Yaktrax Review for Winter Hiking

Have you ever used Yaktrax on your hike before?

This gear item securely attaches to your footwear to improve traction on snow and ice. Hiking in the winter often means increased dangers of slipping and falling. But Yaktrax can help prevent that from happening.

In this guide, I’ll review this piece of gear so you can decide whether it’s right for you.

Yaktrax is Best For

Yaktrax is best for just about anyone wanting to enjoy the outdoors during wintry weather and precipitation.

If you’re a day hiker, these traction control devices will help you avoid slipping on snow or ice that might be on the trail.

These can also help backpackers and mountaineers avoid trouble and potential serious injuries during their long hauls.

Yaktrax are easy to take off and carry in your backpack when you’re not using them, too.

Yaktrax Specs & Features

The follow specifications and features describe your best use of the Yaktrax traction control devices:

• These are best for walking, hiking, and backpacking.
• The materials used to make this product include 67.85% TPE black/32.15% stainless-steel.
• The dimensions of this product are 6 x 4.8 inches.
• The Yaktrax weighs around 3.52 ounces.
• There is an upper harness to keep them secure on your boots or shoes.
• A built-in heel tab makes installation quick.
• The springy traction controls make the device feel more natural and less likely to press on your pressure points.
• Yaktrax comes with a carrying bag to help keep them organized in your pack.

Yaktrax Sizing

There are different sizes of Yaktrax, and it’s important to choose the best size for your shoe size and fit.

The following sizes are in US inches:

• XS fits 1-4.5 (men’s) and 2.5-6 (women’s)
• S fits 5-8.5 (men’s) and 6.5-10 (women’s)
• M fits 9-11 (men’s) and 10.5-12.5 (women’s)
• L fits 11.5-13.5 (men’s) and 13-15 (women’s)

Performance of Yaktrax

They are made for comfort. They are made so that pressure points do not rest on your feet and causing discomfort. They’re made to feel as natural to your walk as possible.

Yaktrax works very well. I’ve worn them on ice, and it feels like I’m walking on snow with grippers on my boots. I still wouldn’t recommend using them to trail run on ice, though.

These are very lightweight. When you store them in your backpack, you won’t even know they’re there. They’re also very easy to fold and pack in the carrying bag they come with.

Durability & Maintenance of Gear

Yaktrax are very durable and easy to maintain.

I’ve yet to break any of them. The old styles didn’t come with an upper harness strap, and I would occasionally lose them while hiking because I couldn’t feel them. However, the newer model with the strap ensures you don’t lose them.

Maintenance is a simple as cleaning them off and drying them. The metal is stainless steel, so you’ll want to keep it dry and free of natural debris. Use simple water to clean them off.

The only weak point I have found is that snow will sometimes ball up between my shoes and the wires. Of course, this is when I hike in deeper snow. It’s easy to get off, but it can be a little annoying to feel it while hiking.

Price & Value

Yaktrax is relatively cheap.

You can get them from REI for around $45.00. If you use my link, I’ll earn a commission, but it won’t affect your price. You can also buy these at most outdoor and sporting goods stores.

Pros and Cons of Yaktrax

Here are the pros of using Yaktrax for hiking:

• They are very lightweight and durable if taken care of
• They can be used on any form of trail difficulty.
• They are comfortable and pain-free.
• The traction is very good and reliable.

Here are the cons of using Yaktrax for hiking:

• Snow can bunch up under the Yaktrax.

They’re not as aggressive as other traction control devices.

Final Verdict

Yaktrax are best for hikers and backpackers using most hiking trails.

You might consider a more aggressive type of traction control for mountains and extremely rugged trails.

As a final tip, make sure you never fully rely on these types of devices to work. Don’t let your guard down. You can still slip, fall, and hurt yourself.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail!