I purchased the Kahtoola MICROspikes for travel where I would be walking on icy surfaces. These spikes were fantastic. They provided superb grip to keep my feet from slipping on ice or ice covered in water. No problem with stability at all.

The way that the spikes fit over boots or shoes is snug and holds very well. These are made incredibly well and should stand up to years of normal use.

When deciding on size, my size was right at the cusp of a small or medium. I decided to go with the small to insure a snug fit to my insulated boots. While they can be fitted to those boots with significant effort, the medium size would have been a better choice. So, for anyone who plans to use them on insulated hiking boots and whose size is smack in the middle, go for the larger size.

They come with a nice pouch too.

These were purchased at full cost and were not provided to me for the sake of a review.

I had to add a clothe line rope to the back to keep them from falling off the back of my boots

My husband and I bought these very highly recommended microspikes and they did NOT disappoint. Went on a 4 mile hike to a frozen waterfall. We experienced snow, ice and mud. We tried the first part of the hike without our microspikes until it became to slippery to continue. We had never hiked with microspikes before so we were newbies. They were very easy to put on. They stretched over our boots and were snug against our boots. Took a few steps and WOW!!!! Life changing. They are light and I felt the difference immediately. The spikes grabbed the different terrain. We HIGHLY recommend these microspikes. And they come with well written directions, with pictures on how to apply them to your boots and a storage bag.

I've taken these on mount Washington and they saved my life more than once"¦ anytime that you are hiking in the winter, or above the tree line in an alpine climate, you absolutely must have a pair of these

These cleats are great, period. Should last a long time.

I love the reviews and can often learn new things from them. However, it is often hard to find all similar products without specifically searching for them. One comment mentioned "Hillsound Trail Crampons" which I never heard of, even after extensively searching Amazon for all ice traction products. Suddenly they show up in searches, but not a month ago, what gives? See my comment on those below.

KAHTOOLA MICROSPIKES
Medium fits my men's size 9, 12" long boots easily, yet plenty snug. I would bet men's sizes 8-10 boots or shoes would all fit just fine. The cleats are 1/2" or 3/4" with chains that wrap around edges of boots/shoes for lasting durability. Quickest to put on and take off. The rubber part is shaped like a round ring and looks sort of confusing how it would go on and fit but, the front is labeled and the rubber stretches easily. Put it over your toe and pull over your heel.

The Hillsound "Trail" Crampons look nearly identical to the Kahtoola Microspikes. The rubber, chains, 1/2" to 3/4" spikes all look the same but the Hillsound have a strap for the top of the foot arch. The Hillsound "Trail Pro" model is a lot different and quite similar to a climbing crampon. The Hillsound Trail Pro do have toe spikes and look like the spikes are closer to the edges of the boots. They must be made by the same manufacturer, or a Chinese copy. I wonder if Kahtoola knows/is involved.

I own Kahtoola Microspikes, Stabilicers Heavy Duty Cleats, and DryGuys Monster Grips which are good too, but the Microspikes are easiest and quickest to put on.

Dry Guys Monster Grips
My Dry Guys have short, tiny carbide spikes and work well. Because the cleats are short, they seem easier on more surfaces than others and you don't have to worry about leaving them on in the car. The rubber straps which wrap around your shoe edges eventually wear out on rough surfaces, but so might the Microspikes metal chains. I think cleats closer to the edges of the footprint would be more durable and safer. For most normal use on snow/ice the rubber straps are fine; mine are still intact but getting thin because I use them on rough surfaces too.

I think most brands place the cleats further into the center of the footprints to fit more boot sizes, more easily, but then lack edging ability.

Stabilicers Heavy Duty Cleats
The Stabilicers brand are heaviest, durable, and have deep lugs with replaceable screws. They are pretty easy to put on, but not as fast as Microspikes. These Stabilicers are the ONLY cleats with spikes/screws on the edges. The screws are really aggressive on all surfaces, more so than the Microspikes, which surprised me because the Microspikes are triangle shaped and the Stabilicers have flatter, round screw heads. Buy 250pcs of Kold Kutter ice screws for the same price as Stabilicers 36pc replacement screws.

Kold Kutter Ice Screws
Come in many lengths from 3/8" threads and up and could be screwed directly into the sole of a boot with a thick enough sole and even placed on the corners or sides of the tread for edging. I am just trying to decide for myself if I want to try it on any of my boots. Cleats are cheaper to replace even though not perfect.

Out of the 3 products I own, I like them all for different occasions.

OVERALL
Dry Guys are better for most people and elderly for everyday use on ice around home and town.

Stabilicers Heavy Duty Ice Cleats are great for hard work and edging on moderate slopes.

Microspikes work great for deeper snow over ice and on moderate "trail" slopes, not so much for edging.

Hillsound Trail Crampons are likely a little better than the Microspikes for deeper snow and moderately icy "trail" slopes and they have the arch strap that the Microspikes do not have. Not so much for edging, either.

Hillsound Trail Pro are surely best for deeper snow and icy "trails" and steeper icy slopes AND for edging.

Climbing Crampons are best, intended for "mountaineering and vertical climbing" for extreme ice conditions for edging, especially toe edging.

CLEATS vs CLIMBING CRAMPONS
In short, cleats are pliable and more versatile with shorter spikes and can be used with any shoe/boot and good for hiking on low pitch "Trail" slopes and for.speed. Crampons are generally rigid like a ski boot and usually, if not always, require compatible boots, and are for mountaineering/ice climbing. It's like the difference between soft sport climbing shoes and rigid aid/ice climbing boots.