I do a 2-mile brisk daily walk on a gravel road, in a part of the country that remains snow-covered for several months of the Winter.
When you plow a gravel road, you don't scrape the snow all the way down to bare gravel -- you leave behind a packed-snow driving surface. With temperature changes and sun, icy spots form -- sometimes huge sheets of pure ice. With these spikes, I have never fallen or even slipped a little. The teeth don't bend, and they bite in confidently. I have used them on trails with patches of dirt (roots, rocks) mixed in with snow and ice, and they do great. They don't squirm on my shoes and feel very confident.
The weak spot is the chain-links joining the spiked plates. I have had a couple links "open up" leaving the chains loose and jangly. I bent them back with pliers. They held for several more months but recently some of the horseshoe-shaped links have completely broken. I repaired them with wire but am getting tired of making the repairs. So I'm calling them done at this point. At 2 miles a day and about 6 total months of walking (last year plus this year so far) that gives approximately a 350-mile lifespan. In contrast, my partner has the "name brand" spikes which cost about 4 times (no kidding) as much. She's had them for years and they show no sign of giving out. The chain links are clearly more burly looking. They will probably last forever. This seems like a very fair price vs. durability compromise, so I'm overall happy with this product. It is great for just-in-case or occasional use, but I am replacing them with the "name brand" ones because I plan many more years of walking.
I have the XL spikes and I use them on insulated Columbia snow boots (size 10) and uninsulated Muck boots, (size 9). The spikes install easily and don't slip once installed. The included nylon straps are awkward and seem unnecessary; I have never used them. If I try to use them on my regular shoes, the metal/chain portion is a bit larger than the sole so they don't fit as snugly -- but will work okay.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 9.09 x 7.64 x 1.69 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.42 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 9 x 1 x 0.1 inches |
| Item Weight | 14.81 Ounces |
| Brand Name | Unigear |
| Warranty Description | 60 Days |
| Model Name | BZ-02 |
| Color | Black |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Unigear |
| Part Number | PN3930 |
| Style | Spike |
| Included Components | one pair of crampons |
| Size | Medium |
| Sport Type | Climbing, Mountaineering, Hiking, Jogging |
