Yaktrax Run Traction Cleats for Running on Snow and Ice ($40)

I run outside all year long, even when there is snow and ice on the ground.

While I live in New York City where city sidewalks are predominately regularly shoveled (and salted) during the winter, I often use a traction device (sometimes called ice cleats or crampons) when going out for a run in the winter.  Mainly because I’m lucky to live near Central Park which has a vast network of dirt and gravel trails that are not – for obvious reasons – clear of snow and ice during the entire winter. You also never know when you’re going to hit a portion of an unplowed city sidewalk.

In NYC, building and business owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of their respective buildings. On every block, there seems to always be at least one property where the snow is never cleared, usually because the building (or the entire lot) is vacant.

I like being prepared and I especially like not slipping and falling on the ice (and I don’t like running indoors on a treadmill) so my traction devices actually get quite a bit of use, even in the city.

Traction devices slip on over your running shoes. They are webbed and flexible, constructed out of a combination of metal and molded plastic or rubber with metal teeth, spikes, or coiled wire acting as the “gripping” portion. The kind of traction that will work best for you depends on whether or not you’ll encounter significant bare sections of pavement without ice on your run (or walk).

If ice dominates your running route, traction in the form of actual spikes, teeth, or tiny bits will be best as each of these will bite into the ice to help keep your balance. A coiled wire bottom, on the other hand, works great in snow and will also allow you to more comfortably run on hard surfaces (like bare concrete) when needed.

I, of course, own multiple pairs of traction devices, all of which I use, depending on the weather and where I’m running. Here are some of the best traction devices for running shoes I’ve found.

These traction cleats from Yaktrax, manufactured specifically with runners in mind, consist of 3mm carbide-steel spikes inserted in a rubber frame on the front (forefoot) and wire coils on the back (heel).

The whole contraption fits securely over my shoes. I’ve never had a problem with them loosening or falling off. Yaktrax states they’ve been tested for breakage up to -41F – which, fortunately, I’ve never had occasion to experiment with first hand.

They also feel fine even when running on bare pavement. I can feel the spikes and coils under my feet but don’t feel unstable while running.

The Pro Yaktrax model is similar to the Run, except that cleats don't have spikes. Instead, the entire traction device is made from stainless steel coiled metal wrapped around rubber.

I use these rarely - only on days when encountering actual ice is very low. I’ve found them especially useful on muddy trails though. I guess you could call these my “shoulder” season cleats.

I love my Black Diamond Distance Spikes and, apparently, so do a lot of other people as the only sizes that seem to be in stock online are small and extra-large. The small fits a women’s shoe size 5 ½  to 8 and the extra-large is meant for a men’s shoe size 11 to 14. Hopefully, more sizes will be back in stock soon.

While a bit pricey at $99.99, these spikes are definitely worth the money. The traction is amazing on all combinations and iterations of snow, ice, slush, and muck. Equipped with a softshell toe cover and secure heel retention “elastomer” (a stretchy rubber substance), the Distance Spikes stay put on your shoes. And the 8mm stainless steel spikes help you to stay put in an upright position.

These are not the best things to wear if you need to traverse lengthy swaths of bare concrete or blacktop as an 8mm spike is pretty significant. When I wear them at an ice and snow-covered park, I try to stick to the shoveled snow piles as much as possible.

These Kahtoola Nano Spikes are made specifically for walking or running in urban environments that include lots of pavement. The tungsten-carbide spikes are .21” long with an elastomer harness holding the whole contraption in place.

Nano Spikes claim a safe transition between dry and slippery pavement and, in my experience, they do live up to that. They’re not the best choice though if most of your run takes place on unpaved trails; the spikes aren’t long enough to get a good bite in that scenario. 

I love running outdoors, even in frigid temperatures in the low teens (Fahrenheit). I run more in the winter because long bike rides become less feasible and comfortable (I’ve found I can only stay warm on the bike for a couple of hours when the temperature starts to dip below 20F.) My little collection of traction devices allows me to exercise and enjoy the outdoors no matter what the weather may be – or whether or not my neighbors have gotten around to shoveling their sidewalk yet.

If you dread having to move your run indoors because of weather, consider purchasing one of these traction devices. Every season is running season, after all.