It's a bit difficult to describe, they are spikey, but only if you were to squeeze them? Because of the way they're joined to there body, they're almost squidgy. The spikes them selves are solid, but the skin moves...?
That probably makes absolutely no sense at all, but it's the best explanation i can think of haha. In a nut shell, they're perfectly fine to handle and the chances are you won't hurt your self on them.