Review on Enhanced Traction Cleats: STABILicers Hike XP for Snow and Ice Hiking by Deejay Allard

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah and am a professional dog breeder, which means I take packs of dogs off-leash on mountain trails every day, year-round, rain, snow or sun. At least 7 months a year there are hikes on ice, snow and mud. I have been doing this for many years and have seriously tried all types of spikes, tines and cambers on the market and so far have been dissatisfied with some aspects of each. Chain micro spikes work well on ice, but are cumbersome on long hikes and TERRIBLE in fresh snow! Snow accumulates between the chains and the soles of my boots, which I have to beat out regularly, otherwise it looks like I'm walking in heels. Also, I have yet to find a pair that won't break the chains before a season is over, no matter how much I pay for them. Small ridges of ice, reminiscent of golf shoe cleats, have a much lower profile and are easier to walk on and more comfortable to wear. They handle ice well, but aren't as reliable as spikes. Also, all the cleats I have on my boots tend to move while hiking, so I have to stop regularly to adjust them, even if they come with Velcro. In my experience, the coiled metal wire spring type is just plain useless. Again, I have tried many types at different prices and so far have not been satisfied with any pair. When the first snow fell and then melted and froze overnight and formed a layer of ice on the trail, I ordered them in the hope that somehow they would be different and better than anything else I had already tried. OH. MY. GOD. Where have you been all my life!? They are as close to perfection as anything I have ever found and I am absolutely mesmerized! First and most importantly, the unique design of the cleats themselves is the perfect combination of a grippy cleat and a low profile that's easy to walk on. They resemble large screw heads (see photo). This is a sophisticated design that is the result of REAL field testing. I have never felt so comfortable and safe on ice and snow as in these. Second, STAY IN PLACE! Hallelujah! The design of the binding is as brilliant as the studs themselves. The toe and heel stay nice and secure and the two Velcro straps are perfectly positioned and very durable. I love that I can wear them over my waterproof leggings. It doesn't matter how thick or bulky your boot is (I wear the waterproof Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX women's boots in size 8.5 and REI gaiters) or what you wear over them. Choosing the right length will give you enough straps to attach to your boots. Thirdly, unlike all the others I've mentioned, they were clearly designed with tourists in mind as the nub sections only appear on the ball. foot and heel and do not cover the entire bottom of the boot. It's good for many reasons, but much more comfortable and also allows the foot to flex and flex naturally in the midsole as you hike. With other types that span the entire bottom of the boot, I feel less stable because my real boot doesn't touch the real ground anywhere. They limit the natural walking and marching movements and only allow a very small amount of natural flexion. Again, this is such a simple thing to do, but you'll be hard pressed to find another stud manufacturer who thought of including this feature in their designs. I've run with them every day for 3 months in slush, powder snow, wet mud, full ice sheets and everything in between and have yet to find any terrain they can't handle. When the other hikers around me fall down with their cheap spikes and trekking poles, I look like a real mountain goat running past them! The silicone that holds the spikes in place is very thick and well made. The only thing they could do better (and the only reason I deducted a star) is if they reinforced the strap slots with metal or thick plastic, for example. Allows the band to slide without the silicone spinning in circles when the bands are tightened. I know this probably doesn't make much sense, but I'll try to include an image of what I mean. If the makers of Stabil-icers are reading this, it will be something that should be included in V2. Also, I really can't recommend them enough if you're hiking in wintry conditions or being active outdoors. Trust the one who really experienced them themselves, they passed them with honor, and then some others! I sincerely hope this review has been helpful to someone else. Feel free to ask any questions! And yes, I paid full price for it!