Mountain Equipment Co-op Ratings and Reviews
Shop Now At Mountain Equipment Co-op
Shop Traction Devices or
Choose a Category

Member Reviews for STABILicers Lite Cleat Traction Device

STABILicers Lite Cleat Traction Device

Great gadgets to keep you from slip-sliding away on the occasional icy patch during shoulder-season or above-the-treeline hikes. These models work best on pure ice, and less well on packed snow.
Average Member Rating:
4.138 out of 5
4.1
 out of 
5
(29 Reviews) 29
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot (29 reviews)
5 stars
12
4 stars
11
3 stars
5
2 stars
0
1 star
1
18 out of 20(90%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Questions & Answers:
4 Questions | 5 Answers
Member Reviews for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Review 1 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
By:Coldhearted
Location: Arctic Bay, NU
Age: 35-44
Gender: female
Gear Style: Performance Driven

They do the job

Date:March 10, 2012
As someone who lives seven degrees north of the arctic circle, I know ice and these things work. They go on and off easy and they stay on. Excellent traction but get a little gummed up if there is any loose snow around but a couple of kicks and it releases. Well worth the price.
Review 2 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
By:xfyrfytr341
Location: Edmonton, AB.
Age: over 55
Gender: male
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

Lite Cleat Traction Device

Date:March 10, 2012
Following our first snowfall of the season, I took a header on a slippery slope while walking my dog at the local off-leash park. Fortunately, no bodily injuries resulted. On arriving home, I went on-line to MECs site, found the cleats, went that afternoon and bought a pair and having worn them out through the winter, have bought two more pair, one to wear and one as a backup set. Overall, an excellent product which keeps me very stable in slippery snow/ice conditions. Thanks, MEC!
Review 3 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:Malu
Location: Whistler, BC
Age: over 55
Gender: female
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer

Lifesaver!

Date:March 10, 2012
Wear them most days when walking the dog on icy, hilly roads and trails. Fit perfect on my hiking boots.
When on my winter boots with a heel they feel very tippy.
Great traction except in new snow with a sheet of ice underneath.
They are in great shape after a lot of use this winter.
Yak Traks broke the first season.
Pros: good traction on ice and great fit
Review 4 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
Very Cool
Comfortable
Very Warm
Very Narrow
True to width
Very Wide
By:Sheryl from the "Wet Coast"
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC
Age: over 55
Gender: female
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER

Safety on Ice

Date:March 10, 2012
Carry these cleats with you wherever you go in winter. That way you're prepared for the unexpected slippery patches when you step out of your car or your front door.
These are much easier to put on and wear compared to other cleats I've seen or heard about from friends.
 
My Product Recommendations
 
Pros: Comfortable, Easy to put on take off, Good Grip
Review 5 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
By:MalkieBear
Location: Kingston, ON
Age: 45-55
Gender: female
Gear Style: Performance Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER

FANTASTIC! - but know your application

Date:February 11, 2012
These spiky wonders have saved my bacon on more than one dog walk/driveway clearing/trek through the barnyard. Reading some of the negative reviews it strikes me that you have to understand that you're not going to make it up K2 with these things. They perform best on icy sidewalks, dog walks through the woods. They're flexible, easy on/easy off, and yes, it can be easy to walk out of them (did so yesterday while trail-blazing out back). Mine are orange so they're easy to see if I lose one in the bush. On my ancient Sorel snowmobile boots I use around the barn the tread is almost too narrow, making it feel a bit like wearing tippy high heels, but I haven't wiped out yet (which is comforting because it's acutely painful to fall on a frozen pile of horse turds). They fit really well on all my other winter footwear. Thanks to other reviewers suggesting easy shoelace MacGyvering - awesome! Know what you're buying folks and be happy.
Pros: Comfortable
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:NorthernExpectingMom
Location: Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Age: 25-34
Gender: female
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer

A MUST for the pregnant woman!

Date:November 8, 2011
My husband bought me these ice cleats when I was expecting our first child. I live in a northern community in the NWT where the roads are iced over all winter and are very slippery. While everyone else was falling and sliding around, I could run confidently (while pregnant), and know I was safe. These are incredible. I recommend them to everyone, and now that the baby is here, I continue to wear them so that I never fall down while carrying her. Thanks, MEC, for providing this incredible product!
Pros: Comfortable, safety, True to size
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:Stryder
Location: Vancouver, BC
Age: over 55
Gender: male
Gear Style: Comfort Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer

Great for the BCMC up Grouse

Date:June 14, 2011
When I went to MEC to get something for that little extra traction going up Grouse, the one I wanted weren't in my size (14) so I got these. I was really pleased with them. Easy to put on, did the job and were less expensive than what I initially wanted.
Pros: Comfortable, Easy to put on, Economical
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:3PackFamily
Location: Calgary, AB

Lite Cleat Traction Device

Date:June 11, 2011
They perform well but only last one or two seasons.
Review 9 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
Value: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
Very Narrow
True to width
Very Wide
By:Czesia
Location: Calgary, AB
Age: 25-34
Gender: female
Gear Style: Minimalist
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

"Occasional icy patch"-reccommended only

Date:June 11, 2011
I purchased these specifically for a hike in Canmore through Grotto Canyon - pure ice requires a decent set of studs for maximum enjoyment. Unfortunately, I found that the actual studs or cleats were not long enough to grip very well, especially after getting stuffed with snow. Also, the design lent to the cleats falling off rather easily. This also occurred to my hiking partner for the day, on more than one occasion.
As stated in the product description - these cleats are intended for light use and the "occasional icy patch" only.
Pros: Comfortable
Cons: Poor Fit, Poor traction
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Value: 
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Very Small
Feels small
Very Large
By:Anonymous
Location: Burlington On

Problem

Date:June 11, 2011
In the store, I tried one of the two icers on my hiking boots. That was my mistake. Why? It turned out that the icers were a different size i.e. the right one was a large size and the left was a small size. When I used them on a winter hike, I noticed the problem but attached them anyway to my feet. Somewhere during the hike, the larger size departed from my booth and I did not notice it until the hike was finished. The remaining one icer was no use so I discarded it. I suspect that some customer was trying a few of them in your store but improperly packaged them when returning them to the shelf.
0 of 8 found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
By:Anonymous
Location: Mont-Tremblant

Good traction

Date:June 11, 2011
Best for traction of many I've tried. Do not stay on some boot shapes very well.
Review 12 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
By:HalifaxWanderer
Location: Halifax, NS
Age: 25-34
Gender: male
Gear Style: Minimalist
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER

Great Value

Date:February 22, 2011
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
User submitted photo
Have bought these about a month ago - great traction for use in the city and have taken them out on the trail. That's where I have noticed they do slip off every so often (without noticing - thanks to the hikers behind me seeing them). I did find having a spare set of laces running through the side elastics and tied between the toe and (close to the base of the) laces helped secure them - and if they did slip off, you will notice immediately and will take less time to reset.
If you are considering buying these but are concerned about them slipping off (even after the workaround), I would recommend "Icers" - they are secured by velcro and have a loop around he heel just in case - although you will be spending a little bit more.
Pros: Comfortable
Cons: slip occasionally
Review 13 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
By:Boomer
Location: SW Alberta
Age: over 55
Gender: male
MEC MEMBER

Great ... with one simple tweak

Date:February 15, 2011
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
User submitted photo
I'm the winter caretaker on a 4000 acre ranch about 30 km north of the Crowsnest Pass. The variability of the winter weather means that there's often pure ice underfoot or (even worse) pure ice under a couple inches of snow ... and much of the world is tilted around here. I bought these to replace the OK but fast-wearing lighter-weight cheapies from Costco. They are awesome on my tall Muck boots ... which are awesome all by themselves. They seemed perfectly-sized but still slipped-off (from the front) a couple of times in heavy snow ... so I fashioned a pair of retaining straps from some flat MEC 25 mm climbing webbing and four Dual Adjust buckles ... one short strap under the arch and a second longer strap looping through the RH hole at the front and behind the LH ankle and back through the LH hole at the front and then back behind the RH ankle ... and finally buckling on the outboard side. It all lies flat and looks clean and unobtrusive ... and comes-off / goes-on fast. In the summer, I use the straps as handy tie-downs on my rowboat.
Pros: they do the job.
Cons: extra strap needed for snow
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
Very Narrow
True to width
Very Wide
By:ZinjChick
Location: Toronto, ON
Age: 45-55
Gender: female
Gear Style: Performance Driven
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER

Great on ice!

Date:February 8, 2011
These are great on ice -- provide fantastic traction. However, if you plan on keeping them on indoors (eg. when you go shopping or riding the subway), don't -- I've slipped several times trying to walk on subway tile.
They're also a bit stiff to walk on; you might find these a bit hard on your feet, depending on your footwear.
Pros: Great Traction
Cons: slip on tile
Review 15 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Value: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:protter43
Location: Edmonton, AB
MEC MEMBER

Great on ice and hard pack

Date:January 20, 2011
I've had a couple pairs of these. They're great on hard pack and ice. I'd never go out without them anymore. The cleats do wear down after a winter of ice.
The latest pair I'm finding don't fit as well as the first; one keeps coming off. Nothing is broken, so it must be that it's just too loose fitting. I've only worn these ones a couple of weeks; I'm not impressed with that.
Have also found that the rubber surround can get quite worn and break after awhile. We have long periods of ice here in Edmonton, so that's not too great.
Overall, I recommend them, but only for ice and hard pack.
Pros: Comfortable
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
Very Narrow
True to width
Very Wide
By:Kensey
Location: Regina, SK
Age: 25-34
Gender: female
Gear Style: Minimalist
Describe Yourself: Casual Adventurer
MEC MEMBER

Awesome

Date:December 7, 2010
These might be the best thing I have ever purchased. Winter walking/jogging is actually possible for me now thanks to these. Being prone to falling on ice, without these I would carefully baby-step my way around in the winter. Now I can walk like a normal person and have no fear of slipping. They have never come off of my boots or running shoes. I have no complaints whatsoever.
Review 17 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:Petey
Location: Spruce Grove AB
Age: over 55
Gender: male
MEC MEMBER

Okay for Icy Streets. Trails, not so much.

Date:July 8, 2010
I used these hiking last year and they worked alright on icy sidewalks and river valley pathways.
However, on an icy trail with any kind of elevation, they slipped off like giant rubber bands, especially if my feet slipped on a downhill slope. A friend lost two in a row on two different trips. After a couple of hikes, I finally clipped together a pair of carbiners to go across the top of my boots and hold them on.
The grip is okay and the weight is negligible, and unlike a crampon the rounded tips don't lose their edge on pavement.
Pros: cheap, decent traction
Cons: rubber bands
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
Review 18 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:Venters
Location: Georgetown, ON
Age: 35-44
Gender: male
Gear Style: Performance Driven
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

A winter must have

Date:June 10, 2010
If you truly get off the sidewalks and onto the trails these are a must have. I wear the Keen hiker with these and they stay on. Don't trust your eyes on the size. Go with the chart, they will fit.
They do not slip!
Pros: Comfortable
Review 19 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
Value: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
By:cromolycrone
Location: Canada
Age: over 55
Gender: female
Gear Style: Performance Driven
Describe Yourself: Outdoor Pro

Date:June 9, 2010
though heavy, these traction aids work well on flat terrain, ie streets, but when on steep icy trails they tended to pull off my boots. I used the straps off my old Yak tracks (which wore out way too fast) to solve the problem. The best traction aids I ever had were a pair I got years ago from MEC that were made in Germany and came in a yellow envelope. I don't remember the name of them but sure wish MEC would carry them again. They were simple dots on a rubber harness but the dots lasted a long time and the harness hasn't worn out even now. I still run with them even though they only have half the number of dots.
Pros: Tough
Cons: Heavy, need a strap
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
Review 20 for Lite Cleat Traction Device
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Effectiveness: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Value: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Very Small
True-to-size
Very Large
By:jos24
Location: Yukon
Age: over 55
Gender: female
MEC MEMBER

nice equipment

Date:October 29, 2009
I wore these through the last cold windy icy winter in central BC in 2008, feeding sheep and livestock on slippery slopes.
They are lightweight and do the job well, without tripping or coming off. I used them on my winter TACK boots and left them on those boots all winter.
I have some where misplaced them over the summer and so am purchasing another pair for dog walking with my bouncy dogs this year.
How they fit depends very much on the boot/shoe style you are using them with. I use medium with a size 8 TACK boot
Pros: Comfortable
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
12next>>