It´s true that the legs are screwed in, but on the two I have, you need tools to get them off. A very solid spike tip, which is nice to have available on ice and rocks, is tightly screwed in. For normal use, a high quality rubber cap is fitted over it, with a snap-in-to-place design. That rubber cap can be turned, but with limited friction on the spike. I saw the same comment you make Rick, in an earlier review I read, but I will be very surprised if anyone get this problem with the current design.