4 oz |
Point Material | S50C Carbon Steel | 4130 Chromoly Steel |
Harness Material | Polycarbonate | TBD |
Notes | Shares features with mountaineering crampons, but not meant for technical climbing | “the lightest steel crampon on the market” |
MSRP | $79.99 | $99.95 |
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