By the Amazon Picks Desk, Canada News Media. We research products from real Amazon.ca listings and customer reviews; we have not tested them ourselves.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through this link.
A good pair of slip-on ice cleats costs between about $14 and $90 on Amazon.ca, and the five we picked range from Yaktrax coils for walking to the mailbox to Hillsound crampons built for icy hiking trails. Prices were accurate as of Oct. 22, 2026, and may change.
Ice cleats stretch over the soles of ordinary boots and add steel or tungsten points that bite into ice. One reviewer said no rubber boot sole they had tried could match that grip on a glazed sidewalk. They are worth buying before the first freeze-thaw cycle, especially for older Canadians, dog walkers and anyone who walks to work or transit. Our guide on how older Canadians can cut their risk of a serious fall has more tips on avoiding falls.
The main trade-off is grip against convenience. Light coil and short-stud cleats are easier to put on and kinder to floors and pavement, while longer spikes grip steep, icy trails better but are noisy and awkward on bare concrete. One reviewer warned against wearing spiked crampons into the house.
ICETRAX V3 Tungsten ice grips
The ICETRAX V3 is the best pick for everyday city walking. It was listed at $23.59 and is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 8,190 ratings. The listing says it was designed in Canada for harsh winters.
It has nine tungsten carbide studs, a StayON toe cap meant to stop the grip from sliding off, a reflective heel for visibility at night and a rubber compound that the maker says stays flexible in extreme cold. It slips over most shoes and boots in seconds.
Canadian reviewers in Edmonton and Toronto said they grip black ice and sleet-covered sidewalks, and several dog owners said the cleats let them walk every day no matter the conditions. One buyer said the studs are not sharp, so they are still usable on bare pavement. Complaints were few in the reviews we read; size carefully, since the grips come in two size ranges.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
19-spike stainless steel crampons
These generic chain-and-spike crampons are the most aggressive option under $30 and among the best reviewed, at 4.6 out of 5 from 12,725 ratings. They were listed at $25.64.
The listing says each foot has 19 stainless steel spikes on a chain system, a thermoplastic elastomer harness that stays usable down to minus 45 C, an adjustable strap, and a carry bag. The “L” stamped on them stands for size large, not left, and there is no left or right.
An Alberta reviewer said she walks at full speed on ice and snow with them, and a propane delivery worker’s spouse said he wears them all winter. Hikers said they handled steep icy slopes. The common complaints are noise on hard surfaces, which one Quebec buyer said made them unsuitable for daily city use, and sore feet on long hikes.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Yaktrax Walk traction cleats
Yaktrax Walk is a long-standing name in the category and the lightest option here. It was listed at $24.74 for one pair and is rated 4.4 out of 5 from 5,249 ratings.
The listing says it uses 1.2-millimetre zinc-coated steel coils for 360-degree traction, with no spikes, on a stretchy band with a heel tab. It comes in four sizes and is aimed at pedestrians, workers and older people.
Reviewers like that they grip in every direction and do not catch on indoor floors the way spikes can, and one runner said they let her run on snowy and icy surfaces without fear. The common complaint is durability: several Canadian buyers said the rubber straps tore or coils came loose within one season.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Hillsound Trail Crampon
The Hillsound Trail Crampon is the pick for winter hikers and anyone walking icy rural roads. It is the most expensive cleat here, listed at $89.95, and the highest rated, at 4.7 out of 5 from 938 ratings.
The listing describes a carbon steel plate with 11 spikes of 17 millimetres, a hinged front plate that flexes on steep ground, a toe bar, double chains, a Velcro strap across the foot, and a puncture-proof carry bag. It is designed for rigid or soft hiking boots and insulated winter boots.
Reviewers who used them on 15-kilometre treks in Quebec and on mountain trails said they bite hard into ice and packed snow, and one compared them favourably with crampons from Kahtoola. The trade-off is price and bulk; they are more than most people need for a city sidewalk.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Sfee ice cleats
The Sfee cleats are the budget pick, listed at $13.98. They are rated 4.0 out of 5 from 3,388 ratings, the lowest average in this guide, so treat them as a spare pair for the car or office.
The listing says each cleat has 10 stainless steel studs set in silicone that stays flexible down to minus 40 C, a slip-on design with a heel strap, four sizes, and a storage bag small enough for a pocket.
Several Canadian buyers said they work well on black ice and packed snow. The complaints are sizing, with one reviewer saying an extra large would not stretch over a size 12 boot, and a runner who said they barely reduced slipping on snowy sidewalks.
See the current price on Amazon.ca
Cleats work best with salted or sanded steps and walkways at home. Our guide on how to de-ice a driveway and walkway covers that side, and we have also rounded up the best snow shovels on Amazon.ca.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wear ice cleats indoors?
One reviewer advised taking spiked crampons off before going inside. Coil designs such as Yaktrax Walk are gentler, and another reviewer said they work on a variety of indoor flooring.
What size ice cleats should I buy?
Match the cleat to the size of the boot you will wear them over, not your shoe size. Winter boots are bulkier than shoes, and one reviewer said an extra large Sfee cleat would not stretch over a size 12 boot.
Are spikes or coils better on ice?
Spikes and studs bite deeper into hard ice and suit hills and trails. Coils are lighter and easier on pavement for flat city walking.
How we chose: we looked at current Amazon.ca listings for ice cleats, favoured products with thousands of ratings, included coil, stud and spike designs at different prices, and read sample reviews from Canadian buyers for each. We did not test any of these products, and ratings and prices change often.
If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.
Follow Canada News Media
Get the day's top Canadian stories and our two daily 60-second news videos wherever you scroll.
X Threads Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok YouTube Pinterest Reddit Substack Flipboard Newsletter RSS
