13 Best Walmart Ice Cleats for Shoes and Boots

The act of slipping and falling might be a staple of slapstick humor, but it’s a lot less funny when it happens to yo. Moreover, the wintertime with the cold, snow, and ice make it all the worse. Whether your morning commute starts with a short walk to the car, like us, or with a long trek to the subway, the icy winter pavement can be dangerous to the point of being deadly. This is where a good pair of Walmart ice cleats for shoes comes in. Ice cleats or traction cleats, which are also known as crampons, are rubber shoe harnesses with steel studs or spikes, ensuring that your day doesn’t begin with a wipeout. These useful shoe accessories make any pair of shoes, sneakers, boots, or even Crocs weather-ready for ice, specifically.

For us, traction cleats make a huge difference when we indulge in winter hiking where there’s snow. Plus, the slippery, frozen-over sections of the trail are also easier to access and walk over. In the end, ice cleats, a.k.a. crampons, ice spikes, microspikes, or nanospikes, keep everyone from runners to walkers from slipping on ice and suffering serious harm. Here’s a useful guide to ice cleats for all kinds of footwear at Walmart. 

VanRolldex Shoe Ice/Snow Anti-Slip Crampons

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We begin with the VanRolldex Shoe Ice/Snow Anti-Slip Crampons, which are one of the best starter crampons we found. These non-slip ice cleats feature 24 high-quality stainless steel teeth that provided excellent traction. Thanks to the adjustment strap, the traction was stable on all kinds of footwear. Besides being stretchy and durable due to the elastic rubber build, these ice traction cleats made for easy on/off. Furthermore, they offered complete foot slip protection with forefoot and heel cleats that maintained traction throughout our natural stride. What more could we ask for?

Hillsound Cypress6 Crampons

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The Hillsound Cypress6 Crampons are a diverse pair of crampons that work in multiple trail conditions, whether you’re on a sheet of ice, heavy crust, wet snow, or even packed powder snow. Heck, they work even if all these conditions are packed in one hike! What’s more, we didn’t need to break these oevr new snow, especially when the trail was already packed. These excellent trail crampons were far superior that some of the clunky snowshoes we’ve worn. Despite being on the weightier side (1.5 lbs), these one-size, black crampons are fantastic for more serious outdoor adventures, even if they’re too expensive.

YakTrax Chains Traction Device

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The YakTrax Chains Traction Device might look downright scary, but these chains were really very easy for us to put on. What’s more, they remained snug and nice throughout the day as we walked around on soft snow and ice. What was even better was that once they were on, they didn’t require any sort of adjustments. However that’s not all. There are many other features we loved about these chain cleats, like the case-hardened steel links that bit into the snow for exceptional grip in all directions. In fact, we were even able to use them on all snow conditions, including crusty and packed surfaces. Finally, the rubber shoe harness secured easily, ensuring a snug and responsive fit even in the most frigid of conditions.

Black Diamond Blitz Spike Traction Device

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The Black Diamond Blitz Spike Traction Device is a very lightweight traction device, weighing just 3.2 oz per pair. However, there are a lot more features about this lightweight ice cleat that we loved, like the fact that this has super light spikes only under the underfoot. What’s more, the elastomer harness also has a band across the top, allowing for minimum shoe contact and maximum ground one. Since it’s designed for both trail and urban runners, we could easily deal with icy patches of sidewalk and even the occasional icy trails. Wrapping things up is the ultra-durable build with easy on-off heel webbing and reinforced dual-density elastomer eyelets.

Snowline Chainsen City Ice Cleats

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Simplest traction device. If you’re looking for a simple traction device, then look no further than the Snowline Chainsen City Ice Cleats. We found these traction aids even easier and lighter to use than the Yaktrax Walk, and that’s saying a lot since the latter has long set the standard for daily traction. However, we were impressed by the Snowline Chainsen City, which beats the Walk on both the weight and the overall use. Firstly, the Chainsen City features just six small spikes, with three under the toes and the other three under the heel. They’re attached in an X-shaped underfoot pattern to a stainless steel chain, which provides the gripping action. Just like the Walk, these cleats attached easily to our shoes by stretching the barely-there harness from heel to toe. What more could we ask for?

Kahtoola K10 Hiking Crampons

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Do you do a lot more hardcore ice and snow hiking, backpacking, and climbing? Do you do a lot of walking around on a glacier? We’d highly recommend the Kahtoola K10 Hiking Crampons, which combines some of the best features of more expensive ice climbing and mountaineering crampons in a more flexible, lighter version for us backpackers and hikers. What’s more, these K10s worked really well in some conditions where we didn’t expect, like trails and spaces with tons of ice, snow, and slush. In the end, they were a great in-between option, lying somewhere between casual use and absolutely technical mountaineering.

Kahtoola Microspikes

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Kahtoola was the first outdoor gear company to take backcountry traction for hikers seriously, and it shows in the Kahtoola Microspikes. We’ve worn them in all kinds of conditions: descents off mountain passes, ice backpacking, steep mixed mud, snowy trail runs, and icy city sidewalks. Not only do they shine on snow and ice on trails, but they’re fantastic for city streets as well. Furthermore, they’re lightweight, easy to use, comfortable, durable, and they’re simply the best we’ve ever worn. It’s no wonder that these Kahtoola Microspikes won the Editors’ Choice Gold Award and Hall of Fame by Backpacker Magazine! Here’s a detailed YouTube review of these amazing microspikes.

YakTrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction Device

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The YakTrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction Device have a lot going for them. First off, they offered an unusual traction design that can practically bite into snow and ice. At the same time, they still allowed us to walk across asphalt without damaging the traction device or feeling uncomfortable. It’s the spiked, rotating beads underfoot that made these cleats the most versatile traction option we’ve seen, as they could navigate a lot of mixed and non-technical terrain. Moreover, they’d even shed softer snow before it could build up underfoot. The best bit was that the spikes weren’t as aggressive as those on hiking traction devices, making these great for urban use.

Due North Everyday G3 Traction Aids

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Best value for money. We were looking for an affordable yet value for money traction aids when we came across the Due North Everyday G3 Traction Aids. These could handle the next ice storm with aplomb, and yet this cost-effective version, costing just USD 25, was a great pick. Firstly, the nubs gripped on ice without aggravating our feet, especially when we’d hit a patch of bare ground. Secondly, they came in both men’s and women’s sizes, and that too they were flexible. They also weighed just a pound, despite having spikes of outperforming coils and steel. The best bit? The spikes were replaceable, ensuring that these traction aids would last us for a long time. Check out more details on the official product page. 

Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra Ice Cleat

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We were planning a long hike on consistent compact snow in one of the best winter national parks, then look no further than the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra Ice Cleat. If you’re thinking snowshoes for fluffy, soft snow, the fact is that more popular trails would already have been tamped down by hikers. In such instances, you, and everyone elses, needs lot of grip, which is where these Hillsound ice cleats excel. We could feel the grip with each step in these ice cleats, allowing us to walk with confidence on compact, steep snow. What’s more, they also picked up less snow than its other peers. Last but not least, they were also very comfortable to walk on the bare ground in.

Kahtoola Nanospikes

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Basically, there are three kinds of ice cleats: car chains (like YakTrax), spikes, and what we’d call nubs. While spikes can really grip the ground, they aren’t so great at gripping snow, and feel like hell to walk on the bare ground in. Nubs, on the other hand, do a fantastic job of providing traction on icy surfaces and are less uncomfortable on hard ground. Of the latter, the Kahtoola Nanospikes were the best ice cleats we’ve worn. Since we run and walk for longer distances on patchy ice, they were perfect for us. Not only were they surprisingly easy to pull on, but they were some of the easiest cleats to put one! In fact, they were easily the most comfortable pair we’ve ever seen to stand on the firm ground in. Finally, the ten carbide tungsten nubs on the sole provided tons of traction in icy conditions.

YakTrax Walk

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Best for patchy snow. We were looking for something low-key to get us across flat surfaces with intermittent patches of compact snow, and there was no better product that the YakTrax Walk. The brand has become a name to reckon with in the winter traction world, and the Walk is one of its most popular models – and it’s easy to see why. Firstly, they were exceptionally easy to put on. Secondly, they were also extremely comfortable on firm ground, as the steel beads fitted on the steel cable system underfoot were particularly effective. That’s because the beads could sink into and rotate on any surface at any angle. At USD 25, they were also one of the least expensive options we looked at.

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Black Diamond Distance Spikes

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Best overall. Sitting at the top of the list are the Black Diamond Distance Spikes. If we were to have only one pair of ice cleats in our closets, it would be these Black Diamond ones, which boasted an unmatched balance of comfort on bare, icy ground and grip on compact snow. Earlier, we’d be frustrated with having to repeatedly put on our ice cleats and take them off in different conditions, but not with this one. The placement and pattern of spikes on these spikes were comfy enough to get us to from one snow patch to the next icy patch and back.

However, what really sold us on this pair was that they were just so easy to put on and take off. We didn’t have to muck around with a loose mass of steel and silicone to figure out where the toebox is. Thanks to the fabric pouch at the front, we knew exactly where our toes went. What was even better was the pull tab at the back, which made them easy to pull on.

“Wintertime is always a struggle with clothes and shoes, and we didn’t want the same for our spikes. Luckily, these amazing Black Diamond ones had us covered.”

WOW Travel

Our Verdict!

While we loved all ice cleats on this list, here’s a specialized list to help you choose:

• Best overall: Black Diamond Distance Spikes
• Best for patchy snow: YakTrax Walk
• Best value for money: Due North Everyday G3 Traction Aids
• Simplest traction device: Snowline Chainsen City Ice Cleats

How To Choose The Best Walmart Ice Cleats For Shoes?

Ease of Use

First and foremost, we looked at how easy or diffocult it was to put them on and take them off from over our boots and shoes. For instance, we were impressed at how easy some of the spikes on this list were to put on. And even though they had a lot of positives, there were others that were a bit of a struggle to put on and take off. So, do take this feature into consideration when making a final choice. 

Holding Power

Another feature we always checked for when buying ice cleats is their holding power. While people use the terms “crampons” and “ice cleats” interchangeably, the fact is that they’re different. Crampons are usually heavier and more difficult to put on as compared to the more lightweight ice cleats. However, they also have more hilding power and also feature spikes at the toes that can be used ti kick into a glacier during ice climbing. Additionally, ice cleats are better suited for walking on ice in more urban conditions and trails, while crampons are better suited for icy activities like glacier travel.

Price

Ice cleats can range from as less as USD 20 to as high as USD 100 or even more. So, you also need to consider your budget when purchasing ice cleats and making a final choice. 

Can I use ice cleats in the snow?

You can use spikes in snow; however, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is the depth of the snow. Hard-packed snow, such as you’ll find on popular trails in winter, is a great choice for ice cleats. Soft, deep snow—think your backyard after a big snow—is typically not a great choice for spikes: when you take a step, you will simply sink. A better choice for deep snow is a pair of the best snowshoes. 

Are crampons better than ice cleats?

Crampons are traction devices which can be used in the snow, but there are some craveats, like the snow depth. While they work on hard-packed snow, soft snow is not great for spikes. In such cases, go for hiking snowshoes.

Should I size up or down for ice cleats?

Are you buying ice cleats to wear with heavy-duty hiking boots? Then you need to go a size up. Are you buying cleats to wear with low-profile shoes, like running shoes? Then you can stick to your regular size.