Ice traction cleats, also referred to as crampons, can be used for hiking or attached to ski/snowboard boots for extra grip going up the mountain. Ice traction cleats are also used to protect against slips and falls for employees who work outside in the winter months. Workers in field crews, delivery persons, maintenance teams and emergency service personnel must navigate snow and ice in the winter months. The best choice in ice traction cleats depends on the type of snow, shoes and walking situations.
Ice Climbers
Ice climbers need a special cleat that can dig into hard mountain ice. The cleats must fit onto the shoes securely and be able to hold your body weight. Ice cleats for glacier trekking or mountaineering come in 10-, 12- and 14-point crampons. Ice cleats made from hardened steel are strong and durable. The number of points on the ice cleats depend on the type of snow and difficulty level of the climb. A 12-point ice cleat has two forward spikes, called frontpoints, which can be useful scaling an ice wall. Frontpoints are mainly used in ice climbing. If you are climbing a waterfall, 14-point modular ice cleats are an efficient option, according to REI Expert Advice. The ice cleats fit over your climbing boots. For mountaineering, ice cleats with anti-balling plates are recommended. The anti-balling plates prevent snow from sticking to the bottom of the cleat, which keeps you from losing traction in the climb.
Skiers and Snowboarders
Skiers and snowboarders use ice traction cleats to ascend slopes that are not on the groomed trails. Many of these climbs are in fresh powder, but they may also include varied terrain such as ice or rocks. An aluminum frame ice cleat may not be durable enough for some rugged terrain. Instead, the best ice cleat for a more technical climb is a step-in steel crampon. Step-in ice cleats are made for use with stiff-soled boots. Ice traction cleats with anti-balling plates are also recommended for skiers and snowboarders. If the climb is mostly soft snow, an aluminum strap-on ice cleat will work. The advantage of aluminum ice cleats is the light weight makes them easy to store in your backpack.
Outdoor Workers
Delivery people such as the mail carrier, field crews and other outdoor jobs require nonslip footwear in the winter months. Outdoor workers do not require ice traction cleats for technical climbing. They can use ice cleat chains made of hardened, welded links that bite into the ice and snow. Ice cleat chains are lightweight and easy to take on and off, which is important for package delivery personnel. If you work outdoors in the winter, durable ice cleats are important because you will be wearing them all day. Slip-on ice cleats are another option, but make sure they secure tightly to your shoe. Some slip-on ice cleats have too much play and can slide to one side, which may cause you to slip and fall.
Winter Hiking
Ice cleats for winter hiking are aluminum strap-ons with a semirigid design. The semirigid design relates to the bar linking the heel and toe sections. The less rigid, the more versatile and flexible the ice traction cleat will be. A flexible design ice cleat is also an option for winter hiking. The aluminum material makes the cleat light so it won't weigh your foot down while hiking.
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