I recently got a chance to try out the screw-in studs, and I’m pretty stoked about them! They’re actually pretty easy to install, and I love not having to fiddle with rubber harnesses when I’m out there. In terms of long-term impact on the boots, I haven’t noticed any significant wear on the soles, but I suppose it could depend on how thick they are.
For mixed terrain, they perform well on ice, but you do start to feel them if you hit a lot of rocky surfaces. They’ve stayed secure so far, which is great since I was worried they might work their way out. As for leaving them in year-round, the consensus seems to be that you might want to rotate them out with regular boots during non-icy months, if only to save the soles from unnecessary abrasion.
Overall, they feel like a solid innovation for winter hiking, especially for minimalists who love efficiency!