Those things are glorified Microspikes for trailwalking. To me, safety is #1 in the winter, everything else is #1,236,679. This why I do not do Baldy Bowl on weekends in the winter...the last time friends asked me to do, I did it on a Sunday and the following happened...I guy with lightweight aluminum crampons affixed to his road racing shoes...no axe, no poles walked into our line of trail, a guy down climbed the bowl with his hound in micros with poles and two women climbed next to us, one who eventually slid by us at 35 MPH. This was more than enough to convince me, my original assessment of this being fool's paradise was correct.
I do not mind one iota carrying 30 pounds for a winter day trip.
Aqua Seal usually fixes most tears. If they are persistent, I use iron on stuff. When that fails, it is time for some heavy nylon fabric and a visit to a shoemaker, which is where I am now on a pair of 17 year old gaiters.
If you are looking for some mountaineering boot head to Zamberlan, they have some killer deals on light and heavyweight boots they are discontinuing in the states.
