Traction products for your ice fishing boots

[Bufflehead]

 I thought with the smooth glare ice conditions we are experencing. This would be a good time to get everyones view on what product they use

 so, What have you found to be the best brand/type of traction product for your ice fishing boots

[jigglestick]

all my kids have a set, I have a set, and I bought a pair for my pop.
there are several types as you know, but there are come cheap ones.
the biggest problem I have seen with any of them is buying ones that are a little bit to small.
they tend to come off or break/
the ones I use are pretty common. they are like a set of tire chains.
I have seen some similar with little coils instead of chain, for gription.
the ones my kids have have replaceable plastic tabs with tungsten inserts. I bought these at l&m.
HT puts out a set as well, but I think they are two piece sets. you want the one piecs that goes over the entire boot. if properly fitted, they dont come off until you want them to.
I like both kinds we have because they keep us from busting our humps on the ice.
the thing I like about the tire chain ones a little better, is, if I forget I have them on and walk in somewhere with them, they don't gouge up the floor, but the tungsten insert ones will.
just go check them out and get you a set. they could save your life.

[DaveO]

I know this,,,,When I was up a LOW my wife did not have a set.

So I gave her mine to use.

I just spent a week on the sofa with a goofed up ankle and am going to try to go to work today for the first time.



I am going to get another set of cleats this week

[WoodChuck]

     i use a set from HT myself and there cheap at $5.00 . these streach over the boot with 3 rows of saw blade style cleats,. the down side is in wet snow they like to fill up with snow and they become skies.  :-\

[jigglestick]

in a pinch, when one person is cleatless, it is better to give the person one of the cleats. walking with one foot cleated is much better than someone walking with non on ice like we have now.

[A-Rod]

I use a set that I can't remember who the manufacturer is... "Get-A-Grip" I think. They fit over the whole boot.  They sound like the ones Jiggle uses for his kids... a few plastic cleats with little metal inserts.  They worked awesome a few weeks ago on glare ice. 

That same weekend another guy I was out with broke out his cleats...  they were the South Bend or HT with three rows of jagged metel teeth.  He worked like a SOB to get those things to stay on his boots.  They were way to small... made for hiking shoes or something.   I was afraid to walk to close to him cuz I kept thinking that his cleat was going to shoot off his boot like a giant rubber band. 

[Bufflehead]

a quote from Greg at Meadow Creek

 "Ice cleats are very strongly suggested. One guy fell and hit his head last night. KO for at least 10.

 A fall like the one above could be VERY serous, maybe life threatening

 Cleats are a must this year!

[Joe]

I've got a few different models that all work well in a pinch, but this year I picked up a set of YakTrax. They are not cleats so they don't bite into the ice, but they offer good traction. I also don't have to worry about stepping on anything. In fact I put them on at the beginning of ice season and haven't taken them off yet.

[JohnWester]

which yaktracks do you have? i see they have different styles... and how do you make sure you get them so they fit over your sorels?

[GRIZ]

I have 2 sets of the ones with the chains across the bottom they work OK, better than just a plain boot. What I have done to my trappin boots and waders is put short sheet metal screws in them(about 1/4 inch long). The ones with the hex head. They offer better grip than the ones that slip over but are more or less permanent. When I go in to pay for gas I stay on the carpet.

[eelpout]

     i use a set from HT myself and there cheap at $5.00 . these streach over the boot with 3 rows of saw blade style cleats,

I use these too.  Wal-Mart had them for $3.00.  While most of the others would fit on my ice Kings, I have a pair of boots from Sportsmansguide that were too big and the HT came out with an oversized pair that fit them.  The only problem I have had is when I forget to take them off and walk into the house with them.

[Joe]

I've got the Yaktrax Pro, XL. They fit over my size 12 Sorel Dominators. They also fit on size 13 Rocky Blizzard Stalkers. I put them on a pair in the store just to make sure.

[jigglestick]

I have 2 sets of the ones with the chains across the bottom they work OK, better than just a plain boot. What I have done to my trappin boots and waders is put short sheet metal screws in them(about 1/4 inch long). The ones with the hex head. They offer better grip than the ones that slip over but are more or less permanent. When I go in to pay for gas I stay on the carpet.

well being a penny pincher, I tried your tip here griz, but now I have a problem.
I didnt see the 1/4 inch part in your post and the only screws I had were 1 inch screws.
I figured I'd just idle the screw in in case it was to long, but much to my dismay, the new 18 volt kawasaki drill that scroungie gave me for christmas is a one speed drill. boy does that sucker work!!
zipped that screw in quicker than you can blink an eye and yep, it was two long :o
not sure how much to long yet though, the drill went dead and I have to wait for the battery to re-charge to back it out.
helpful tip for the rest of you, dont wear the boots while drilling the screws in.

[DaveO]

jiggleStick,
How many times do we all have to tell you


NEVER EVER operate power equipment when your sober!!!!

Cheese n crackers Lad,

[PUTZ]

Ol PUTZ uses em now last year I took A digger and it took me A while to figure out where I was, Damn it put A big knot on the back of my head even had to find my hat but I made it.
Moron even took A digger and landed on his HIP, now we both wear them.
PUTZ

[GRIZ]

Well jiggle next time you try and ventilate ur boots, just remember the ventilation isn't supposed to be on the bottom.

[TK]

I use those cheap HT brand ones.  Seen them for $3-5.  Worked well for the last couple years and never had one break but if they do or get lost they are cheap enough to go get another set.

[Spinach]

Joe,

I have a set of YakTrax too, I bought them 2 years ago and they are still in the package, I believe I paid $20 for them.

How do you like them , do they have good traction? I'm sure I'll need them this coming weekend.

[Fishahollik]

Me and Griz see eye to eye, as I too have inserted some 1/4 inch sheet metal screw with the hex heads into the lugs of the soles of my boots. Although this wont work with pack boots, my boots have vibram soles with big lugs.

[blazer]

I took a nasty fall while walking out on the lake last weekend.  After that went to wally world and picked up a pair of cheap cleats.  Haven't used them yet, but they should be better than nothing.

[jebadia]

I have a set of the old $5 ones Ive used for years. The problem is that your shins get kinda sore if you walk any distance because they don't have any cleat at the heels. The worst is when there is just a bit of snow and you loose one and don't realize it until that foots goin out from under you. I bought a pair of those with the carbide studs but haven't used them yet I am hoping to today.