Snow-covered environments may be beautiful, but they also pose serious hazards. Ice and snow create slippery surfaces that can easily cause slips and falls. This is where the best cleats for walking on ice become essential, providing the traction needed to prevent injuries on winter terrain. The choice of materials plays a key role in their effectiveness, directly affecting both durability and grip. In this article, we will explore how different materials influence the performance of ice cleats and compare the best options for outdoor adventures and everyday urban use.

 Types of Ice Cleat Materials

In this section, we’ll introduce the three main types of ice cleat materials:

1. Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)

Thermoplastic rubber (TPR) is a popular material for ice cleats, commonly used in the base and straps. Let’s look at some of its advantages and drawbacks:

Advantages

• Flexibility and cold resistance: Adapts well to different shoe types and remains stable in freezing temperatures without cracking.
• Conforms to uneven surfaces: Allows the cleats to adjust to soft snow or light ice, creating more contact points and improving traction.
• Durability: Highly durable and maintain performance in cold climates, unlike some rubbers that become brittle easily.

Disadvantages

• Wear over time: Contact points can wear down with repeated use, especially on abrasive surfaces like concrete or gravel.

2. Silicone

Similar to TPR, silicone is primarily used for the base and strap components. It possesses good weather resistance, excellent electrical insulation, and high flexibility. Like any ice cleat material, it also comes with specific advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

• Low-temperature resistance and non-brittleness: Silicone does not harden or become brittle at low temperatures and can maintain flexibility, because its molecular structure remains soft and flexible even in extreme cold.
• Retention of softness: Even after long exposure to cold environments, it remains elastic and soft, which is crucial for applications that require prolonged use in cold conditions.
• High flexibility: Silicone is highly versatile for design and manufacturing because it can be molded into many shapes and sizes and is easily colored.
• Easy to clean: Silicone products are easy to clean and maintain, and they also offer dustproof and waterproof properties.

Disadvantages

• Low mechanical strength: Its tensile and tear resistance are relatively weak, and it can break easily if scratched or damaged.
• Poor wear resistance: Not suitable for applications requiring high abrasion resistance, as the material wears down quickly under friction.
• Prone to staining and odor absorption: The micro-pores on the surface make it easy to absorb colors and odors.
• Relatively high cost: Generally more expensive than other common rubber materials, such as basic PE and PVC.
• Unsuitable for oily environments: Silicone degrades more quickly when exposed oil and grease, which makes it less durable in such conditions.

3. Metal

Unlike TPR and silicon, metals are commonly used for the spikes (or studs) in ice cleats, which are designed to provide superior traction on harder surfaces like solid ice.

Common options include:

• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is very durable and versatile. Spikes made from this material perform exceptionally well on mixed terrains, delivering strong grip on hard ice and reliable traction in demanding conditions.
• Chromium Molybdenum Steel: This type of steel is even stronger and tougher than stainless steel. It is ideal for harsh environments where maximum durability is required.
• Tungsten Carbide: Tungsten carbide is extremely hard and highly wear-resistant. Spikes made from this metal excel on both hard ice and mixed terrains, offering consistent performance.
• Aluminum Alloy: While lighter, aluminum spikes are less durable and prone to wear, especially when exposed to rocky or abrasive surfaces.

Although metal spikes offer strong traction and durability, make sure to remove them before going indoors, as they can damage floors.

 Applications and Selection Tips

Choosing the right ice cleats depends on your activity and environment. Outdoor adventures and city walks have different needs, so picking the right material and design ensures safety and comfort:

• Outdoor Activities

For demanding outdoor activities such as strenuous hiking, the best cleats for walking on ice are full-coverage models with steel or tungsten carbide spikes for superior grip and stability. Designed to cover the entire sole of the shoes, these ice cleats fit snugly over most hiking boots while providing enhanced grip with strategically placed spikes. The metal spikes provide strong traction on hard ice and mixed terrains, which greatly minimizes the risk of slipping. The robust, full-coverage design also prevents accidental detachment during harsh conditions, making them the ideal choice for long hikes or prolonged periods in icy environments.

For all of your extended hiking activities, check out our HIKING BOOT CLEATS selections which are designed to provide a secure and comfortable fit across a wide range of outdoor footwear, with sizes available up to XXL to accommodate larger boots. The ice cleats feature specially designed anti-slip spikes that provide excellent traction on ice and snow.

▲Check out JH-254 RUNNING Snow and Ice Cleats! Special non-slip steel studs provide excellent grip, reducing slip-and-fall risks on snow and ice.

• Urban or Light-use

For urban or light-use scenarios, TPR-based ice cleats are a preferred choice. The base is made of TPR, which is soft, flexible, and lightweight. Unlike full-coverage models, these TPR ice cleats are specifically designed to cover just the toe area, the heel, or a small central section of the sole. Metal studs are also mounted on the base, but are typically smaller, fewer in number, and positioned only at key contact points for traction. These cleats are therefore more suitable for short walks on icy sidewalks or light snow, rather than aggressive ice or mountainous terrain. Additionally, they are very easy to put on and remove, and their softer base reduces the risk of damaging indoor floors.

We also offer a wide selection of light-use/partial coverage snow cleats. For TPR-based models, check out our JH-212 and JH-227 Snow and Ice Cleats. These cleats are designed to provide optimal anti-slip performance and are also available in multiple sizes to ensure a comfortable fit for your footwear.

 Future Trends

Rising global costs and ongoing trade tensions are expected to impact Taiwan’s exports. However, the overall global ice cleat market continues to grow. To remain competitive, Taiwanese manufacturers will need to focus on innovation in both materials and cleat design, rather than relying solely on price competition.

Climate change is also influencing winter weather patterns. Cities like Tokyo and Seoul may experience milder, wetter winters similar to Taipei, which increases demand for flexible, water-resistant materials like TPR and silicone that perform well in slushy conditions. Regions that are experiencing sudden heavy snowstorms due to the climate change, such as Hokkaido, require strong, durable metal spikes to ensure reliable traction.
There has also been a growing trend toward eco-friendly and recyclable materials in ice cleats, with many products adopting lightweight designs to meet sustainability goals. For example, silicone, while its recyclability is limited, is considered more environmentally friendly than conventional plastics, which are sometimes used for structural parts of ice cleats.

Therefore, it is crucial that manufacturers adapt to these material selection trends in order to meet evolving consumer needs and improve their overall market performance.

 FAQ

Q1: Can I wear these for high-altitude mountaineering?

A: No. Ice cleats have short spikes and are different from the long, pointed crampons used for ice climbing. They are designed only for hiking, or walking in urban environments.

Q2: Can I use them with dress shoes?

A: Yes. Most ice cleats with a slip-on design can fit a wide range of footwear. For shoes with a heel, models that have spikes only on the forefoot are suitable.

Q3: How cold can I use them?

A: Our products are rated for temperatures as low as -40°C. In our tests, they even functioned reliably at -55°C without cracking.

 Final Words

Selecting the best cleats for walking on ice is not just about comfort but also about safety and performance. Both the rubber base material and the metal spikes must be carefully chosen to ensure durability, traction, and reliability in real-world conditions.

At ICEQUER, we are dedicated to providing high-quality ice cleats that combine reliable design with outstanding performance. Whether you are preparing for challenging hikes or simply navigating icy sidewalks, our snow and ice cleats are made to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the winter season. For more information, please feel free to contact us.