Ice cleat


Ice cleats are a contraption, affixed to a shoe or boot, with small spikes underneath. They are used to avoid sliding on slippery surfaces like ice or snow. Ice cleats are attached to footwear with either straps over the heel and toe or a single strip over the foot. Not to be mistaken for crampons used for ice climbing, ice cleats are much smaller and are commonly used in arctic areas.

Different styles

There are specially made ice cleats for jogging and hiking. In the past, cleats were often used by elders, but new designs have made them more popular among younger people. There are also shoes with spikes already fastened to their soles.
There are different types of ice cleats designed and manufactured for Transitional Traction and Aggressive Traction.
Industrial ice cleats are designed and manufactured to withstand lower temperature thresholds and perform for a longer time in a work/industrial environment. Most ice cleats are not safe to wear indoors, and the wearer may slip if attempting to do so. The exception is with transitional traction ice cleats, a newer technology.

History

It is difficult to say exactly when ice cleats first appeared, but the patent records show that the ice cleat of today are a result of many trials in time. Hundreds of years of ago military were early users of ice cleats, while performing duties in cold weather regions, to increase mobility in the mountains and arctic areas.

Early findings

Ice cleats date back to the Vikings, from around 800AD till 1100AD. The cleats were found in the town of öde in Medelpad, Sweden. It was examined in 1939. The crampon is located in the history museum in Sweden.

Industrial Ice Cleats

Industrial ice cleats are specifically designed for use in an industrial environment.
Some of major brands are Yaktrax, Stabilicers, SureFoot, Get-A-Grip, Due North, Korkers, Grip-Ons, and WinterGrips.