Rock Spikes are Kahtoola Microspikes, Hillsound Path Crampon Ultras, and some other light-weight (chain-based) winter traction aids with uninteresting spikes which have been worn down from heavy use. Somewhat than throw them away, hikers and peakbaggers use them through the early winter and in late spring when the paths are icy however there’s quite a lot of naked rock and gravel nonetheless displaying. When you might use a pair of latest spikes in these circumstances, they’ll get worn down rapidly by the uncovered rocks, so that you would possibly as effectively use a pair that’s already crushed up, particularly your rock spikes.
The spikes on a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes or Hillsound Path Crampons will get fairly uninteresting after a season or two of frequent use. You possibly can attempt to sharpen them with a file, however the steel fairly is low high quality, they usually gained’t keep sharp for lengthy. When uninteresting, they’ll nonetheless present traction though you gained’t get the identical diploma of penetration into ice that you’d in the event that they had been new. I liken them to the tire chains used on automotive and truck tires, offering traction even when the tires’ tread or studs are worn down.
If wish to try to sharpen the spikes, use a Mill Bastard File. Stroke the file alongside the lengthy facet of every crampon level, from the bottom to the tip, and solely in that one route. That is simpler to do when the spikes are hooked up to a boot. Watch out to not sharpen the crampon tooth to a pointy level: they need to stay barely rounded on the tip like a ballpoint pen for max energy. As soon as sharpened they are going to get blunt once more extra rapidly although, since there’s now much less steel in every tooth.
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