Ice Cleats » Steep Sidewalks

Ice Cleats for Shoes and Boots for Steep Sidewalks

Ice Cleats Buyer's Guide
Find the Best Ice Cleats for People, Places, Occupations, and Activities
Click Here

Volume Discounts

Save 10% on 1 to 5 pr.
12% on 6 pr. or more

Request a Quote
Click Here

Free Size Exchanges

Unconditional, Full Cash Back
Satisfaction Guarantee

Best Ice Cleats for Steep Sidewalks

When you search for the best ice cleats for a particular purpose, you usually get a "Top 10" list. And, I do have several ice cleats that will give you traction on steep sidewalks. However, I will only recommend the ones that I feel will give you the best traction. Here's why.

No ice cleats can guarantee you won't slip on ice on a flat surface. Steep inclines are obviously worse because you're working against gravity. So, the instant you lose traction, you're usually going down. Sometimes, the slightest detail can make the difference in maintaining traction. Therefore, why would I recommend anything except what my 16+ years if experience selling ice cleats tells me are best ice cleats to keep you safe?

Lastly, many brands of ice cleats boast that they will give you traction on ice and packed snow. Well, as shown in the picture, what about deeper snow, slush, black ice, and when there's loose snow on top of the ice? The ice cleats I recommend will keep you safer in all slippery winter conditions.

It's never a pleasure, but now would be a great time to avoid a trip to the emergency room!

Best Stretch-Over Ice Cleats for Steep Sidewalks

Winter Walking HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats

Choose HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats if you

want to be able to quickly put on and remove your ice cleats;

need excellent traction in all slick winter conditions including ice, snow, packed snow, and black ice; and

do not have bulky, insulated pack boots.

$41.95 /pr.

HIGH-PRO ICE CLEAT Dual Material Construction

5.00

5 / 5

Based on 3 Reviews

HIGH-PRO ICE CLEAT Sizing Chart
Fits Shoe Sizes Based of Steel Tip Shoes
Men's	Women's	Footwear Length Range in Inches*	Size
13½+	---	14" - 14½"	XXL
11½ - 13	---	13¼" ‹ 14"	XL
9½ - 11	12+	12¾" ‹ 13¼"	L
7 - 9	9 - 11	11¾" ‹ 12¾"	M
5 - 6½	7 - 8½	10¾" ‹ 11¾"	S
*Measured on the bottom of your shoe or boot from the tip of the sole to the base of the heel.
If you have bulky or oversized boots, consider Winter Walking ICE BEAST HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats.

Buy HIGH-PRO
Ice Cleats JD6625

$41.95 /pr.

Buy Ankle Strap Kit JD3800*

Fits All Sizes

$4.47 /pr.

*Not included in Volume Discount

Find out how to install the
Ankle Strap Kit
on your ice cleats.

HIGH-PRO® ICE CLEAT Features

HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats Demo Video

Twenty Six 2mm Tungsten Carbide Studs
- provide excellent traction on ice and black ice;
- are more studs than on any other stretch traction device; and
- are molded in for greater retention and durability.
Tungsten Carbide Studs last far longer and stay sharper than the carbon steel spikes found in most competing ice cleats.
Patented Heel Spike allows walking naturally without using any new, special skills.
Studs are designed to stay uniformly sharp throughout their useful life.
Permanent studs are more comfortable and reliable than replaceable studs.
1-Piece Molded Proprietary Synthetic Compound Straps
- are extremely durable;
- resistant to chemicals and other contaminants;
- have no memory and never stretch out of shape;
- stay flexible at low temperatures; and
- have a unique characteristic that grips the surface of your footwear to prevent it from slipping out of alignment.
Sole/Heel (colored) material is harder material than upper stretch portion so sole/heel have greater abrasion resistance and durability while upper has greater stretch.
The Dimpled Foot Bed grabs the bottom of your shoe or boot to prevent the device from sliding out of place.
Aggressive Tread Pattern is self-cleaning and provides traction in snow, slush and mud.
Wide Straps provide large surface areas to keep the ice cleats properly aligned.
Multiple Ridges on the inside of the heel strap help prevent ice cleats from slipping off the back of your heel.

Easy On / Easy Off because...
- patented Dual Pull Tabs make it easier to grab hold of the ice cleats while stretching them over your shoes and boots;
- patented Dual Density Construction makes it easier to stretch; and
- Uni-Foot Design (No Left... No Right) eliminates the hassle of having to locate the left or right cleat.
Patented Open Design
- stays securely on footwear, and
- is lightweight & compact.

Versatile because HIGH-PRO
- fits over all types of shoes and boots;
- provides traction in all slippery winter conditions; and
- is safe to wear while driving.
Bright Blue Color facilitates compliance monitoring.
Sizes: JD6625-S Small, JD6625-M Medium, JD6625-L Large, JD-6625-XL Extra Large, JD6625-XXL Extra Extra Large
Model: JD6625
Made in Taiwan

Winter Walking ICE BEAST™ HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats

ICE BEAST™ HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats are my top recommendation for people who:

have large bulky boots;
have unusual shaped footwear;
require access to a fully defined heel;
have balance issues; and
are not frequently going in and out of doors. (If you do frequently transition between indoors and outdoors, see Winter Walking ICE BEAST™ LOW-PRO Ice Cleats.)

$56.97 /pr.

ICE BEAST HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats Dual Pull Tabs

ICE BEAST HIGH-PRO Ice Cleats Aggressive Spikes and Treads

ICE BEAST™ HIGH-PRO Features

ICE BEAST™ HIGH-PRO
Ice Cleats Demo Video

Twenty eight well-distributed 2mm Tungsten Carbide Studs
- provide excellent traction on ice, black ice, and hard packed snow;
- are more studs than on any other stretch traction device; and
- are molded in for greater retention, safety, and durability.
Tungsten Carbide Studs last far longer and stay sharper than the carbon steel spikes found in most competing ice cleats.
Patented Heel Spike allows walking naturally without using any new, special skills.
Studs are designed to stay uniformly sharp throughout their useful life giving you consistent traction and safety.
Permanent studs are more comfortable and secure than replaceable studs.
1-Piece Molded Proprietary Synthetic Compound Straps
- are extremely durable;
- resistant to chemicals and other contaminants;
- have no memory and never stretch out of shape;
- stay flexible at low temperatures; and
- have a unique characteristic that grips the surface of your footwear to prevent it from slipping out of alignment.
Sole/Heel (colored) material is a harder material than the upper stretch portion. Therefore. the heel and sole have greater abrasion resistance and durability while upper has greater stretch.
The Dimpled Foot Bed grabs the bottom of your shoe or boot to prevent the device from sliding out of place.
The Aggressive Tread Pattern is self-cleaning and provides traction in snow, slush, and mud.

Versatile because ICE BEAST™ HIGH-PRO
- fits over all types of shoes and boots;
- provides traction in all slippery winter conditions; and
- is safe to wear while driving.
Patented Open Design
- stays securely on footwear, and
- is lightweight & compact.

Bright Blue Color facilitates compliance monitoring.
Sizes: JD7725-S Small, JD7725-M Medium, JD7725-L Large, JD-7725-XL Extra Large, JD7725-XXL Extra Extra Large
Model: JD7725
Made in Taiwan

Best Sandal Style Strap-On Ice Cleats for Steep Sidewalks

Winter Walking ICEGRIPS™ Ice Cleats JD4472

About Ice Cleats and Steep Sidewalks

Steep Sidewalks Bring Out the Worst in Recreational Ice Cleats

The picture above says it all. You have a driveway or sidewalk on a steep hill that's ice covered. That would be bad enough. However, it snowed on top of the ice. Now might be the time to get professional-quality ice cleats designed to handle the worst slippery conditions like the one above.

I get several calls every year from people who can't find ice cleats that work on their steep driveway. The problem is that the ice cleats you buy in local hardware, sporting goods, department, and online stores are Recreational Ice Cleats.

The primary focus for most recreational-grade ice cleats manufacturers is to keep costs down followed by preventing slips and falls.

I sell professional grade Winter Walking Ice Cleats. Winter Walking's primary focus is to prevent slips and falls while keeping the cost as low as possible without sacrificing effectiveness and quality. The difference in focus makes a huge difference in keeping you safe especially on steep sidewalks.

Read the information on this page. When you're done, you'll

know more about ice cleats than the overwhelming majority of ice cleats manufacturers let alone people selling ice and snow cleats; and
understand the common sense reasons the ice cleats I recommend work where other ice cleats fail.

NO ICE CLEAT CAN GUARANTEE YOU WON'T SLIP AND FALL ON ICE ESPECIALLY ON STEEP ICY HILLS.
However, I can guarantee that

the ice cleats I recommend will work better than any other ice cleats to reduce your risk of slipping on ice and snow, and
lastly, if you're not 100% satisfied, you can return your ice cleats for a full refund.

Best Ice Cleats Features for Steep Sidewalks

More, Well-Positioned Studs are Better

Generally speaking, more studs on ice cleats is better. More studs are especially beneficial when the designer intelligently distributes the studs over the bottom of the ice cleat.

Many ice cleats concentrate the studs in a particular area or just around the periphery. This design reduces the chance of the studs coming in contact with the ice especially when the ice is "bumpy" and uneven. Once you lose traction, especially on steep inclines, it's difficult and often impossible for the remaining studs to catch hold and restore traction.

The Type of Stud is Very Important for Traction on Steep Sidewalks

Aggressiveness Matters

To get traction on ice, you must penetrate the surface of the ice. The smaller the surface area of the stud's point against the ice, the better because it will be better able to penetrate the ice. For example, the traction of just one tungsten carbide stud is more than the aggregate traction of the 100's of gripping edges of ice traction devices with wound steel coils.

Sharper studs are better than less aggressive spikes. Sharp studs are especially critical

in frigid temperatures when ice becomes denser and on black ice; and
on steep inclines where you may depend on just one spike to catch you if you begin to slip.

The effectiveness of spikeless and gritted ice cleats is greatly reduced or eliminated in frigid temperatures on denser ice.

2mm Spikes are Critical

Generally speaking, the longer the stud, the better up to a maximum of 2mm for ice cleats designed for walking and everyday use. Spikes longer than 2mm become a tripping hazard.

The longer spike together with an aggressive self-cleaning tread design is especially important when there's a thin layer of snow on top of the ice. That thin layer of snow could prevent the studs from making contact with the ice.

Tungsten Carbide Spikes

When you're working on that steep, icy hill, you want every stud to be in top condition and performing at its best. Tungsten carbide spikes are

consistently at their sharpest throughout the life of the spike (The sharpness and effectiveness of many case-hardened or carbon steel spike designs become less effective as they wear down.); and
far more durable than case hardened or carbon steel spikes.

Heel Spikes Allow You to Walk Naturally

High Pro Ice Cleats Heel Spike is critical on steep sidewalks

The ice cleats I recommend have a patented Heel Spike. Think about how you naturally take a step and what hits the ground first. It's your heel. Well, if there's no spike there at the base of your heel, you risk having your leg slide right out in front and from under you, especially on a steep sidewalk.

Ice cleats without Heel Spikes force you to walk more flat-footed, and that's not natural. So, you have to think about doing it. Because walking flat-footed isn't natural, you can easily forget. Forgetting is especially troublesome if you have to move unexpectedly or in a hurry.

Furthermore, if there's one spike on the ice cleat you want to be an aggressive, sharp tungsten carbide spike, it's the Heel Spike. That's because there's no other spike to grip the ice if your foot slides forward while you're taking a step.

Aggressive, Self-Cleaning Treads are Critical

There are two important reasons why aggressive, self-cleaning treads are crucial.

Your ice cleats should have an aggressive tread that's good for traction on deeper snow and ice.
The tread should be designed to help expel snow and debris that can come between the bottom of your boot and the ice to help those studs to maintain contact with the ice. Snow and debris build-up is a major problem with spikeless ice cleats with coils.

Stay Firmly on Your Boots and Don't Slide Out of Position

You want ice cleats that stay aligned and on your boots and so you don't walk out of them in deeper snow. Also, you want them to not slide out of position on your footwear, so the spikes remain in place and effective. Ice cleats that stay in place are critical because of the constant pushing and pulling required while operating a snowblower or shoveling snow, and because of the additional forces you incur, on steep sidewalks.

Safe to Wear While Driving

Make sure the ice cleats you choose don't have straps or other design that could interfere with the safe operation of a vehicle. This feature avoids having to take your ice cleats off and on getting in and out of your car if it's parked on your treacherous icy driveway.

Common Features in the Best Ice Cleats for Steep Sidewalks

These ice cleats all provide excellent traction on ice, deep and packed snow, slush, and black ice.

You'll be safer no matter what the wintry mix or how cold the ice. They all have

long-lasting tungsten carbide studs;
the all-important Heel Spike, and
aggressive, self-cleaning treads.

They Stay Securely on Your Shoes and Boots

They have advanced, patented features that keep them in place but still easy to put on and take off.

They're All Durable

All recommended ice cleats are heavy-duty with tough, chemical-resistant straps and tungsten carbide studs.

They're Affordable

My recommended ice cleats may initially cost twice as much as the cheap brands. However, they keep you several times safer and last several times longer.

Continuing thinking about the financial cost, it's not like the old days when you showed your insurance card, and that was it. The deductibles and copays are out of sight. But more importantly, buying the right ice cleats isn't something you want to skimp on spending.

Falling on the ice is serious business. Many of my customers look for ice cleats after the serious, life-changing injuries have occurred. They'll be the first to tell you that paying a little more for ice cleats that have the best chance of preventing injuries from falling on the ice is the best investment you ever made.

Crucial Ice Cleats Sizing Advice

You can go by the shoe sizes. However, the shoe or boot size can vary significantly for the same foot size. Option two below is a better way to select the correct size.

(OR)
Measure the length of your shoe or boot. Measure the bottom from the tip of the sole to the base of the heel. Measure on "the flat", don't wrap around. We want the length. Then, find the size on the sizing chart with the Footwear Length Range, which spans the length of your footwear. Measure carefully. Measure twice. Our goal is to get you the right size on the first try to make you as safe as possible as soon as possible.

Ice cleats sizes are unisex and fit men's and women's shoes and boots according to the sizing charts.

Always try your ice cleats on when you receive them for two reasons.

You want to be ready for the bad weather. Be sure to find out you need a size exchange before the ice is on the ground.
I can't do free size exchanges for ice cleats that you have used because I can't resell them.

FAQs

What should I do if the length of my shoe or boot is extremely close to the breakpoint of a size range? Should I choose the next larger size? For example, assume the length of your boot or shoe is just under 12½". You look at the specific size chart for ice cleats you're buying. Assume for this example the Medium has a size range of 11½" to < 12½" and a Large is 12½" to < 13" For regular shoes and work shoes, stick with the smaller of the two sizes you're considering. Choose the bigger size if you plan to use your ice cleats on heavier winter boots.

I plan to use the ice cleats on my shoes and boots. But they're different lengths. What should I do?
If the difference in length is small, order the size for the larger boots. Purchase the optional Ankle Strap to use when you use the ice cleats on your shoes. The ankle strap will make sure they stay on. If the difference in length is significant, you may need two sizes of ice cleats. That's because you want the ice cleats to be snug so they stay on your footwear and aligned.

I have a large company. There's no way I can measure everyone's footwear.
I understand. Go by shoe sizes. I'll be happy to exchange sizes later on. However, please make sure you haven't used the ice cleats outdoors.

Is the measuring technique 100% accurate?
Nope. It's accurate most of the time. Measuring is far superior to go by shoe size.

You Won't Find a Better, Safer Place to Buy Ice Cleats!

Here's why buying ice cleats from us gives you peace of mind.

Family-Owned and Run
When you buy from us, you're supporting a small, independent, U. S.-owned and based, family-owned, personally-run, customer-focused, entrepreneurial, and professional business as opposed to a large impersonal conglomerate.
- No Sales Gimmicks including no fake sales, and no inflated retail prices with overstated discounts.
- No Unsolicited Emails or Pop-Up Ads so you can surf the Internet without being harassed by our ice cleats ads.
Informed, Useful Content and Personalized, Expert Advice You Can Trust
- We're ice cleats and shoe traction device experts. We don't sell every ice cleats brand. We only sell the best because, although no ice cleat can guarantee you won't slip on the ice, the slightest difference in the design of an ice cleat can make big difference in reducing your risk. Furthermore, you don't have to guess about which ice cleats or shoe attachments are best for you. The expert, free advise you need is a phone call away at 610-670-2549.
- Help is available when you need it between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM EST.

Volume Discounts (Request a Quote)
Fast PayPal Express Checkout or Call Us Toll Free at 610-670-2549 to Place Your Order by Phone
Same-Day Order Processing
Unmatched After-the-Sale Customer Service and Support
Authorized Yaktrax and Winter Walking Ice Cleats Dealer
We sell new, authentic Yaktrax and Winter Walking Ice Cleats and shoe traction attachments purchased directly from Implus and Winter Walking.
We Stock What We Sell
If we need to bring in additional stock we can usually get it within 24 hrs.
Immediate Size Exchanges
We don't wait until the incorrect size is returned before sending out the correct size. That's important because the sooner you're wearing ice cleats or shoe traction devices, the safer you are.
Risk Free, No-Hassle, Full Cash Back Satisfaction Guarantee
There's No Safer Place For You to Shop Online
No one works harder to protect your privacy because our entire website is secure, not just our cart. We use SiteLock, one of the highest-rated professional firewalls that also scans every line of code daily to detect malware.

Ice Cleats for Shoes and Boots for Steep Sidewalks

Best Ice Cleats for Steep Sidewalks