Ice cleats

[Hotspotter]

On a side note - HT is being legally pursued for various infringments upon Stableicers for their imatation ice-cleats.

Joel

[huntnfish]

That doesn't suprise me. They look identical to the stabilicers. They do work very well. It is nice not to have to worry about slipping when out on the ice now.

[BlueLiner]

My vote is against artic spurs. They work nice but are sharp. Easy to tear holes in your bibs. I am also afraid the four wheeler seat may follow.

[Hotspotter]

The crux of the situation revolves around how you want your hard-earned dollars to be spent, and what types of values do you wish to support.

Joel

[Ray Esboldt]

I am on my fourth season with my Ice Grippers and they are as good as the day I bought them. In fact, I would bet they will be that good 10 years from now. I wouldn't trade them for anything. However, if I were in the market and Ice Grippers were not available, I would strongly consider the STABILicers. Both of them offer cleats in the front and back with a no-slip strapping sytem.

Anyone with the cheap ones want to do a long distance race before we get some snow?

[Crappie_ Kid]

Ray i will take ya up on that bet

[metrojoe]

I picked up a pair of those Yak-Trax tonight. They fit on a pair of Blizzard stalkers like they were made for them. They might get a test this weekend. Can't wait to try them.

[river-rat4]

metro,

Are you lucky enough to own a "SNO-BEAR"?

[Swill]

i too picked up the Yak-trax at Cabelas.

Does everyone take on and off their ice cleats on their ice fishig boots or do you wear other driving boots before you get to the lake? I am worried the Yak-trax rubber might get stretched out like my HT ice cleats used too...

[Paul Waldowski]

Swill,

I have a pair of Ice Grippers that stay on a pair of Sorrel's year round. I wear regular boots and only break out the Sorrel's when ice conditions deem them necessary. My Ice Grippers are on there 4th year and they are none the worse for wear.

[Surface Tension]

I remember my worst spill. I took two steps on first ice and the feet went over my head and I landed on my hip bone. It hurt for a year. Anything is better then nothing. I've gone through at least a half dozen of the $5 HT rubber slip-ons.

Usually one falls off my foot somewhere and I lose it or the cleats tares loose from the rubber. I get monkey feet if I'm standing or walking a lot in them. Worse thing is you feel confident wearing them and then you slip on your heal because theres no cleat there.

I got a pair of Stabilicers and wore them last Saturday.

No slippage at the heals and with studs spaced out under your entire foot they are comfortable, you won't know your wearing them because theres no lumps under your foot. Built to last using Vibram, thats the same stuff they use for soles on high quality boots. They carry up to size XXL 14-16. If you have a size 11-12 boot I'd go with the XL size.

[metrojoe]

Unfortunately no, I had never seen one in action before so I snapped a couple photos of it while we were on Tonka last year during a metro "get together".

[Ray Esboldt]

OK. We just have to figure out where to meet. Didn't we challenge each other last year?

[harvey lee]

I used my el cheapo pair of cleats today and yes they did work. They are better than nothing at best. Every year the rubber straps break on me and then I need another pair. I wish they had the cleats on the back along with the front. I will be ordering some Stabilicers shortly. Its not worth the fall.

[CrappieAttitude]

Something I thought about this weekend...As my brother and I ventured out across the clear iced over lake carrying our rope my brother looked at me and said. "You know what would be worse than falling through the ice? Watching someone fall through the ice and not being able to get traction to pull them out." It made me think on how valuable these little things are. Regardless of what route you go, I would suggest investing in something. Especially in this early part of the season.

Be Safe...

[harvey lee]

Very good safety tip. That could make the difference in saving someone for sure.

[federline]

I've been a die hard Arctic Spur user. After the little nubbin' ice cleats quit working on a little bit of snowpack over ice, the inch long Spurs keep digging into ice. You know, when the snow slips out from under your boot on the ice. They go on and come off real easy. And easy on the wallet.

[Crappie_ Kid]

O yeah we did race I REMBER winning and you owing me 100 bucks. ill have to get that from ya some time.

[Ray Esboldt]

OK. Whenever you invite me pheasant hunting down there, I'll have $100 in my pocket.