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No more slipping and sliding – the Snowline Spikes give you great grip in snow and on ice

4.12.2023

Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson

Hooray, it’s snowed! I’m super excited about running through this winter wonderland. To prevent me from slipping in the snow and on ice, I use trail spikes. Thanks to them, trail running and hiking in winter doesn’t turn into a slippery affair.

Maybe it’s because I spent a long time living in the California and Mississippi, where it’s never really winter (with the exception of the Sierra Nevada). In any case, I always look forward to the first snow in Switzerland. It’s so pretty. And so I waste no time getting into my running shoes and head out into the winter magic.

Jogging on snowy and icy paths can quickly prove a slippery slope. That’s why I put on the Chainsen Trail spikes by Snowline for my winter run. The spikes, or microspikes, come in a small, handy bag and together weigh just 180 grammes (without the bag). The stainless steel spikes are so compact they even fit in my running belt – and that’s including the bag. For longer runs, I put them in my running backpack, where they don’t bother me at all thanks to their light weight.

Compact and easy to transport: the spikes come in a sturdy little bag.
Source: Stefan Munsch

The Trail spikes are also suitable for winter hikes or tackling the ascent when you’re sledging. However, I usually go for the more robust Snowline Chainsen Pro for hikes in the mountains. But I’ll get back to that later. Right now, it's all about trail running in the snow.

Ice cleats

CHF39.90

Snowline Chainsen Trail Spikes

The spikes consist of a combination of chains and 13 spikes, which are a full 7.5 millimetres long on the Trail Spikes. Thanks to the elastic band, they’re easy to put on and take off. You simply pull the rubber part over your running shoe starting at the front and attach it to the heel. This is also easy to do when wearing thin running gloves. My shoe size is 40, so I went for spikes in size M for trail running, because I wanted a snug and comfy fit.

Easy to put on: thanks to the rubber band, you’ll be equipped with spikes and ready to go in no time.
Source: Stefan Munsch

The real-life test: good grip even on icy surfaces

Apart from spikes, there are also shoes available with fixed spikes for winter running. But since you can slip the Chainsen Trail spikes over your shoes in under a minute, I prefer them. This gives me flexibility when my run leads partly over snow and ice-free paths and partly over slippery ground. The spikes are also useful in autumn and spring, when snow and treacherous icy patches pop up on the trails after you’ve covered a few metres in altitude.

Thanks to the spikes, I can walk safely through the snowy winter forest.
Source: Stefan Munsch

When I’m running in the snow, I can hardly feel the spikes and chains under my feet. Thanks to the bar at the front of the toes and the sturdy rubber band, the spikes stay in place throughout my 16-kilometre run. I’m especially glad to have the extra grip the spikes give me when running over an icy footbridge next to a stream and climbing partially icy steps.

A layer of ice has formed under the snow on the wooden footbridge. The spikes don’t disappoint.
Source: Stefan Munsch

The Pro version for mountain hikes

The spikes are available in different sizes and in two versions, a lighter one for running and a more robust one for hiking.
Source: Siri Schubert

The spikes from Korean manufacturer Snowline are also available in a more robust version. However, weighing in at 360 grammes for both, the Chainsen Pro are twice as heavy as the spikes for trail running. The spikes measure one centimetre each. For trail running, I find them too chunky and heavy. But I’ve been taking them with me on hikes in the snow for several years now. Here I opted for size L with for my shoe size 40, as my winter boots have more volume and a tight fit isn’t quite as important.

Ice cleats

CHF44.70

Snowline Per Grödel

36 - 40

The Pro spikes are also very easy to put on and take off and they allow me to tread safely because of the extra grip. I use them for shorter hikes when I don’t have my snowshoes with me and for slippery climbs.

The Pro spikes fit over my thick winter boots and are great for hiking in the snow.
Source: Siri Schubert

Conclusion: flexible spikes for sure-footedness when trail running and hiking

I love to jog or hike in the snow. Snowline spikes are perfect to increase your grip so you can tread with confidence and progress faster on slippery surfaces. They offer good support and are easy to put on and take off, so that you remain flexible when only partial sections of your run are icy. I particularly appreciate the Trail spikes’ light weight and short spikes that don’t bother me when running.
I use the Pro spikes for hikes that lead through snow that isn’t deep enough that I’d wear snowshoes, but still has slippery parts. When trail running and hiking in winter, I always have the compact Snowline spikes on my feet or in my rucksack, just in case.

Header image: Stefan Munsch

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Siri Schubert

Senior Editor

Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.ch

Research diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.

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