Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost Footwear Traction Review
An in-depth review of lightweight, packable winter traction devices for hikers and runners
January 30th, 2026
Home > Gear Reviews > Ski & Snow
Our verdict
The Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost footwear traction is the newest addition to Kahtoola's collection of traction devices, which includes the more urban-intended, stud-tipped NANOspikes, the tungsten carbon-tipped EXOspikes for moderate trail use, and the heavy duty winter workhorse MICROspikes. MICROspikes Ghost fill a much needed niche between the EXOspikes and the MICROspikes in that lineup.
The Ghosts are a compact, featherweight, streamlined version of the classic MICROspikes designed to better fit lighter hiking, trail, or road running shoes for aggressive traction on frozen mud, hardpacked snow, and thin ice. They are over 40 percent lighter than the classic MICROspikes and pack up into a grapefruit-sized bundle in their carrying bag. The Kahtoola MICROSpikes Ghosts are the fastest and easiest traction devices to put on or take off I’ve ever used. The fit is secure with no slippage, and they are exceptionally easy to put on and take off.
Where the Ghosts excel is on frozen mud, hardpacked snow, shallow snow and patchy stretches of ice—and mixtures of all of those conditions on rolling terrain with moderate ups and downs. In over-the-ankle or shin-deep fluffy powder snow, the Ghosts don’t offer much secure purchase… but neither do other traction devices. That’s snowshoe country. On steep, hard ice the Ghosts didn’t offer much climbing confidence—crampons may be more useful here.
There is no “best all around” for every condition in terms of traction devices. Each has a use they’re best suited for. That said, the MICROspikes Ghosts come the closest of any other brand or kind of traction device to being that all-around, off-pavement spike. The Ghosts are a great addition to any runner, hiker or backpacker’s quiver: lightweight, easily packable, offering secure traction over a wide range of conditions.
The Ghosts are great for people who find themselves occasionally needing secure trail footing. They’re also a great option for trail runners or winter hikers who find themselves running or hiking in mixed spring, fall, and winter conditions.
If you’re looking into buying a traction device for trail use, you may want to consider the Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost. While they don’t offer as much traction as the original MICROspikes, they’re the lightest, most minimal traction device we’ve tested, and offer secure traction for most users in most conditions. To learn more about other traction devices, check out our Best Winter Traction Devices guide.
Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost
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Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost Specifications
Weight: {weight per pair, by size if given} Ghosts come in 5 sizes from XS to XL and weigh 6.4 on the smaller end of the scale and 7.4 ounces on the larger. This weight is nearly 40% lighter than the classic MICROSPikes.
Spike length: 9mm
Spike count (per foot): Ghosts are equipped with 12 hard spikes, 8 forefoot and 4 heel, that are able to move independently because of articulated rivets that create flexible joints.
Materials: Welded stainless steel plates, stainless steel chains, elastomer harness Instead of the steel chains used on the classic MICROspikes, the Ghosts use a flexible hybrid elastomer harness with reinforced eyelets at important stress points and a flexible rubber toe and heel piece. They are equipped with 12 hard spikes, 8 forefoot and 4 heel, that are able to move independently because of articulated rivets that create flexible joints.
Harness: Elastomer; comes in 5 sizes from XS to XL
Weight: 6.4-7.4 oz
Recommended use: Winter, spring, fall trail running or hiking on mixed winter terrain
Footwear compatibility: Running shoes, trail shoes, light hikers
Warranty: Kahtoola 3-year warranty
Price: $104
Comparison table
| WINTER TRACTION DEVICE | MSRP* | WEIGHT (PAIR) | NUMBER OF SPIKES | LENGTH OF SPIKES | SPIKE MATERIAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost | $100 | 7.8 (221 g) | 14 per foot | 0.31" | Stainless steel |
| Kahtoola MICROspikes | $84 | 11.0 oz (312 g) | 12 per foot | 0.38" | Heat-treated 400 series stainless steel |
| Kahtoola NANOspikes | $64 | 7.6 oz (215 g) | 10 per foot | 0.21" | Tungsten carbide |
| Kahtoola EXOspikes | $74 | 7.3 oz (206 g) | 12 per foot | 0.29" | Tungsten carbide |
| Hillsound Trail Crampon | $85 | 15.7 oz (445 g) | 11 per foot | 0.66" | Stainless steel |
Best for
Most winter trail conditions, shallow powder, light brief stretches of ice, hardpack and frozen mud
Snow-packed trails
Fast and light travel on mixed terrain
Steep ascents and descents
Runners or hikers wanting minimal weight, easy storage and maximum agility on a variety of terrain
Light, short stretches of thin ice, crust, slush, mixed snow, and rock
What we liked
Lightweight and packable
Excellent traction on hardpack snow, short stretches of icy trail, frozen mud, and combinations thereof
A secure lightweight harness that offers secure footing
a flexible hybrid elastomer harness with reinforced eyelets at important stress points and a flexible rubber toe and heel piece
Twelve hardened steel spikes move independently underfoot because of articulated rivets that create flexible joints
Easy on/off even in cold conditions
What could be better
Not ideal for shin-deep powder
Not as much traction as the original MICROspikes
How we tested
I put the Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghosts on right out of the box in the post office when I received them on December 1st and walked down the icy post office steps and across the icy parking lot, got in my truck, and drove home. I have worn them, or have had friends who wore them, nearly every day since.
The Ghosts don’t interfere with driving a vehicle, which is important for me because I don’t like putting on or taking off winter traction devices in cold and snowy parking lots. Nor do they interfere with using flat pedals on a fatbike–important because often (well, really often) I have to dismount and push the bike up a steep hill, need to stop on an icy patch to catch my breath, or change clothing to match the temperatures. I wear spikes often when riding during the fall, winter, and spring when trail conditions are dicey.
Mainly I’ve used the Ghosts with my Merrell Coldpack 3 Thermo winter hiking boots as well as the heavier Merrell Toundra Pro books for extreme cold and when the weather permitted I used them a few times on my Salomon XA Pro 3d’s trail running shoes, but to be truthful there’s not a lot of winter trail running in light running shoes around where I live in the Gunnison Valley. Either a person’s running on pavement, for which they don’t need traction, or on snow and ice where they do.
The Ghosts work great on my morning and nightly trail dog walks in mixed hilly and flat trail conditions, ice, hardpack snow, and frozen mud–often in sub zero temperatures. The harness remained easy to put on and take off no matter the conditions.
The Ghosts did pick up some mud underfoot in softer slushy or melting conditions. They did not work well in shin-deep powder, and the first time I tackled a steep icy pitch on a trail they didn’t have the bite needed and I had some scary slips. I was walking, not running. A runner may be able to place enough weight and be moving fast enough that the Ghosts will provide enough traction to make a short, steep, hard ice grade, but I wasn’t going to try it again. For those conditions I’ll continue to use the original MICROspikes.
Performance in the field
Traction and stability
Instead of steel chains used on the classic MICROspikes, the Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghosts use a flexible hybrid elastomer harness with reinforced eyelets at important stress points and a flexible rubber toe and heel piece that give a tight, stable fit. Twelve hardened steel spikes underfoot move independently because of articulated rivets that create flexible joints.
I used the MICROspikes Ghost on numerous winter trails around the Gunnison Valley, from the steep hill behind my house to the hard snowpacked roads around Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, numerous trails and icy paved parking lots.
Just to get out the door and down the icy path to my truck requires sure footing, especially in this unusually warm winter where snow melts and then refreezes overnight. I wore Ghosts for shoveling snow, walking to the post office, and on morning, noon, and evening dog walks. The only times I didn’t find secure footing with them was in shin-deep powder snow and a steep icy bit of trail where I nearly lost my footing before retreating back down to the bottom. The Ghost’s 6mm spikes just don’t have the grip for steep ice but work best on all kinds of mixed conditions.
Fit and security
The new elastomer harness provides secure attachment in all conditions and all temperatures from warm to super cold. There’s no stretch. No bounce. The harness is the easiest of all the Kathoola spikes to put on and take off.
There’s no adjustment on the Ghosts just like all the other Kathoola models: the size L fits perfectly on my size 10.5 winter boots and running shoes and my friend’s size 10 women’s winter hiking boots. The TPU harness fits snug but there’s a lot of wiggle room with the stretch.
Here’s a brief guide to sizing: XS (W 5.5-7), S (W 7-9 / M 6-8), M (W 9-11 / M 8-10), L (W 11+ / M 10-12), XL (M 12-14).
The Ghosts offer a forgiving fit for trail shoes and boots, but might need sizing up or down for bulky or narrow footwear, aiming for a snug, secure fit where the spikes are distributed.
It’s best to always try them on the boots/shoes you'll use them with if possible.
The MICROspikes Ghosts offer an easy, natural stride underfoot, so light I barely could feel them on my shoe.
Comfort and feel
The Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghosts are so light and well fitting that a runner or hiker’s natural stride just feels…well, natural.
With any spikes of any length, a runner or hiker will naturally feel like something’s underfoot on hardpacked snow and ice, but with MICROspikes Ghost it’s a soft feeling, like nothing’s under your foot. On mixed terrain, gravel, dirt, or pavement, the MICROspikes Ghost traction devices are noticeably noisy and definitely have a hard feeling. You know they’re on your feet. But it’s not an intrusive feeling, isn’t clunky, and doesn’t impede forward progress. Hopefully the hard terrain is just a temporary stretch of the trail.
During testing, often wearing the MICROspikes Ghosts for hours at a time, I never felt any pinches or pressure from the harness, nor any noticeable hard spots underfoot where the spikes were, even on rock or pavement.
A size large MICROspikes Ghost had a nice snug fit but not too snug on my size 10.5 Merrell Coldpack 3 winter boots,my Salomon XA Pros, and my heavy-duty, serious cold, serious winter Salomon Toundra Pros. A friend comfortably wore my Ghosts on her women’s size 10.5 Merrell Snow Grip Mids as well and those boots have definite knobby tread.
Weight and packability
The MICROspikes Ghosts roll up into a ball that’s 12” x 11” in circumference, or about the size of a medium grapefruit. They fit into a handy carry bag for easy storage.
The MICROspikes Ghost evolved from the original MICROspikes, but just about all they share is MICRO in the name. The Ghosts use a lightweight, flexible, TPU harness in place of the MICROspikes chains. They have shorter spikes (9mm vs. 10.4mm), are much easier to take on and off, and weigh half as much–7.4oz for a size L vs. 14.9 in the MICROspikes. The MICROspikes are great for any trail where secure traction is needed on terrain that is icy and steep. MICROspikes Ghosts are quite capable of handling anything else.
For trail runners and fast-and-light hikers, what’s not to like about a pair of MICROspikes Ghosts that are light, easy to take off, or put on and roll up into a small compact ball?
Durability
While I haven’t yet used the Ghosts long enough to test their durability over the long term, they seemed sturdy enough and have held up well in almost daily use for the 8 weeks I’ve tried them (including lots of heavy wear on rocks and pavement along with trails).
The MICROspikes Ghosts have no welds, no chains, and no plates, which is what contributes to their light weight and ease of use.
I used the MICROspikes Ghosts on hard terrain as much as possible, not intentionally mind you, but I am loath to take spikes on and off on trails that have rocks, gravel, and pavement mixed in with snow and ice. I walked them across parking lots. I walked them down roads. I climbed over rocks. I wouldn’t recommend them for the floors of stores and businesses or carpet although I did all of those.
Over the past few years I’ve been able to test drive numerous models of traction devices. I’ve approached each with an open mind. You know, just put them on and use them. For the longest time I’ve resorted to the original MICROspikes as my go-to pair of spikes. This despite their noise of crunching underfoot and the feeling of being slightly elevated–I was aware of having them on and their weight. The traction though was unmatched. When I wore the MICROspikes I was confident in their ability to get me where I wanted to go.
With the exception of steep hard ice, MICROspikes Ghosts can handle any condition I have worn them in and they do it with less weight, less noise and are easier to put on and take off.
Ease of use
No spikes are pleasant to put on or take off when it’s freezing cold but MICROspikes Ghosts are at least easier than most other models or brands. The TPU frame doesn’t stiffen in sub zero temperatures, fits snug enough that it doesn’t loosen up and can be stretched easily over shoes and hiking boots even while using gloves depending on the dexterity of the gloves. Mittens not so much.
The Ghosts are light to carry along in a fanny pack, easy to put on and take off in changing conditions, streamlined enough underfoot to not feel clunky, and have just the right height and number of spikes to not force an altered gait to accommodate them. These same features apply for hikers and backpackers, and are especially handy for thru-hikers who encounter early and late-season snow and ice (not enough for crampons or heavy spikes, but offer just enough traction for secure foot placement).
Versatility
The Ghosts work well for most users in most conditions, including hiking and running in snow and ice.
The MICROspike Ghosts work as well for trail runners as they do for hikers. Where Ghosts really come into their element is in mixed rolling terrain, hardpack snow, light short stretches of ice, frozen mud, gravel and scree. are for trail runners as well as hikers in the right conditions. The only trail conditions I found that aren’t good for are long, steep pitches of ice and powder snow that is more than ankle deep.
The Ghosts are not the best for using on steep, icy trails. That’s the terrain for sturdier footgear and the original MICROspikes with their longer spikes.
Features
Elastomer harness
The Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost spikes are integrated with an elastomer harness underfoot. Instead of chains, the Ghosts use a rigid, articulated TPU matrix that provides a flexible feel underfoot which feels quite different from any of Kahtoola’s other traction devices.
Aggressive micro-spike layout
The Ghosts have 12 spikes, the same number as the original MICROspikes, with 8 spikes under the forefoot and 4 under the heel.
Packable design
The MICROspikes Ghosts come with a handy carry bag and roll up into a ball that’s 12” x 11” in circumference, or about the size of a medium grapefruit.
Snow-shedding geometry
The Ghosts reduce snow from balling and clumping, underfoot by using a TPU traction matrix, not chains.
3-year warranty
The Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghosts have a 3-year warranty.
Multi-environment traction (ice, packed snow, mixed terrain)
The Ghosts work best in mixed terrain, shallow short stretches of ice, packed snow, frozen mud, dirt, and gravel.
Who should buy the Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost
Buy if you use traction devices often, especially if you’re in mixed terrain and need secure but not aggressive footing. Ghosts are especially handy if you take your traction off and on during the same hike. Ghosts go on and off a shoe painlessly. Ghosts are lightweight, critical for backpackers who are ounce conscious and runners who need an aggressive spike that doesn’t feel like there’s anything underfoot. Ghosts pack up into a grapefruit sized bundle that doesn’t take up much room in a backpack or fanny pack.
Skip if you only use traction devices occasionally and the majority of your winter running or hiking is on urban surfaces or mostly flat non technical terrain. Don’t buy if weight in a pack or underfoot isn’t a consideration. There are less expensive options.
Where to buy
The Kahtoola MICROspikes Ghost Footwear Traction is a popular gear item, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
Backcountry
Pros: Frequent sales for Expedition Perks members (free to join), fast shipping, Gearhead chat customer service is excellent
Similar Traction Devices
Kahtoola MICROspikes
MSRP: $84
Weight (pair): 11.0 oz (312 g)
Number of spikes (per foot): 12 per foot
Length of spikes: 0.38"
Spike material: Heat-treated 400 series stainless steel
The original MICROspikes are the workhorse of winter hiking–heavy duty, chain linked long spikes, intended for hard use in conditions like deep snow, steep ice and hardpack, mixed rock and frozen mud, places where secure traction is not an option, where a slip could result in injury or worse.
The original Kahtoola MICROspikes weigh anywhere from 10-14 oz depending on size. They have 12 10mm long steel spikes linked together by chains underfoot and work with stiffer soled hiking boots for more technical hiking in icy backcountry terrain compared to the Ghosts.
Kahtoola MICROspikes
MSRP: $64
Weight (pair): 7.6 oz (215 g)
Number of spikes (per foot): 10 per foot
Length of spikes: 0.21"
Spike material: Tungsten carbide
The Kahtoola NANOspikes are the least aggressive of Kathoola’s traction devices and use 10 5.4mm long tungsten carbide studs embedded in plastic underfoot for traction on roads and sidewalks. The Ghosts allow for walking, hiking, and running on more technical terrain than the NANOspikes.
Kahtoola NANOspikes
MSRP: $74
Weight (pair): 7.3 oz (206 g)
Number of spikes (per foot): 12 per foot
Length of spikes: 0.29"
Spike material: Tungsten carbide
The Kahtoola EXOspikes have 12 7.4mm long tungsten carbide spikes with a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) frame underfoot and are suitable for light, mixed, non-technical terrain, like hard packed winter trails and icy roads. The Ghosts fall between the EXOspikes and MICROspikes in terms of traction abilities.
Kahtoola EXOspikes
MSRP: $85
Weight (pair): 15.7 oz (445 g)
Number of spikes (per foot): 11 per foot
Length of spikes: 0.66"
Spike material: Stainless steel
The Hillsound Trail Crampon uses an elastomer harness and a hinged steel plate system with 11 carbon steel 1.7mm long spikes connected by chains underfoot and is best used with rigid soled hiking boots or trail shoes.
The Hillsound Trail Crampon is less aggressive than the Kathoola MICROspikes but more aggressive than the EXOspike in mixed terrain.
Hillsound Trail Crampons
Why you should trust us / About the author
In the Gunnison Valley winter arrives early and lingers long, and I use traction devices from November through April for walking around on ice and snow. My dog, Pelli, is a pretty active pup and requires walking on slick roads, parking lots, and trails several times a day. I’m thankful for traction on those cold icy and snowy mornings and evenings. I try to hike up the hill in my backyard, 1.5 miles and 700 feet vertical, several times a week. In the winter, a spring freezes and refreezes at the bottom creating a steep icy stretch 50 yards long and 4 feet wide with no way around it. I have to use traction on it or face an almost certain death. Or at least a bruised ego.
This hill gives me ample opportunities to test traction devices. I’ve been doing it for years now and you’d think that there would only be so much to do in designing spikes for traction underfoot, but I am constantly impressed that companies keep innovating and improving new ways to walk on ice and snow.
