How to Make Ice Traction for Boots

Walking on ice can be treacherous.

Walking on ice can be very dangerous, especially when covered with a fine dusting of snow. Attaching ice cleats to your boots can help you keep your balance on the ice and prevent falls when ice fishing, clearing icy sidewalks or whenever it is necessary to walk on ice. These instructions can help you make ice cleats that are inexpensive, effective and easy to create using common tools you probably already have at home.

Things You'll Need

• 6-inch length of metal bar, 1 inch wide and 1/16-inch thick
• Bandsaw or hacksaw
• Pencil
• Vice
• Drill
• 1/8-inch drill bit
• Metal file
• Locking pliers
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• ½-inch wide nylon strap
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• 2 "sticky" Velcro strips, each 3 inches long and ½-inch wide
• 2 "fuzzy" Velcro strips, each 3 inches long and ½-inch wide

Instructions

Making Ice Cleats

1. Cut the 6-inch length of metal bar into two 3-inch lengths with a metal-cutting bandsaw or hacksaw.

2. Measure approximately 1 inch from either end of the length of metal and draw a line across the width of the metal with a pencil. Measure in ¼ from each edge of the pencil mark and mark again. Repeat with the second piece of metal.

3. Clamp the metal securely in a vice.

4. Drill a series of holes with the 1/8-inch drill bit along the pencil marks to create a strap slot inside either end of both pieces of metal. When finished, both pieces of metal should have two slots, each ½-inch wide and located 1 inch from either end.

5. Smooth out the rough drill marks with a metal file to create flush, straight slots.

6. Clamp a corner of the metal into the vice, ½-inch deep at a 45-degree angle. Bend the length of the metal to a 90-degree angle. A pair of locking pliers will give you more torque to bend the metal. Hammer the metal if it is too stiff to bend by hand. Repeat on all corners of both pieces of metal.

7. Put on your winter boots and measure around the circumference of your foot just in front of your ankle. Add about 6 inches to the measurement.

8. Cut two pieces of ½-inch-wide nylon strap, such as you'd find on a backpack, to the length as determined in the previous step.

9. Sew a 3-inch length of the "fuzzy" part of Velcro to the bottom of one end of the strap. Sew a 3-inch length of the "sticky" part of Velcro to the top of the opposite end of the strap. Repeat on the other strap.

10. Thread the straps through the slots.

11. Wrap the straps around your boots in front of your ankles and secure the Velcro.

Tips & Warnings

• You could use a wider or narrower piece of metal or strap depending on what is available. Widen the slot if the strap fits too snugly.

References

• Joe Shead; Ice Angler; Superior, Wisconsin