Never before have I tested a product that seemed to bestow super human abilities upon the user, but the Freesteps6 Crampons from Hillsound did just that. Walking up ice walls, I couldn’t help but feel like I was breaking some law of nature. They allowed me to excel in conditions that otherwise I would never have been able to even walk up. This is my review.
About the Crampons
The Freesteps6 crampons are simply built.Chains wrap around underneath the boot, while an elastic rubber like material(elastomer) secures the crampon in place by gripping on the top of the boot. Well placed 420j stainless steel spikes provide traction in key areas, with an arched spiked plate around the heel for increased downhill grip. They’re light weight, and retail for $39.99 and weigh just over 11 ounces.
What I liked
These crampons provide incredible traction, far surpass anything I’ve tested before. Onlookers watched as I trotted up solid ice climbs with no slipping at all, while others with lesser traction devices had to leave the trail and walk around the long way, through snowy patches and shrubs. Uphill and down, the crampons provided nearly flawless traction on even solid plates of ice with melting runoff flowing down the surface. It’s an incredible sensation to breeze up sections of trail that would otherwise be impossible.
The crampons are easy to put on, and stay secure very well. I had a small lateral shift on the hill once, but it never actually slipped off my boot or affected performance. Simply slide the crampons over the toe of the boot and stretch it over the heel. The rubber like material stays stretchy even when it’s cold, which helps when your hands are cold.
The crampons are affordable, yet very well-built. Only 40 bucks, but they’re built from high quality stainless steels spikes that never bent or wore down on miles or rock and ice.
The crampons feel great under the feet, avoiding pressure points thanks to the flattened plates that distribute the weight of the wearer across the spikes.
What I didn’t like
I would occasionally pick up snow clumps and ice debris when hiking in mixed conditions. Small lumps of snow and ice can be picked up, but only require a quick stomp to knock them off.
They can produce a light jingle if they don’t quite properly fit your boot around the bottom.
Overall
The Freesteps6 from Hillsound, while awkwardly named, never feel awkward on the trail. They provide high levels of confidence on terrain that would otherwise seem completely impossible to traverse. A great fit, even distribution of weight across the spikes, and solid performance comes together to make an impressive piece of equipment for a great price. If you spend any time at all in icy conditions, these will greatly improve your experience, and could even save you from a terrible fall. They’re an incredibly value and a no-brainer investment.
The highest of recommendations.
Huge Thanks to Hillsound for providing these Crampons for review! A full disclosure can be found on our about me/contact page. For more information, check out their product page. http://hillsound.com/
TreeLineBackpacker 
I could’ve used a pair of those for my hike this past weekend. I might have to go and pick a pair up if the ice on the trails doesn’t melt soon.
They could really save you some pain. I love these things. What trail were you on?
I was on the Beaver Dam, Hilton Falls and Red Oak trails, as well as a bit of the famous Bruce trail all located at Hilton Falls Conservation Area. The conservation area sits on the Niagara Escarpment near Milton, Ontario, Canada. It was like a skating rink for most of the hike across the trails. Luckily the shoulders of the trails had some good grip left.
That sounds excellent! I’m yet to have the privilege of hiking any of the area. You may have elongated my bucket list. Bailing from the trail is always a great option when it gets sick from foot pack. My stubbornness has had the best of me before. Haha. Good luck on the trail!