I don't know why I didn't buy these years ago. I don't think I could imagine winter hiking without them anymore. They seem very durable and fit well especially after reading the very helpful reviews regarding sizing. I bought the extra large size for my 10.5 Lowa hiking boots and the medium for my wife's ahnu size 8 boots (which are much smaller than normal hiking boots in that size). When wearing them they do tend to compress the heal of my boots a bit and cause some uncomfortable rubbing. I think this would happen with any chains though so I don't blame them. Any discomfort is far outweighed by not falling on my face repeatedly though. They even come with some replacement links should one of them fail or get lost.

We live in Maine, and spring hiking can often find you on trails with snow and ice in protected spots. We carry these in our packs for extra traction and safety when encountering these conditions during the spring and fall. I've also used them when clearing the driveway after an icy mix of snow and sleet.
they work great and are fairly easy to put in and remove. I rinse and dry mine after use and coat with WD40 to keep the rust away.

I was looking for a pair of micro-spikes to carry in case I needed then on a climb up Mt. St. Helens in April (2500ft elevation gain in snow). Turned out these were very helpful walking up the snow pack to provide extra traction versus just boots - the difference was immediately noticeable. I bought the XL set and they fit over my size 11 Salomon Comet boots very well with a bit to spare. These spikes don't have a strap that goes over the front of the boot like more expensive pairs, but I improvised with a long piece of Velcro. My wife has the same pair of spikes (size L) and didn't have the added Velcro strap and hers fit well and stayed on just fine (Columbia Bugaboot Plus II size 9.5). They even stayed in place glissading down the mountain.

The downside is that even after rinsing them off, the next day some of the links on the bottom were rusting as others had mentioned. On the plus side, there are a few extra connectors included in the package. Overall a very good value for general use.

I purchased my pair two years ago. I live in Northern Maine and winters are harsh and long. I am physically disabled and walking is a huge challenge. I live in an apartment building and our parking lot is solid ice every year.

Since owning these, I walk with confidence and have not fallen once. It's close to a miracle. Two years later they are still in great shape and still do their job amazingly well. These shoe chains have truly changed my winters and have helped me to walk with confidence. I love them!!

That being said, I do want to make sure I let you know that they have spikes on them. They stick in good. They are made for snow and ice. Walking on wood floors or otherwise can cause damage. So remove them before you come inside or have a rugged area to take them off inside. I also recommend taking them off while driving. This is just an extra precaution. It takes less than a minute to take them off and put them on.

This is the first purchase of this type of item I have ever made. I'm completely impressed, I don't know why I waited so long. They make walking on an icy driveway so much more secure and eliminates the worry about slipping and falling. I would recommend this to anyone who walks on ice or snow covered ice.

The only thing I found strange was after putting them on your boots, when you walk your foot feels like rolling to either side as the sole of your shoe extends past the edge of the cleats. It just feels funny when your first walk on them. Nothing to be concerned though.

I do agree with another reviewer that a strap to cover the arch of the foot would be a welcome improvement as one of mine got stuck in the snow and I didn't realize it until a couple of steps later. I'll implement that improvement on my pair.

Overall I would give this 6 stars if I could.