Best ice cleats for shoes and boots (2026)
A pair of ice cleats in your coat pocket makes the walk to the car, the mailbox or the bus stop steadier on packed snow and ice. This page compares five slip-on cleats on Amazon, from coils for flat sidewalks to spikes for icy slopes, by what their listings say. We haven't tested them ourselves. OSHA's advice for icy walkways applies with or without them: take short steps and walk at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction.
By Tom Calder · Updated October 30, 2026 · 5 products, prices indicative
Our picks
Kahtoola MICROspikes
Icy hills, steep driveways and trails
Yaktrax Walk
Everyday walking on packed snow and ice
Yaktrax Pro
Lots of time on foot in winter
All 5 compared
| Pick | Grip | Best for | Fits | Top strap | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 stainless-steel spikes on chains (maker) · Icy slopes, trails and winter hiking · Elastomer harness; pick your size · No; snug harness Icy hills, steep driveways and trails | 12 stainless-steel spikes on chains (maker) | Icy slopes, trails and winter hiking | Elastomer harness; pick your size | No; snug harness | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The strongest grip here: 12 heat-treated stainless-steel spikes per foot on welded chains, in a stretchy harness. Kahtoola makes them for winter hiking and icy trails, and they're the pick if your street or driveway turns into a sloping sheet of ice. They're more than you need for a flat walk to the car. Best for Icy hills, steep driveways and trails Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only walk flat, cleared sidewalks; coils are easier. | |||||
Steel coils · Walks to the car, mailbox and bus stop · Slip-on sling with heel tab; pick your size · No Everyday walking on packed snow and ice | Steel coils | Walks to the car, mailbox and bus stop | Slip-on sling with heel tab; pick your size | No | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The most-reviewed cleat in our search: steel coils on a stretchy rubber sling that slips over your shoes, for the walk to the car, the mailbox or the bus stop. Coils grip packed snow and ice but less aggressively than spikes, and there's no top strap; the Pro version adds one. Best for Everyday walking on packed snow and ice Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you walk icy hills or trails; spikes grip harder. | |||||
1.4 mm stainless-steel coils (maker) · Dog walks and working outside · Rubber upper; pick your size · Yes, removable Lots of time on foot in winter | 1.4 mm stainless-steel coils (maker) | Dog walks and working outside | Rubber upper; pick your size | Yes, removable | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Yaktrax's coils with heavier 1.4 mm stainless-steel wire and a strap over the top of the foot for a more secure fit. A good pick if you're out on foot a lot in winter: walking the dog, clearing the yard or working outside. Best for Lots of time on foot in winter Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you just need something for the front steps and the car; the Walk is simpler. | |||||
Tungsten spikes (listing) · Everyday walking on ice · Slip-on with StayON toe cap · No Hard ice on everyday walks | Tungsten spikes (listing) | Everyday walking on ice | Slip-on with StayON toe cap | No | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A slip-on cleat with tungsten spikes rather than coils, for the hard, glazed ice that coils can skate on. The toe cap is meant to stop it creeping off your shoe, and the heel is reflective for walks after dark. Best for Hard ice on everyday walks Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you mostly walk on packed snow rather than ice; coils are gentler and cheaper to replace. | |||||
19 stainless-steel spikes on chains (listing) · Icy slopes, trails and yard work · Thick elastomer harness; pick your size · No; snug harness Spike grip on a smaller budget | 19 stainless-steel spikes on chains (listing) | Icy slopes, trails and yard work | Thick elastomer harness; pick your size | No; snug harness | |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Chain-and-spike traction from a lesser-known brand: 19 stainless-steel spikes per foot on a thick elastomer harness, with more than 10,000 reviews. Like the MICROspikes, it's for icy slopes and trails more than flat sidewalks. Best for Spike grip on a smaller budget Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only walk flat, cleared sidewalks; coils are easier. | |||||
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Before you buy
Coils or spikes.
Coils, like Yaktrax, grip packed snow and ice on flat ground and are easy to walk in. Spikes on chains, like MICROspikes, bite into hard ice and slopes but are more than you need on a flat sidewalk.
Get the right size.
Cleats are sized to your shoe: too small and they're a fight to stretch on, too big and they shift underfoot. Use the maker's size chart for the boots you'll wear them over.
A top strap or toe cap helps them stay on if you walk briskly or work outside.
Start with good boots.
OSHA says a pair of insulated and water-resistant boots with good rubber treads is a must for walking during or after a winter storm.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
Do ice cleats work?
They're made to add grip on ice and packed snow: coils for flat walks, spikes for slopes and glazed ice. Walking carefully still matters. OSHA advises short steps and a slower pace on icy walkways so you can react to a change in traction.
Can I wear ice cleats indoors?
Take them off at the door. They're made for snow and ice, and metal coils and spikes can scratch floors.
Yaktrax or MICROspikes?
Yaktrax-style coils for everyday walking on flat, packed snow and ice; MICROspikes-style chains and spikes for icy hills, trails and steep driveways.
What size ice cleats do I need?
Cleats are sized by shoe size. Pick the size for the shoes or boots you'll wear them over, using the maker's size chart.