ICETrekkers Diamond Grip Traction Cleats (1 Pair)

I took these on a two week trip to iceland in the winter and was really glad I did. There were some long walks over hard-packed snow and ice to get to some of the waterfalls and overlooks. I took two traction devices on the trip: the icetrekkers diamond grip and the kahtoola microspikes. Both performed really well.Comparing the two:- The ice trekkers are very light and so I had them in my pack all the time. I've read some criticism that the diamond grips start "rusting" pretty quickly and I have to agree that that seems to be the case. I could see the finish coming off after just a few outings and although I tried to be diligent about cleaning and drying them after every excursion, I'm not sure that they will last till next year. Still, for the security of being able to carry them all the time just in case, I think it's well worth it.- For long stretches of smooth ice and on steeper inclines the microspikes are definitely better, and as a product they will last longer than the diamond grips; where I felt compelled to clean the diamond grips constantly, I had the feeling that I could just keep tossing the microspikes in the back of the van and forget about them and they would be just as good at the end of the trip. But the down side is that the microspikes are also heavier and much bulkier to carry and I wouldn't want them in my pack all day every day.Both products were very easy to get on and off, and I never had either one detach while walking. The system that works well for me is to position the toe, then use both hands to draw up the heel, stretching both to the back of the boot and to both sides as you go. (If you just try to draw the back straight up the heel of the boot, it is very difficult.) Takes a little practice to do this standing up, but it can be done.

If you live in place that gets icy, you would be well advised to get a pair of ice stabilizers for your shoes. They're great for keeping you upright and injury-free. I've tried a few different models, and the diamond grip is my favorite. I'm going to run down a pro and con comparison of the models I've tried. I use them for normal walking, mostly on concrete or asphalt.Diamond gripPros:-Great stability.-Most comfortable to walk in of all of the models.-Don't slide around as much as other models on indoor surfaces. THE MANUFACTURERS DO NOT RECOMMEND WEARING ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS INDOORS. DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK. I sometimes risk leaving them on if I briefly go into a shop or other building. Diamold grips are the least slippery, but they will slide on a hard surface. I'm telling you my experience, but I won't pay your medical bills if you fall. Use caution.Cons:-Expensive.-Tough to stretch over the shoe, especially when they are new.-Prone to rust and breakage. Rinsing and drying them after use will lengthen the lifespan, but they will need to be replaced after a season or two.Coil/Spring stylePros:-Good stability.-Easy to slip onto and off of the shoe.-Inexpensive.Cons:-Not as comforable to walk in. I'm definitely very aware of these when I have them on.-Prone to rusting and breaking much as the diamond grips are.-More slippery on indoor surfaces than the diamond grips.Spikes (Stableicers brand)Pros:-Most durable. I probably could have used them indefinitely.Cons:-Least improvement in stability over a plain boot of all of the models, at least for city walking. I suspect that they might work better on natural surfaces.-Very uncomforable to walk in.-Difficult to slip onto the shoe.-Very dangerous on indoor surfaces. I absolutely had to take these off before stepping inside, even for a short time.I hope that this review will help you decide which kind of ice stabilizes are best for you.

I live in Minnesota and I bought these in November of 2021, when we still didn’t have snow (something unusual for Minnesota).Finally, March 4/5 of 2022, we had a misting rain, that left a layer of ice on everything (ground, snow covered ground, cars etc.).Literally everything had a layer of ice, which made walking near impossible, without slipping and falling down.Unfortunately, I had left these in my car, which meant I needed to make the slippery trek to retrieve them. When I first opened the box, I thought there was NO way these would fit my shoes, even though I bought the large size.I was surprised by how much the rubber stretched, which allowed the ICETrekkers to fit my size 11 shoes. After putting them on, I slowly stepped on the slippery driveway and low and behold, my shoes stayed right where I had stepped!!! I didn’t slip, or slide and walked as if it was a completely dry snow/ice free surface!I will absolutely (without question) buy another pair to keep in my car and this current pair will stay in the house!!! Thanks ICETrekker!!!