Early Ice Essentials

Guys

One of the items I know I should pick up before first ice is a set of ice cleats. My backside and elbows will thank me for it. The deal is all the cleats I’ve used in the past were all but worthless. Either they were noisy as heck or they came off the boot or they simply didn’t offer that much of an improvement in traction. Any recommendations?

I also know I need to replace my spud bar. But that’s another deal altogether as I know which bar I want. Long story short… late ice last winter I’m standing next to a buddy, a buddy that shall remain nameless for the time being, where he was messing around with the spud chipping at the edge…. and all I could come up with as he stared down the hole as if he looked long enough the bar would somehow come back was “yep, that’s why they put that strap on the handle end.”

But I digress. Cleat recommendations, please. And if it matters, I have BIG feet. Size 14D boots.

I literally “Cracked the ice” with my melon a few years ago on the Polished ice. Maybe that explains things.

Been there. Wet ice is the worst. Seems like the slower you move and the more you focus on maintaining good balance… the harder you go down. And to top if off you’re usually carrying an auger with razor sharp blades or expensive electronics you’d rather not spike on the ice.

Have no idea what brand the ones I got but they are the ticket.
Bought them at an army supply store (or something like that).
They hold good to boots, and man do they give you traction.
You have to give a little regarding some additional weight but I think it’s well worth it.
If I come up with any names or brands I’ll post.
sorry, this wans’t that much help.

Mike,
How about a photo of the ones you have?

Quote:

---

rather not spike on the ice.

---

James, have you tried putting screws in the bottoms of your boots? I personally haven’t done it because I only have one pair of boots, but I’ve seen guys who have and they swear by it.

Quote:

---

James, have you tried putting screws in the bottoms of your boots? I personally haven’t done it because I only have one pair of boots, but I’ve seen guys who have and they swear by it.

---

Please don’t step on my feet or fingers racing for a flag. Especially if your the size of Holst.

Us hockey players usually don’t let the ice knock us down lol
But when I feel I need some assistance I turn to the do-north ice traction cleats. They slide over your boot and have small spikes in the bottom (that yes would act like screws). The yak tracks are nice too but for sheer ice the do north ones work best.

James,

I have tried a lot of different type of cleats from screws in the bottom of your boots, the cheap rubber ones, Yaktrax, and have yet to find a good one. This is what I’m looking at for this year. Not sure which model but I’m leaning toward the Trail Pro. Amazon has the Hillsound brand at a good price.

http://hillsound.com/2products/crampons_overview.php

Another option might be the IceTrekkers but they are not as aggressive and I want something that will hold while drilling with both a hand and power auger on glare ice.

http://www.icetrekkers.com/diamond_grip.php

These might be ok for cheap ones.

web page

Check out the Micro Spikes as well.

https://www.sportsmensdirect.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=23_65&products_id=119&osCsid=4a14fef5c09797b0de3836e49c49bbd5

We had 2 game wardens on a pond last winter and they both had some really nice strap on cleats.I asked them where they got them and they said they were state issued. They said they needed good ones so when guys tried to run away they could catch them. I made that up. But I know one of the guys and could ask him if you want. RH

Quote:

---

We had 2 game wardens on a pond last winter and they both had some really nice strap on cleats.I asked them where they got them and they said they were state issued. They said they needed good ones so when guys tried to run away they could catch them. I made that up. But I know one of the guys and could ask him if you want. RH

---

The more suggestions the better. I like to research and comparison shop so if you can find out and let us know… that would be great. Thank you.

i use the korkers for the ice and any other river or stream i’m fishing were it’s slippery.

Quote:

---

Guys

One of the items I know I should pick up before first ice is a set of ice cleats. My backside and elbows will thank me for it. The deal is all the cleats I’ve used in the past were all but worthless. Either they were noisy as heck or they came off the boot or they simply didn’t offer that much of an improvement in traction. Any recommendations?

I also know I need to replace my spud bar. But that’s another deal altogether as I know which bar I want. Long story short… late ice last winter I’m standing next to a buddy, a buddy that shall remain nameless for the time being, where he was messing around with the spud chipping at the edge…. and all I could come up with as he stared down the hole as if he looked long enough the bar would somehow come back was “yep, that’s why they put that strap on the handle end.”

But I digress. Cleat recommendations, please. And if it matters, I have BIG feet. Size 14D boots.

---

http://www.thornebros.com/winter/safety_items/kahtoola_microspikes.html
By far the best cleats I have found. Worth every penny..

I have been using STABILicers for a couple of years now. I think they are great! I feel as if I am locked to the ice when I wear them.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Guys

One of the items I know I should pick up before first ice is a set of ice cleats. My backside and elbows will thank me for it. The deal is all the cleats I’ve used in the past were all but worthless. Either they were noisy as heck or they came off the boot or they simply didn’t offer that much of an improvement in traction. Any recommendations?

I also know I need to replace my spud bar. But that’s another deal altogether as I know which bar I want. Long story short… late ice last winter I’m standing next to a buddy, a buddy that shall remain nameless for the time being, where he was messing around with the spud chipping at the edge…. and all I could come up with as he stared down the hole as if he looked long enough the bar would somehow come back was “yep, that’s why they put that strap on the handle end.”

But I digress. Cleat recommendations, please. And if it matters, I have BIG feet. Size 14D boots.

---

http://www.thornebros.com/winter/safety_items/kahtoola_microspikes.html
By far the best cleats I have found. Worth every penny..

---

I’m heading down to Thorne’s on wednesday… I’ll check them out.

Cabelas sells a pretty mean pair they are called Ice Trekkers Dimond Traction. I dont know for sure if you can get them in a size 14 or not. Check em out. I did buy a very fairly cheep pair from Wal-Mart that work ok. But we I am in Nebraska and it does not get as cold here so our ice is not very often realy hard slick clear lake ice.

Im a firm believer in the Kahtoola’s after an incident that involved slick ice, a wind pushed otter with an auger on top, and my behind…..Let me just say Im happy my fiance works in the hospital, and I get reminded of it at every x mas party lol….Stitches in the rump are no fun!

Quote:

---

Im a firm believer in the Kahtoola’s after an incident that involved slick ice, a wind pushed otter with an auger on top, and my behind…..Let me just say Im happy my fiance works in the hospital, and I get reminded of it at every x mas party lol….Stitches in the rump are no fun!

---

We don’t need you to go any further with the details to know that sounds bad! I can easily see that happening though. I’ve taken some nasty spills trying to protect camera gear, etc. I don’t even want to think about tangling with an auger blade.

Quote:

---

Im a firm believer in the Kahtoola’s after an incident that involved slick ice, a wind pushed otter with an auger on top, and my behind…..Let me just say Im happy my fiance works in the hospital, and I get reminded of it at every x mas party lol….Stitches in the rump are no fun!

---

THAT sounds like a fun Christmas Story shared with friends and family after a few dunks in the Egg Nog

I have yak trax and will buy another pair if these ever break of I lose them.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Guys

One of the items I know I should pick up before first ice is a set of ice cleats. My backside and elbows will thank me for it. The deal is all the cleats I’ve used in the past were all but worthless. Either they were noisy as heck or they came off the boot or they simply didn’t offer that much of an improvement in traction. Any recommendations?

I also know I need to replace my spud bar. But that’s another deal altogether as I know which bar I want. Long story short… late ice last winter I’m standing next to a buddy, a buddy that shall remain nameless for the time being, where he was messing around with the spud chipping at the edge…. and all I could come up with as he stared down the hole as if he looked long enough the bar would somehow come back was “yep, that’s why they put that strap on the handle end.”

But I digress. Cleat recommendations, please. And if it matters, I have BIG feet. Size 14D boots.

---

http://www.thornebros.com/winter/safety_items/kahtoola_microspikes.html
By far the best cleats I have found. Worth every penny..

---

I’m heading down to Thorne’s on wednesday… I’ll check them out.

---

I’ve only heard good things about Kahtoola spikes. Matt Johnson at Thorne’s suggested them. Lucky me, I found them in the Thorne Bros. Bargain Cave this summer for $30.00.

I have heard great things about Kahtoola’s as well. I used the Frabill cleats last year and they worked fine but the Kahtoola’s are a step above and beyond.

James Ol Boy !!!

I tried out the Kahtoola Micro Spikes at the St. Paul Ice Show last year… The folks from Kahtoola were dancing on a block of ice at the show…

Last year I put them on and with the gimpy hip I had going into the winter…I had ZERO incidents with the Micro Spikes.. I have quite a few miles on them… probably not as many as you may put on in a season… but I tell you.. I believe they would be your favorite slip on..

I have buddies that have used them for deer hunting the ice/snow steep sided hills down here and love them.. they WILL NOT COME OFF your boot..

I was on Petenwell last winter and showed them to John Shultz(BIG FOOT) He said they looked nice but no way they would fit over his monster foot with the pacs he was waring.. I pulled out a new set from the box and put them on his boot right there… he attempted to do the Shultz version of a two step on the ice… Looked at me and said SOLD !!!

The XL fits mens 14-16..

Check them out at http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php

James. Have you ever tried HT’s velcro on style. I have a XL pair and they fit a pretty good size shoe, not sure on 14 skis though. They are the best investment I could have gotten, I can literally do a dead run in them.

Jeff

FF carries them and so does [censored].

Kahtoola hands down the best investment I made. They have kept my head up and my feet down.I pass out a pair to every person I have on the the ice for the day.