The Kahtoola Nanospikes. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
As a 15-year fan and user of Kahtoola traction products, my interest is piqued when news of improvements to their designs comes across my email because each time, I find it hard to believe they could make their spikes offerings better. Once again, however, they have with the Kahtoola Nanospikes ($55), which the brand updated in late 2023.
Kahtoola, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, released their very first crampon back in 1999, and then translated that research into toothy Kahtoola Microspikes, designed for the fast-moving alpine runner and athlete around 2007. Targeting the winter road/hardpacked surface runner next, the Kahtoola Nanospikes were released in 2015, and then a happy medium option in the Kahtoola Exospikes came on the market in 2020. The focus of this review is on the new, redesigned Nanospikes, specifically designed for hard, icy roads and surfaces.
Though I’m not a road runner in general, winter requires a certain resourcefulness to get the miles in and keep the mind calm, so dirt roads, flatter crushed gravel, and the occasional paved road factor in. With our more popular trails well-traveled by fat bikes and feet alike, the packed snow soon turns to ice for long sections, so having low-profile but effective traction is incredibly helpful for the easier, flatter, and faster running days.
So far this winter, my Nanospikes have been on heavy rotation thanks to a soaker of an early season storm that dropped two-plus feet of snow in our area. It’s been slow to melt off, so the low-profile Nanospikes have allowed me to run confidently in road shoes or door-to-trail shoes on the dirt roads and smooth trails, as they shift from packed snow and ice in the shade to normal dirt in the sunny sections. Microspikes and Exospikes would be too toothy and aggressive for the surfaces I’ve been focusing on most recently.
The Kahtoola Nanospikes come in unisex sizes ranging from extra small, starting at U.S. women’s 5 (EU 35) to an extra large U.S. men’s 13+ (EU 48+). The medium easily fits over my U.S. women’s 9.5 (EU 40-41) shoes and weighs 7.4 ounces (210 grams) per pair. They fold in half and fit into a pouch with dimensions of 5.75 inches by 4 inches by 2.25 inches (15 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 6 centimeters).
From a practical perspective, this size easily fits into the back pouch of any of my slim 3- to 5-liter hydration packs, or a large pocket of a wind jacket. The new product comes in green or grey, which makes them quick to distinguish if you have an older pair.
Shop the Kahtoola NanospikesKahtoola Nanospikes Design
A bottom view of the Kahtoola Nanospikes.
The newly redesigned Kahtoola Nanospikes capitalized on everything good from the first design with key improvements in traction, flexibility, and comfort. I’m a fan of each upgrade these spikes have received. If you prefer a video summary, Kahtoola has an excellent two-minute video with aa side-by-side comparison of its first and second versions.
The first upgrade is with the spikes themselves. Ten tungsten carbide spikes are placed around the perimeter of each traction plate as before, but instead of the old convex/pointy design, the spikes are concave. Kahtoola found that the concave shape increases the pressure and engagement of the spike significantly on ice, while resisting abrasion up to 100 times more than the older and more common steel spike.
Center plate ridges were added to the textured forefoot and heel plates to improve the traction on uneven packed snow and ice, while the new directional and scooped lugs improve traction with ascents and descents. I absolutely agree that the traction provided by the new design has improved significantly, which I’ll discuss in the next section.
A lateral view of the Kahtoola Nanospikes.
Another upgrade is a big one that addressed a common concern of the former iteration. Kahtoola reduced pressure points from the harness around the entire shoe by utilizing low-profile rivet connections instead of links and by integrating a simplified toe bail over the front of the shoe, which keeps the shoe from migrating forward on downhills in particular.
The enhanced flexibility and geometry of the thermoplastic harness allow the Nanospikes to fit snugly without pulling the front of the shoe up, which used to be particularly noticeable on the softer uppers of road shoes — as compared to trail shoes. Gone are the friction points over the toenails as well.
I can now easily put the spikes on with the improved heel tab while standing on one foot with a one-hand pull once I set the toe. Whether I have road shoes or light trail shoes, my feet are completely comfortable in these; I don’t have extra leg fatigue at the end of a run.
Kahtoola Nanospikes Use and Traction
A medial view of the Kahtoola Nanospikes.
I absolutely agree that the traction provided by the new design of the Kahtoola Nanospikes has improved significantly, as I was able to do a head-to-head test with these and my first-generation Nanospikes on several runs, and slippery, icy bike-path dog walks after a recent storm. The new concave spikes don’t skitter or slip across ice like the older pointy spikes tend to, whether on long ice segments or on the frozen, disorganized footprints on a trail.
The traction on hilly, snow-plowed dirt roads or well-packed fat bike tracks is also better. The ridges on the traction plate catch just enough of the hardpack that even with a road shoe or low-traction trail shoe, the ascent and descent are purposeful with less slippage and less calf muscle fatigue.
To be abundantly clear, the Nanospikes are designed to be worn over road or light trail shoes for road runs on icy, plowed, snow-but-hard-packed surfaces. They do fine for short distances on dry, crushed gravel or smoother dirt surfaces between the icy or snowier sections.
If I encountered a long segment of dry pavement, I’d slip them off until the next section required them. For loose or deeper snow on front country trails, the Exospikes are perfect; for mountain trails, steeper surfaces, and more burly terrain, the Microspikes really shine.
Kahtoola Nanospikes Overall Impressions
A top view of the Kahtoola Nanospikes.
The newly redesigned Kahtoola Nanospikes are a noticeable improvement over the pretty-darn-good first iteration. They’re significantly more comfortable and flexible, just as secure, and have improved all-around traction on ice and hardpacked, road-like surfaces. Take advantage of upcoming seasonal sales and gift them to yourself or a friend. These are perfect for walkers, runners, emergency winter car kits, and neighborhood post-winter-storm shovel sessions.
My first Nanospikes are four years old and still going strong, which is four times more durable than competitors’ alternatives, in my experience. I expect this new version will be just as long-lasting. Well done, Kahtoola! Keep up the outstanding research and design.
Call for Comments
- Have you tried the second version of the Kahtoola Nanospikes? What did you think?
- If you have worn both versions, how does this second edition compare?
