Ice Cleats – Which are best?

I’m looking to buy a decent pair of ice cleats and wondering which are the best and why you think so.

Stabilicers Original! by far the best cleats I’ve ever owned.

I’m a believer in the best ones are the ones you remember to bring

definately the Stablizers but I think HT makes them also if they are not one in the same.
Fleet Farm is the cheapest and they have two sizes …

FF

The ones that prevent you from ending on your

I’ve tried a lot over the years, back when I read meters, I decided one thing for sure, you can still slip and fall with any of them, I haven’t tried any of the new fancy ones (like posted above $50! YIKES), I’ve actually found I really like the High Tech SGT-2 (that would be my size) bought them at FF and Gander IIRC, not spendy, not fancy and the actual bite portion of the cleat is only in one place and from just looking at them, I REALLY didn’t think they would work that great, but they have been the best I’ve tried, they seem good for a season then usually something rubber breaks, but they are good enough and cheap enough not to worry about that. IMHO These have outstanding bang for the buck value, and work great. Easy to put on and take off too. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t put a price limit on safety gear, and I believe in these.

http://www.icefish.com/catalog/inventory.php?fam=159

Make sure whichever ones you end up getting have heel traction. -Mark

This is the kind I like best because they don’t tear up the mats in my truck and the walk well on any surface. Also have heel traction
http://www.yaktrax.com/pro

I really like my Kahtoolas…

I don’t know what’s the best, but I like my crampons. I’ll never have to worry about towing a sled up or down hill to get to the lake in them. If I needed to run in them, you’d bet I can run pretty fast in them. Only wish they come a size larger for my pac boots, but when you’re feet are off the ice, you wont need pac boots. Another bonus is that if there is sticky snow, the anti-balling plates in them will prevent snow from sticking and balling under your feet. The only other thing is cost. It’ll cost usually over one Ben Franklin.

Couple years ago, I took my stabilicers that I found fall off all the time and removed the studs from them and drilled them right into my Icekings with a little silicone on the threads. This is by far the best way to go I’ve found. I put my boots on at the lake. I never forget them and I don’t fall. You lose a cleat once and a while and I just put in a new one. My boots don’t leak at all. You can get the replacement cleats shipped to your door from REI by the 50 count bag for a song. Best way to not fall down.

Short sheet metal screws also work.

Quote:

---

Stabilicers Original! by far the best cleats I’ve ever owned.

---

X2 – These things are built for the long-haul. You’ll lose them before they wear out.

Joel

Artic Spurs for me… easy on easy off…Artic Spurs Thorne Bros

Quote:

---

Make sure whichever ones you end up getting have heel traction. -Mark

---

See this a bit where I disagree, I don’t think you need it with decent boots and cleats, I think that’s in part why I like the ones I posted, I thought ones with heels would work better, which is why I didn’t like the idea of the ones I posted, but they just plain work, and work really good even without the heel piece. YMMV

I also suppose it depends a little on what exactly you are talking about use with, I rarely fish one glare ice, usually there is some snow.

I used to work at a sporting goods store and I have tried just about every pair out there. There are a lot of ones out there these days most box stores only carry a few (ones with good margins) and they aren’t necessarily the best quality. I preferr the spiky plus product, it’s similar to one they sell in stores but it’s marketed more towards industrial use as it’s much higher quality rubber and the steel spikes are made of a really high quality steel giving you a lot of use of out of them before they wear down. you can drive in them too, which is nice, i can’t say that really about others I have tried in the past. The coil ones are nice as well, but i did find ice and snow got stuck in them. Id say if your looking for something low profile that will hold up and give you lots of grip check out the spiky.

Ice Trekker diamond grip are my current go-to cleats. They dont grip as well as spiked cleats but they have good coverage and wear comfortable.

HT SCL-1 have great coverage and stick good but dont stay on my boots as well.
The el-cheapo stamped ones that fit in the middle of your boot work but hurt your feet after a lot of walking and have no toe or heal coverage.

Kahtoola Microspikes are what I have been on for the last 6-8 years now…
Bullet proof for this guy with two new hips and one new knee…
I like best that there is no pain in the feet or lower back after having them on all day !!

Microspikes and nothing else.

I screw 1/4″ sheet metal screws into my boots. I can walk up the side of a tree.

chriswallace wrote:

I really like my Kahtoolas…

X4

I love my yak trax xtrs . amazing bite and the snow doesn’t pack in the bottom. I can literally do line sprints on glare ice

I do a lot of ice fishing and I’ve tried several ice cleats but the kahtoola microspikes always stands out. I highly recommend it.

andrew stanton wrote:

I love my yak trax xtrs . amazing bite and the snow doesn’t pack in the bottom. I can literally do line sprints on glare ice

X2 or is it X3 or X4 by now

icenutz wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>chriswallace wrote:</div>
I really like my Kahtoolas…

X4

I also have Kahtoolas and love them. That said I purchased a similar pair (as an extra for guests) off Amazon for less than 1/3 the price of the Katoolas. I’ve worn the cheaper pair a few times and them seem to work and be as durable as the Kathoolas. Same type of cleated plates spaced apart with chain and held to the boot with a rubber harness.

Yak trax diamond grips work great. I wore out a pair from using them for work. Walking on asphalt and concrete eventually wore through the cable but it was worth it

Huntindave wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>icenutz wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>chriswallace wrote:</div>
I really like my Kahtoolas…

X4

I also have Kahtoolas and love them. That said I purchased a similar pair (as an extra for guests) off Amazon for less than 1/3 the price of the Katoolas. I’ve worn the cheaper pair a few times and them seem to work and be as durable as the Kathoolas. Same type of cleated plates spaced apart with chain and held to the boot with a rubber harness.

HD, is it these? I have the microspikes as well and ordered these when they had like a 5 hour sale on Amazon. I think I paid $15. Shipped free.

They look dang close to the microspikes. Haven’t tried them yet though.

Attachments:

1. 

   15797390748431763840889573803058.jpg
   

2. 

   15797390485254413577416500862815.jpg
   

Energenic Sky, on Amazon. These have been great for me and I walk a lot. They’re great on bare or slippery snow covered ice. Not great on parking lot surfaces.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V4WPM2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A5F6CH3VV4HMU&psc=1

chriswallace wrote:

I really like my Kahtoolas…

x? I think they are the best.

Huntindave wrote:

I also have Kahtoolas and love them. That said I purchased a similar pair (as an extra for guests) off Amazon for less than 1/3 the price of the Katoolas. I’ve worn the cheaper pair a few times and them seem to work and be as durable as the Kathoolas. Same type of cleated plates spaced apart with chain and held to the boot with a rubber harness.

Link and photos for your comparisoncomparisoncomparison.

Red rubber is Kahtoolas and black rubber is Amazon purchase.

Attachments:

1. 

   20200123_132239.jpg
   

2. 

   20200123_132111.jpg
   

3. 

   20200123_132025.jpg