Key takeaways
- In a 2005 trial, older adults wearing a slip-on device had less than half the risk of an outdoor fall on snow and ice days.
- Cleats only work when worn: 12 of 19 outdoor falls in the device group happened when people had them off.
- Walk like a penguin: feet turned slightly out, short steps, weight over your feet, arms out for balance.
- Keep both hands free for railings and car doors. Carry bags in a backpack or make extra trips.
On this page
Do ice cleats actually work?
The CDC notes that many cold-weather injuries come from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways and porches. The best evidence that cleats help is a randomized trial published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in 2005. A Marshfield Clinic researcher in Wisconsin followed 109 fall-prone adults aged 65 and older, average age 74, through the winter of 2003 to 2004. One group wore a slip-on coil traction device outdoors; the other wore their usual winter footwear.
| Outcome | Risk with the device vs usual footwear |
|---|---|
| Outdoor slips, all winter days | About half (relative risk 0.50) |
| Outdoor falls, days on snow and ice | 58% lower (relative risk 0.42) |
| Falls causing an injury, days on snow and ice | 87% lower (relative risk 0.13) |
McKiernan, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2005. The injuries were minor; no serious injury or fracture occurred in either group.
The most useful detail: 12 of the 19 outdoor falls in the device group happened when people were not wearing their device. Cleats help when they are on your feet, so keep them where you will use them, by the door or in a coat pocket. It is one trial, in older adults, with one coil-style device, so treat it as strong evidence for that group rather than proof for every product.
Which type of cleat should I buy?
| Type | How it grips | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Coil | Steel coils stretched across the sole | Packed snow and slush on everyday walks; the type used in the 2005 trial |
| Studs or spikes | A few hard metal studs under the ball and heel | Bare, glazed ice on walks and driveways |
| Chains or microspikes | Chain links or small spikes across the sole | Hills and mixed snow and ice |
Cleats are sold by shoe size, so buy them for the boots you will wear them over, not your sneakers. They should stretch snugly over the sole with the grip under the ball and heel. Take them off at the door, since they are made for snow and ice outdoors, and wipe your boots thoroughly on the mat once you are inside, as Mayo Clinic suggests.
What shoes are best for walking on ice?
Cleats go over footwear, and the footwear still matters. Mayo Clinic recommends well-fitting lace-up shoes with deep-grooved, nonskid rubber treads. OSHA's advice for anyone who has to walk on snow or ice is insulated, water-resistant boots with good rubber treads. If a pair of shoes has a smooth sole, save it for indoors.
How do you walk on ice without falling?
The method has a name: walk like a penguin. Mayo Clinic and Minnesota's state employee safety program both teach it.
- Point your feet slightly outward.
- Keep your weight over your feet. Mayo puts it as keeping your center of gravity directly over your feet as much as possible.
- Take short, slow steps, and adjust your pace to the surface. OSHA gives the same advice: short steps at a slower pace, so you can react to a change in traction.
- Hold your arms out from your sides for balance. Wear gloves so your hands stay out of your pockets.
- Watch where you step, and put the phone away. Assume any wet-looking dark patch is ice; our guide to black ice on driveways explains where it forms.
What about cars, stairs and carrying things?
- Getting out of the car. Mayo Clinic advises getting in and out slowly, holding the door and the steering wheel while you step onto or off the slippery surface.
- Steps. Use the handrail every time, and put grit on the steps before you need them; see sand, salt or kitty litter. A cane or walking poles add another point of contact.
- Carrying. Use a backpack or a cross-body bag so your hands are free, and carry groceries in one bag at a time.
What if I do fall?
Do not jump straight up. Mayo Clinic's advice is to first make sure you are not hurt. Then roll onto your hands and knees, bring one foot between your hands, then the other, and push yourself up with your feet shoulder-width apart. If you think you might be hurt, or are not sure, get medical care right away. Afterward, ask what caused the fall, and fix that spot before the next freeze.
What should businesses do?
For a business, OSHA's guidance is to clear walking surfaces of snow and ice and spread deicer as quickly as possible after a winter storm. The legal side in Michigan is covered in snow, ice and liability, and the clearing side in our sidewalk and walkway service.
Sources
- McKiernan, J Am Geriatr Soc (2005): a gait-stabilizing device and outdoor winter falls — randomized trial, 109 adults 65 and older
- Mayo Clinic News Network: walk like a penguin
- Minnesota Department of Administration: be a penguin on ice and snow
- OSHA: winter weather hazards
- CDC: safety guidelines during and after a winter storm
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published October 5, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works