Kahtoola NANOspikes Traction Device Review

Bottom Line

We walked and ran for marathons in the Kahtoola NANOspikes from bone-dry sidewalks to high alpine hikes covered in ice and snow. In our opinion, they are best suited for walks and runs around town and casual hikes on moderate terrain – as long as the snow isn’t too deep.

The multi-layer traction – from the tungsten carbide studs to the textured plastic plates – is most effective on ice and hard packed snow. The raised lugs even help with ascending and descending on slightly looser snow.

The NANOspikes shine in their lightweight, low-profile construction. They are hardly noticeable on your feet and aren’t awkward on rocky ground. They lack a bit of durability, however, and don’t pack down as small as you would think.

Overall, the NANOspikes are versatile winter traction devices that provide a lot of value considering their affordable price point. For more aggressive options, check out the full list of our favorite ice cleats.

How We Tested

It’s our goal to bring you the most informed product reviews by way of quantitative testing and countless hours in the field. We spent weeks walking and running in these ice cleats at every opportunity – walking the dog, working outside, and traversing miles of our favorite Rocky Mountain terrain.

Traction

The Kahtoola NANOspikes are one of the least aggressive traction devices on our list, but they still add confidence on ice and hard packed snow.

The primary traction components consist of ten concave, tungsten carbide studs spanning across a large surface area on the bottom of the foot. Four of the studs are arranged in a square pattern on the heel, and six on the forefoot stretch from the tip of the toe all the way back towards the midfoot. The concave shape allows the studs to grip glare ice from any angle.

If you look past the carbide studs, you’ll notice additional traction elements built into the plastic plates. The raised lugs help with ascending or descending hills in soft snow, and the textured bottom plate eliminates any smooth contact surfaces. The new, second generation version of the NANOspikes has added a few center plate ridges as well to provide even more contact points on ice and hard packed snow.

Fit

The new NANOspikes have been improved from the first generation with an updated fit that eliminates pressure points, particularly in the toe. 

The NANOspikes are somewhat limited in their footwear compatibility. They work best on trail runners and low profile hiking shoes. The ergonomic elastic harness stretches comfortably over a pair of running shoes, and the integrated toe bail keeps them securely in place when running down hill. The cleats essentially add an extra-thin layer to your shoe that feels more natural than cleats with large, awkward spikes. We tried the NANOspikes out for a full day in midweight hiking boots. Although that worked, it felt a little too tight and added unwanted stress to the elastic and plastic components.

Overall, we found this lightweight winter traction offered exceptional, all-day comfort.

Ease of Use/Versatility

The NANOspikes provide virtually no issue in terms of user friendliness. The front and back are easy to determine, and the elastic isn’t too stiff. Kahtoola has improved the heel tab for easier pulling, so the cleats are easy to put on and didn’t require readjustment over a full day of test hikes.

As far as versatility goes, the NANOspikes are good from the driest transitional surfaces like concrete and dirt up to packed snow. The raised lugs do help a bit with shallow, fresh snow, but they do not excel in that area. Caution should be used on steep slopes since the carbide studs don’t dig very deeply into ice.

The best uses for the NANOspikes include road walking or running with slippery patches, light hiking, or running on flat to moderately sloped ice and packed snow.

Weight/Packability

The NANOspikes are one of the lighter pairs of ice cleats on our list of favorites. They weigh in at just 7.4 ounces for a pair of mediums, or 105 grams per foot. This ultra lightweight construction – in collaboration with the super low profile design – allowed us to wear them all day long with no considerable foot fatigue. We often forgot they were even on our feet.

Although they are super lightweight, the NANOspikes don’t pack down as small as you might think. They can’t be collapsed more than folding them in half, due to their plastic plate construction. The cleats do, however, come with a lightweight stuff sack, so you don’t have to hang them on the outside of your pack or worry about them getting tangled in other gear.

Durability

Kahtoola built the NANOspikes with durable tungsten carbide studs, but lack some longevity compared with other options.

The primary contact surface, tungsten carbide studs, are 100 times more wear-resistant than steel, making them ideally suited for hard surfaces. We wore the NANOspikes for multiple days on mostly dry surfaces, including asphalt and concrete, and noticed minimal to no wear on the carbide studs. That being said, they are much shorter than most spikes and eventually will wear down. Plastic is a soft material inherently prone to wearing down and weakening over time, especially in areas that see repeated abuse. The center plate ridges and textured bottom also are made of plastic and won’t keep their shape forever. The toe bail and connection points, although reinforced, are also plastic. We haven’t observed cracking plastic so far, but it’s something to keep in mind, especially with extended UV exposure.

The thermoplastic elastomer harness is on par with typical Kahtoola construction, retaining its elasticity even when we left it out overnight in -30ºF.

The Kahtoola NANOspikes may not be the most aggressive traction device in the world, but they’re a winner for anyone who plans on walking or running on hard surfaces, ice, and packed snow up to moderate terrain. The super lightweight, low-profile fit of the NANOspikes will stay secure on your feet and provide all day comfort. Unlike more aggressive spikes, these don’t become awkward on sections of dry and rocky trail. Even so, the NANOspikes have a few limitations in terms of footwear compatibility and stability on challenging terrain. The predominantly plastic construction also raises some cause for concern in terms of durability. Despite those downfalls, however, the NANOspikes are an effective winter traction device at an affordable cost.

What Other Traction Devices Should You Consider?

Check out our full guide to ice cleats for options geared towards casual neighborhood jogs and the most challenging mountain adventures. 

Black Diamond Distance Spike: The Distance Spikes are specifically designed for trail running in all conditions. They are versatile, aggressive, and incredibly lightweight but significantly harder on the wallet. 

YakTrax Chains: These are the most affordable devices on our list and suited for the same terrain as the NANOspikes. They’re lacking in durability and comfort but  great for casual walks and hikes and even a little bit of running. 

Kahtoola EXOspikes: The EXOspikes are the big brother of the NANOspikes. They are a little more aggressive and effective across more varied terrain but slightly awkward on sidewalks and more expensive.