Ice Cleats Selection Guide

• Frequency of ice and snow
  • If you live in an area where it snows just about every day and you wear ice cleats everyday durability is obviously a major consideration for two reasons.
    • You may have to replace a lower cost ice cleat in the first season which essentially makes it more expensive than a higher cost, more durable ice cleat.
    • Depending on how late in the season the ice cleat fails it may be impossible to replace it which exposes you to the risk of injury.
    If you live in an area where you occasionally get ice and snow durability is less of an issue.
• Do you get deep snow or is the problem ice and packed snow?
  • This is an issue because some ice traction devices are for ice and packed snow only.
• Is the snow you get usually a wet snow... like the snow you get in the Middle Atlantic States? This is important because wet snow is more likely to create a suction causing your ice cleats to come off your shoes. So you would want an ice traction device that attached more substantially.

• If you're planning to use ice cleats for short, routine winter activities like walking to the mailbox, a short walk with the dog, or walking from your car across a slippery parking lot to the grocery store a light duty ice traction device will probably be OK regardless of how often you get ice and snow.
• If you're planning to walk several miles every time you wear your ice cleats you need a heavier duty ice cleat or an ice traction device with replaceable spikes.
• If you walk where there are frequent bare spots your ice cleats will obviously be exposed to more wear and you'll need a heavier duty ice traction device and/or one with replaceable spikes.
• If you're planning to run or jog or participate in outdoor winter sports you would obviously want a very durable ice traction device
• Will you be constantly going in and out of doors?
  • All but one ice traction device that I'm aware of should be removed before going indoors.
    • Spiked ice cleats will obviously damage floors.
    • Spikeless ice cleats won't damage most floors but are very slippery on smooth, non ice and non snow covered surfaces. Examples would be the floors found in most stores
• Will you be constantly getting in and out of your car or truck? You would obviously want an ice traction device that's safe to wear while driving.
• Do you live or work in an urban environment?
  Cities present a whole new set of problems
  • The problem of constantly going in and out of doors... for example the train station
  • Getting on and off the bus or train because of the bare metal steps.
  • You have to be careful stepping off curbs and crossing streets because sewer and manhole covers are frequently not snow or ice covered which is dangerous if because of the metal on smooth metal contact.
• Will you be using them off road?
  • Stick with traditional spiked ice cleats with an aggressive tread that's good for deep snow and mud because spikeless ice tractions devices and prone to damage from sharp objects and can get clogged with leaves and sticks. Consider Grip-X Ice Cleats, AltraGrips Lite High Profile Ice Cleats, or the toughest ice cleats of all... IceGrips Ice Cleats.
  • NO ICE TRACTION DEVICE SOLD ON THE-PERFECT-PRESENT.COM is suitable for any sort of mountain climbing.
• Is anti sparking a consideration? Any ice traction device using either a metal spike or steel coil won't work. Consider Jordan David Grips Lite that use a grit material for traction.

Physical Limitations

• If you have arthritis or other conditions that cause weakness in your hands?
  • Be sure to buy an ice traction device that's easy to put on and take off because if you don't you won't... or won't be able to... use it. Consider...
    • Yaktrax Walker
    • Spare Spike Ice Cleats
    • Altragrips Lite Low Profile Ice Cleats
    • Grip-X Ice Cleats
• If you have trouble bending and are unable to put your ice traction device on and off every time you go in and out of doors or when you get in and out of your car consider
  Altragrips Lite Low Profile.