Quick answer: Microspikes are a set of small spikes that strap over your trekking shoes for grip on hard-packed snow and ice. On a Himalayan winter trek they go on for icy and steep snowy sections, mostly on summit day. Trekkaro includes them in its Free Trekking Gear on winter treks, and gives them free with gaiters on Chadar.
"Microspikes" turns up on winter packing lists. If this is your first snow trek, here is what they are, when they go on, how to walk in them and whether to buy a pair. This guide uses the trek pages and gear policy of Trekkaro's winter treks.
What are microspikes, and how are they different from your shoes?
A good trekking shoe grips on mud, rock and soft snow. On hard-packed snow and ice the sole has nothing to bite into, and that is where microspikes take over. Our gear page describes them simply: they strap over trekking shoes for grip on "hard-packed snow and ice".
They work as part of a set with two other items from the same kit:
- Gaiters cover the gap between your trousers and shoes, and seal out snow, loose scree and stream water from above.
- Trekking poles give you two extra points of contact on slopes. The Kuari Pass page asks you to "plant your poles firmly" on snow.
Microspikes are not something you wear all day. On soft forest snow and on clear ground the shoe sole does the work; the spikes come out where the trail turns icy or steep and packed.
When do you wear microspikes on each winter trek?
Each Trekkaro trek page describes where the snow and ice are. This table puts them side by side.
| Trek | Where snow or ice is on the trail | What the trek page says about microspikes |
|---|---|---|
| Kedarkantha | Deep snow throughout from December to February; steep snow on the summit switchbacks | Provided on summit day |
| Brahmatal | 2 to 4 feet of snow on the trail in peak winter; summit climb to 3,734 m from base camp | Headlamps and microspikes from camp at the 5:30 AM summit start |
| Kuari Pass | Thick snow in the forest from December to March; frozen stream and icy sections on summit day | Free microspikes and gaiters for snow and ice |
| Dayara Bugyal | Steep sections towards Chilapada and Dayara Top on snow in winter | "Put on microspikes if your trek leader asks you to" on summit day |
| Nag Tibba | The steep section above the Nag Devta temple becomes a slippery snow climb in winter, from late December | Provided for the snowy section |
| Chopta Chandrashila | Snow on the higher sections in winter | Provided for snow on the trail |
| Gulabi Kantha | Snow on the upper trail and summit in winter | Provided free when there is snow on the trail |
| Chadar | The frozen Zanskar river itself: firm, thin and slippery stretches | Free microspikes and gaiters; gumboots are mandatory on the ice |
Across these pages the spikes are tied to the hard, steep or icy parts of the trail, and on Dayara Bugyal the page says to put them on when your trek leader asks. Our gear policy hands them out the evening before the high-altitude crossing, so you have them ready the night before summit day.
How do you put microspikes on?
On a harness-style pair, the steps are simple:
- Sit down on a rock or your pack, with your gaiters already fitted.
- Find the toe. The harness has a front and back. Hook the toe end over the front of the shoe first.
- Stretch the rubber back over the heel until the harness sits snug around the whole sole.
- Check the chains lie flat under the sole, with no twist and the spikes pointing down.
- Stand and stamp a few times; if the harness slides off the heel, refit it before you move.
If you are unsure, ask your trek leader to check the fit before the steep part. The Nag Tibba guide describes the trek leader helping trekkers fit microspikes and gaiters before the steep section above the temple.
How do you walk in microspikes on snow and ice?
Two trek pages give the technique, and both point the same way:
- Short steps. The Kuari Pass page says: "Take short steps, plant your poles firmly and walk in the line your guide sets."
- Weight over your feet. The Chadar page says: "Keep your knees soft, take short steps and keep your weight over your feet."
- Follow the line. Step where the people ahead have stepped. On the Chadar, the page says ice you crossed yesterday "may have cracked or vanished".
Two general habits also help:
- Flat feet on the slope. Place the whole sole down so all the spikes bite, rather than walking on your toes.
- Lift your feet clear. Spikes can catch on the opposite trouser leg or gaiter; walk slightly wider than usual.
Snow also costs more energy. The Dayara Bugyal page notes that walking on snow takes more energy than walking on dry ground, so plan for a slower pace on the snowy parts.
Do you need to buy microspikes for a Himalayan trek?
Not for a Trekkaro winter trek. Microspikes are part of Free Trekking Gear, with Decathlon trekking shoes, a -10°C jacket, trekking poles and gaiters. The kit has no rental fee; you pay a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge (+ GST on washing). On Chadar and five summer treks (Hampta Pass, Kashmir Great Lakes, Valley of Flowers, Bhrigu Lake and Rupin Pass), microspikes and gaiters are free with no deposit and no charge, and you bring your own shoes, jacket and poles.
If you trek in snow on your own regularly, a pair of your own can be worth it; our gear cost guide compares buying, renting and the free kit. For one Trekkaro trek, the kit covers you.
What safety points apply on icy sections?
- Keep the spikes on until your trek leader says the icy section is over.
- On descents, the load moves to your knees. The Kuari Pass page says to "keep your poles out and your steps short".
- Carry your water from camp on summit days where there is none on the route, as on Kuari Pass, and keep one bottle insulated so it does not freeze.
- Check snowfall warnings on the IMD Meteorological Centre, Dehradun page before travelling to an Uttarakhand trek.
See Trekkaro's winter treks and dates | Shoes for snow trekking | Winter trek packing list
Frequently asked questions
What are microspikes used for in trekking?
They give grip on hard-packed snow and ice. They strap over your trekking shoes and go on for the icy or steep snowy sections, mostly on summit day.
Are microspikes necessary for Kedarkantha?
From December to February the Kedarkantha trek page says microspikes are provided on summit day. They come in Trekkaro's Free Trekking Gear.
Can microspikes be used with any trekking shoes?
They stretch over most trekking shoes with a defined toe and heel. Your trek leader can check the fit before the steep section.
Do I wear microspikes all day on a snow trek?
No. You put them on for the icy or steep packed-snow sections when your trek leader asks, and take them off when the section is over.
Does Trekkaro charge for microspikes?
There is no rental fee. They come with Free Trekking Gear for a ₹3,000 refundable deposit and a ₹200 washing charge (+ GST on washing). On Chadar they are free with no deposit and no charge.
