The 10 Best Ice Traction Cleats

Winter hikers have leaned on Kahtoola MICROspikes for years when trails turn to ice. A stretchy rubber harness holds a dozen stainless steel spikes on short chains under each foot, and it stays soft in deep cold. The spikes bite into hard ice and packed snow without the stiffness of a true crampon, and Kahtoola backs them with a four-year warranty. They take some tugging to pull on, and wet snow can clump under the chains.

Trail runners, and anyone who crosses as much rock and pavement as ice, should look at Kahtoola EXOspikes. Instead of chains, each foot gets a tough plastic grid set with small carbide-tipped studs, so it stays light and wears slowly on bare ground. Snow falls out through the open design. The trade-off shows in fresh powder: once more than an inch or two piles up, the short studs lose much of their bite.

Hikers in sturdy boots who want extra bite on steep, icy climbs get it from the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra. It carries 18 stainless spikes per foot, with three longer points at the heel for braking on the way down, plus a hook-and-loop strap over the forefoot that keeps it from sliding. A puncture-proof carry bag comes in the box. It's hard to stretch on, snow can ball up underneath, and it feels clunky on rock.

For dog walks, icy parking lots and gentle trails, the Yaktrax Diamond Grip covers the whole sole with hardened steel beads strung on cable. The beads swivel as you walk, which helps them shed snow, and the rubber band stays flexible in the cold. It was sold as the ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip before the Yaktrax name took over. Grip on glare ice and steep slopes falls short of real spikes, and the thin band can tear with heavy use.

Budget shoppers who still want real spikes can start with the Cimkiz 19-Spike Crampons. Each foot gets 19 stainless spikes on chains, a stretchy rubber harness and a strap across the top, and a small carry bag comes along. GearJunkie named it its best budget pick for its strong hold on ice. Long-term toughness is the weak spot, though: with hard use, harnesses can split and links can pull loose.

Steel coils wrapped around a rubber sling make the Yaktrax Walk a light, simple choice for sidewalks, driveways and packed snow around town. A heel tab helps it slip on, there are no sharp points to scratch floors or car mats, and it folds small enough for a coat pocket. On wet, glassy ice it holds far less well than spikes or studs, and the coils can wear out fast if you run in them.

The Due North Everyday G3 sets six tungsten carbide studs into a molded rubber sole on each foot, and worn studs can be swapped for fresh ones. Carbide holds up on pavement, and the closed toe keeps the cleat in place while you jog. A solid pad underneath stops snow from packing in. The snug rubber is hard to stretch over bulky boots, and grip fades on steep, packed snow.

Workers in heeled boots who step in and out of buildings all day are who the K1 Series Mid-Sole was made for. A rubber pad with carbide spikes straps under the arch, and it rotates out of the way so you can walk on indoor floors without scratching them. The bright strap shows up after dark. Grip comes only from the middle of the foot, and it needs a boot with a real heel to sit in place.

Short, flat studs set the Winter Walking Low-Pro apart. Its 26 carbide studs barely poke out of a tough rubber sole, so they hold on icy lots and still feel steady on the walk across bare pavement to a door. The upper stretches easily over work boots, while the sole rubber is firmer to resist wear. Those low studs give up bite in deep or loose snow, where taller spikes do better.

Made in the USA, the STABILicers Walk molds heat-treated steel plates into a stretchy rubber frame at the heel and forefoot. The plates grip in every direction, which helps while shoveling the driveway or walking the dog, and the frame stays flexible in hard cold. It fits regular shoes as well as boots. Sizes run small, so buying up makes sense, and the 90-day warranty is short for winter gear.