An Introduction To Ice Cleats - Everything You Need To Know

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AN INTRODUCTION TO ICE CLEATS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Winter Walking 400 Babylon Road Horsham, PA 19044 1-888-NO-SLIPS

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If slips and falls on ice and snow have been a persistent problem in your organization, ice cleats and other types of traction devices can help to neutralize that problem. The increased traction underfoot that comes from wearing a traction device will help mitigate the risk of your employees slipping and falling and sustaining an injury.

Learn the most effective way to reduce slips and falls on ice and snow.

If you’ve already begun your search for ice cleats you are well aware of the multitude of choices out there. A simple search on the internet will turn up dozens of options in a variety of configurations, colors and designs. Making sense of these options and choosing the best item for your organization can be daunting, especially with no third party regulations or guidelines to assist you.

What follows is a primer on the most common variations of ice cleats and traction devices.

TYPES OF TRACTION: The most critical aspect of any traction device, and the reason you’re considering it in the first place, is the traction on the bottom. What contacts the walking surfaces will serve to increase the traction underfoot and reduce the risk of slipping and falling. Considering all of the items available in the marketplace there are roughly half a dozen common types of traction elements They are as follows, with a brief description:

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JAGGED: Typically the most aggressive type of traction. Can be dangerous on non-ice surfaces.

STUDS/SPIKES: The most common type of traction. Available in several materials that vary in durability. Traction typically comes from small spikes or studs.

SCREWS: Typically some form of a hex-head screw. Usually made of less durable metals but is offset by the replace-ability aspect.

COILS: A more unique option. Typically offers a moderate level of traction coupled with a level of walking comfort. Can pose an addition slip hazard in indoor situations CHAINS: Despite its marriage of traction and comfort it remains a somewhat antiquated form of traction due to the excessive use of metal that can tangle and snag.

GRIT: Another unique option that offers a more moderate level of traction in order to provide increased versatility for indoor walking and driving.

LEVEL OF TRACTION: It can be confusing to compare the “Types of Traction” because of their varying nature. Is a spike better than a screw, or a coil safer than grit? While there’s no definitive answer, an easier and more effective way to consider the traction is by the level of aggressiveness. Again, with no regulations or guidelines, there are no set categories and so any approach gauging the level of aggressiveness will be somewhat subjective. That being said most traction devices fall in to one of four categories:

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1. SUPER AGGRESSIVE: Typically a dangerously pointed piece of metal. Can be upwards of 1/2” or more. Most common example would be an ice climbing device. Super aggressive devices are rarely used in industrial workplace environments.

2. WORKING: A level of traction that is designed for employees that must work outdoors in winter conditions for hours at a time. Studs and screws typically fall into this category.

Typically unsafe for indoor walking.

3. WALKING: A level of traction that is intended more for employees that must walk occasionally outdoors in ice and snow for shorter periods of time. The traction is typically less aggressive in terms of the number of cleats and materials used.

4. TRANSITIONAL: A unique form of traction typically designed to increased traction above that of a normal sole while remaining safe to wear in indoor walking situation as well as while driving.

LOCATION OF THE TRACTION: As if sorting through the “Types of Traction” and “Levels of Traction” weren’t enough, throw in the fact that all these variations are available in varying degrees of sole coverage from a full sole down to the most minimal mid-sole strip. For simplicity sake you can consider there to be four categories of sole coverage:

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FULL FOOT: The safest amount of traction as no area of the foot that contacts the walking surface is unprotected. All other versions are inherently less safe.

SOLE ONLY: Coverage that exists on the front two-thirds of the foot. Biggest danger is that it does not contact the walking surface on the heel area which is important because it’s the area of “first contact” with a normal walking motion

HEEL ONLY: Coverage on the rear third of the foot. Generally safer than sole only coverage because of its ability to contact the walking surface on first contact. Still leaves the wearer vulnerable as they push off with the front of their foot

SHANK/MID-SOLE: Offers the least amount of traction of the four categories. Can be dangerous as the user plants his or her foot or as they push off if the device is not in contact with the walking surface. Important also to consider the height of the device in relation to the height of the heel of the underlying footwear. In other words, if the device cannot reach the walking surface then it cannot provide traction.

UPPER DESIGN – EASE OF ON/OFF vs.

SECURED TO THE SHOE: Generally speaking there are as many types of upper designs for traction devices as there are types of traction. Again, for simplicity sake we can categorize the upper designs into five main categories, four of which are designed to be worn over the shoe and the one of which is designed to be worn directly over the sock.

Regarding the upper design, the chief focus should be how securely the device attaches to the users shoe as well as how easy it is to put on and take off. These are typically mutually exclusive traits. In other words, the easier and faster a user can put on and take off a device, typically the less secure it is to the foot.

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A non-traction device example of this concept would be a summer-time flip flop. It can be put on and removed in mere seconds, yet is apt to fall off with minimal exerted effort. At the other end of the spectrum would be an ice skate. Most skates take several minutes to lace up and unlace and as a result it’s highly unlikely that the skate would inadvertently fall off the user. Most ice and snow traction devices fall somewhere in the middle of these two examples.

What follows is a brief description of the five main categories of upper design with a mention of their place on the scale of ease of on/off vs. securing to the shoe: STRETCH DEVICES: The most common type of slip resistant device upper. These devices are typically constructed of rubber or synthetic rubber and are generally fairly easy to put on and take off. Depending upon the construction they may shift on the user’s shoes throughout usage.

EASE of ON/OFF:

SECURED to FOOT:

SANDALS: Less common than Stretch Devices, sandals typically take longer to put on and take off, but generally secure to the users shoe more snugly with less of a tendency to shift during usage.

EASE of ON/OFF:

SECURED to FOOT:

OVER-THE-SHOE BOOTS: These designs may also take longer to put on and take off but generally will not shift during usage. The added benefit of an over-the-shoe boot design is weather protection in the form of water resistance or insulation from the cold.

EASE of ON/OFF:

SECURED to FOOT:

OVER-THE-SOCK BOOTS: There are a few traction products on the market that are designed to be worn over the sock, but they are typically the exception. The primary disadvantage to over-the-sock products is that they cannot be removed when walking indoors on a fragile surface without leaving the wearer shoeless.

EASE of ON/OFF:

SECURED to FOOT:

STRAP-ONS: Typically the most economical devices on the market due to their simple construction. Generally they are easy to put on and remove, but are the least secure with only one connection point.

EASE of ON/OFF:

SECURED to FOOT:

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DURABILITY: The last but certainly not the least consideration is the overall durability of the device. To complicate matters the durability can apply not just to the overall construction but specifically to the upper design or to the traction element.

For instance, when choosing a studded traction device it will be important to know that tungsten carbide lasts longer than carbonized steel, while carbonized steel lasts longer than aluminum. Or that a high-durometer rubber or synthetic device will have greater abrasion resistance than a low-durometer rubber or synthetic device. Unfortunately the only way to truly gage durability is from field testing products. A reliable supplier should be able to help guide you to a basic understanding of the durability of their products relative to the job task.

Once you’ve begun testing products it might be helpful to subjectively categorize them as follows:

MAXIMUM DURABILITY: Products that withstand extreme abuse/usage

MODERATE DURABILITY: Products that withstand moderate abuse/usage

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MINIMUM DURABILITY: Products that withstand minimal abuse/usage

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER: While the five aspects covered so far are the predominant ways to categorize ice cleats and traction devices there are many other supplemental things to consider such as the overall size range of the product (will they have a size for everyone). And whether you can count on your employees to replace the replaceable parts on the device if needed.

Once you’ve begun to sort through the wide variety of ice and cleats and traction devices according to the aspects introduced here you’ll begin to make sense of the marketplace. You’ll realize that many items are extremely similar despite varying appearances, while other items that look similar actually offer distinctly different advantages.

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We have created a worksheet outlining all of the aspects covered here. This will help you to objectively analyze the products that you are considering while helping you to make a logical and well thought out decision when it comes time to purchasing ice cleats or other traction devices. Click here to download the worksheet

Product 1

Product 2

Product 3

Product 4

TYPES OF TRACTION -Jagged -Studs -Screws -Coils -Chains -Grit LEVEL OF TRACTION -Super Aggressive -Working -Walking -Transitional LOCATION OF TRACTION -Full Foot -Sole Only -Heel Only -Shank/Mid-Sole UPPER DESIGN -Stretch Device -Sandals -Over-the-Shoe Boots -Over-the-Sock Boots -Strap-Ons DURABILITY -Maximum Durability -Moderate Durability -Minimum Durability

OTHER FACTORS

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