Fiona Russell swears by the Snowline Spikes Light in winter conditions when crampons are overkill. Here’s why.
Living in Scotland, there are multiple days each winter when snow and ice could stop me in my tracks, whether running or walking on pavements, trails or hill paths. Fortunately, there is a solution and, for many years, I’ve sworn by Snowline Spikes Light. Microspikes are not a substitute for mountaineering-style crampons when the snow is deep, or on very steep and icy slopes; but for numerous other situations they work very well to provide great traction.
TGO Magazine verdict
I have owned a couple of pairs of Snowline Chainsen spikes for eight years, and they are still going strong. They have never corroded or rusted, the chains remain intact, and the claws still sharp.- lightweight
- traction
- durability
- price
- a bit tricky to pack away
| Quick Specs |
|---|
| RRP: $59.99 | £42 | €45.65 (available from alpinstore) Weight: 266g/pair or 300g including bag (L) Pros: Lightweight, traction, durability, price. Cons: A bit tricky to pack away. Features: 12mm long spikes, elastomer rubber harness, stainlesss steel claws and chains, corrosion-resistant, reinforced eyelets, CE-certified for anti-skid protection, TÜV-tested, zipped carry bag Sizes: Sizes, 4 -13UK, 35 – 47 EU Unisex snowlinespikes.com |
The 12mm claws of the Light version of Snowline Spikes are spread out across the foot – eight on the forefoot and four at the heel – to provide excellent grip on ice as well as on hard-packed snow. I mainly use these on ice-covered tarmac and snowy woodland trails or hill paths. If I am venturing into the winter mountains, I might take the Pro model, which have 13.5mm claws and provide more traction in deeper snow and on steeper slopes when compared to the Light model.
The Snowline Spikes Light spikes pack down into a small case – 14x10x5cm – and feel very light for such a useful device. The weight on my kitchen scales is a little more than Snowline suggests – 266g, not 250g, per pair for size L (and the grams are dependent on the size of the microspikes) plus there is a bag weight of 34g. I tend to keep the spikes in my rucksack just in case I might need them throughout the winter, and I hardly notice they are there.
They do need to be close-fitting on footwear. If they are loose, they will move about underfoot, leaving you prone to rolling an ankle. I wear UK8.5 or UK9 footwear, and the L microspikes are perfect. I recommend that your first try at putting on the spikes is at home because there is a technique and it’s worth practising. Helpfully, the ‘front’ and ‘back’ is inscribed on the rubber harness, and you can wear the spikes on either shoe. First, push in your shoe toe at the front and then stretch the device over the rear of the footwear. Once on, make sure the spikes are evenly distributed below your footwear and the harness is properly fitted over the shoe.
The spikes feel a bit ‘crunchy’ underfoot to start with, but this is quickly forgotten as the spikes easily dig into hard snow and ice, and allow you to take confident steps, whether walking or running. A heads up when packing away – it’s best to wear gloves as they can be a bit awkward and ‘spiky’ to get back into their bag!
I have owned a couple of pairs of Snowline Chainsen spikes for eight years, and they are still going strong. They have never corroded or rusted, the chains remain intact, and the claws are still sharp.
How we tested
Fiona tested the Snowline Spikes Light running and walking on icy paths, snowy trails and in the hills. She has also used the Pro version when hiking at higher altitude in the mountains or Scotland and Europe. The spikes were weighed on her own scales.
This review was published in the March 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors.
