STABILicersSTABILicers Hike XP Traction Cleats for Hiking on Snow and Ice

The media could not be loaded. I ordered these last winter. I didn't get much of a chance to use them so I waited to submit a review. I've now had a few months of winter weekend hikes at a local park on snow packed trails, roads and paths. They work best when you have snow to step into. They need something t dig into to give you the best grip and they then work extremely well. The trails I take aren't huge but are steep in places and the STABilicers give you all the traction you'll need. I can confidently traverse the trails knowing full well I won't slip as I have in the past with less rugged cleats. I occasionally walk out onto a somewhat plowed path on the lake in the park. In colder temps, even with a few inches of snow on the ice, you do slip when pushing off but still get better traction than without the STABILicers. The fit well on my size 10.5 boots. Overall, a great purchase. Glad I found them. (Video uploaded to show the conditions I get to enjoy in Northwest Wisconsin wearing the STABILicers)

These ice cleats are more expensive than others but they are very sturdy, completely cover the toe and heel and have 2 Velcro straps to further ensure the cleats don't pull off in heavy, wet snow. Highly recommend.

The media could not be loaded. I live in Salt Lake City Utah and am a professional dog hiker, which means I take packs of dogs off leash hiking on mountain trails every day, all year long, rain, snow or shine. At least 7 months of the year are spent hiking in ice, snow and slush. I've been doing this for years now and have seriously tried every kind of spike, ice cleat and nubs on the market and I have been displeased with some aspect of all of them until now. The micro spikes with the chains work well on ice, but are cumbersome to hike long distances in and are TERRIBLE in fresh powder! The snow accumulates between the chains and my boot soles and has to be knocked out periodically or it feels like I'm hiking on stilettos. Additionally, I have yet to find a pair where the chains haven't broken before a single season is up, no matter how much I pay for them. The little ice nubs that resemble golf shoe spikes are much more lower profile, easier to hike in and more comfortable to wear. They do an ok job on ice, but certainly not as secure as spikes. Also, any of the spikes that stretch over my boots tend to move while hiking, requiring me to stop regularly to adjust them, even those that come with a velcro strap. The coiled metal wire spring looking kind are just plain worthless in my experience. Again, I have tried numerous types at numerous price points and I still haven't been satisfied with any one pair.When the first snow fell and then subsequently melted and froze overnight creating an ice sheet on trail, I ordered these hoping that somehow they would be different and better than everything else I already have and have tried. OH. MY. GOSH. Where have these been all my life!? They are as close to perfection as anything I have ever found and I am absolutely hooked!!!First and most importantly, the unique design of the spikes themselves is the perfect combination of grippy spike and low profile easy to walk on nub. They resemble large screw heads (see pics). It's a genius design that clearly was the result of ACTUAL field testing. I have never felt some comfortable and secure on ice and snow as I do in these.Second, THEY STAY PUT!!!! HALLELUJAH!! The design of the boot attachment is just as brilliant as the spikes themselves. The toe box and heel cup stay nice and secure and the two velcro straps are perfectly placed and are very heavy duty. I love that I can put these on over the top of my waterproof ankle gaiters . It doesn't matter how thick or chunky your boot is (I wear size 8.5 womens Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX waterproof boots and REI brand gaiters) or what you wear over them. As long as you get the right length, there is plenty of strap to secure them to your boots.Third, unlike all those others that I mentioned, these were clearly designed specifically with hikers in mind because the spiked sections only appear on the ball of the foot and the heel and do not span the entire bottom of the boot. This is great for numerous reasons but it's much more comfortable and also allows for actual natural foot bending and flexing in the middle of the sole while hiking. The other kinds that stretch across the entire bottom of the boot make me feel less stable because my actual boot isn't touching the real ground anywhere. They restrict natural walking and hiking motion and allow for very little natural flexing. Again, this is such a simple thing, but you'd be hard pressed to find another spike maker who has thought to include this feature in their design.I have been hiking with these on every day for 3 months now in slush, powder, wet mud, complete ice sheets and everything in between and I have yet to find terrain that they can't handle. When other hikers around me are falling all over themselves with their cheap slip on spikes and their trekking poles, I look like a veritable mountain goat running past them! The silicone that holds the spikes in place is very thick and well made as well.The only thing that could make them better (and the only reason I took off a star) is if they had reinforced the strap slits with metal or thick plastic such that the strap could slide through without causing the silicone to turn itself in circles when the straps are pulled tight. I know that probably doesn't make much sense but I'll try to include a picture of what I mean. If the makers of Stabil-icers are reading this, that would be something to include in V2. Beyond that, I really cannot recommend these enough if you hike or are active outdoors in winter conditions.Trust someone who has truly put them to the test, they passed with flying colors and then some! I sincerely hope this review has been helpful to someone else. Feel free to ask any questions! And yes, I paid full price for these!

Fit well. Seems to provide good traction. Already wore a set of studs out

Excellent ice cleats that are easy to put on over regular shoes or boots. They do not slip off, but are easy to remove when you choose to.Added value: the "cleats" are actually sharp edged screws that can be replaced when worn low. This is necessary to do once every year or so and is very easy to do.

I purchased this product as I was tired of losing numerous cleats while hiking due to not having the velcro straps on them. I really wanted to like these. After arriving at the trail head, I began to put on these Stablicers. These cleats were new, out of the package, never used. As I put on the first one, the rubber loop holding the velcro strap broke instantly. Fortunately there are other loops in the rubber so I was able to make it work. They were also far too large even after following the suggested size chart. The cleats on the bottom did give me secure footing on the icy/slushy parts of the hike as they are larger and sturdier than others I have used, but if the rubber breaks so easily the cleats really don't matter.

Pictures show the Extra Large on a size US mens 11 insulated Columbia boot and a US mens 12 Keen hiking boot. I think the fit is good and the Stabilicer is very secure. Have used these for a month in Michigan winter and have not had any slips and falls. These work well on hills and steep driveways. On uneven ice, like tire tracks, I did feel them slip an inch or two at times while pushing snow while my heels were up. Tested them on a hill with clear/glaze/glare ice and they did slip an inch until the cleats bit in. On rime and all other ice and snow I had no problems. The only time I have slipped was on my concrete garage floor. There is an aggressive Macro Cleat you can put on these if you need more traction (presently $19.95).I made sure the cleats (machine screws) were tight before I used them and they have stayed tight for many miles of walking and work. Bought some extras in case these wear down or are lost. Great product so far!

The cleats seem to provide good traction, but took me 10-minutes to attach to my boots. Also, once finally on, the heel part feels like it needs to be s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d back about 2". Definitely NOT something you slip off & on as you go indoors and out.I returned them.