A couple of years ago, I compared Ice Spikes to sheet metal screws to try to figure out which was more effective for traction when you are running in the Winter. Living in a cold climate, being able to run confidently in icy conditions is an important part of not just staying safe and injury free but also in motivating yourself to get out the door for your workout.
There are other solutions that I’ve reviewed before, such as Stabilicers and Yak Trax, but until I heard about Ice Spikes my favorite solution was to just drill sheet metal screws into the bottom of my shoes. They’re both cheaper and more effective than anything else I’d tried.
Having used Ice Spikes for a couple of Winters now, my conclusions from 2010 still hold true. Sheet metal screws aren’t as effective as Ice Spikes and they don’t last nearly as long. However, they are a lot cheaper.
How much you run and how much traction you want will determine which solution is better for you, and if you’d like to see all the pros and cons of both solutions then click here to see my full summary.
There is one thing for sure, however, and that’s that if you can get your Ice Spikes on sale or for free, then there’s no contest about which is a better option! Ice Spikes has been kind enough to sponsor quite a few races here in Southern Maine, one of which I direct and a few put on by my trail running friends.
How To Win a Free Set of Ice Spikes
They’ve also been kind enough to provide some of their product for me to give away right here at Run to Win! I’ll be giving them away throughout the month, starting today. If you are paying attention, then this weekend you can just leave a comment here on this page and you’ll be entered into a random drawing. Be sure to leave a valid email address (it won’t appear on the site) so that I can get in touch with you if you win.
As I type this, it is Saturday morning on December 3rd, 2011. This contest will stay open until noon on Sunday, December 4th (Eastern Time.) One fast acting commenter is going to get a free set of Ice Spikes to use this Winter, and you’ll still have time after the contest to buy a set with a 15% discount from their website.
If you buy anything on their website by midnight tomorrow, use coupon code stocking stuffer and you’ll get 15% off of your order. Just go to: www.icespike.com
To enter the contest: Just leave a comment below.
I’d like to try the Ice Spikes to see how they work compared to screws and the La Sportiva hobnails. Hope I win
Appreciate the recommendation. Training for Boston this winter. Would love to get a pair!
I would love to win a pair of ice spikes! I’ve been out of commission for a while running… healing from an injury, but plan on getting out there soon. I live in CNY so ice spikes make lots of sense for winter running! Good luck to all in the new year!
Really want to further my winter training outside. With ice spikes there wouldn’t be anymore long boring treadmill runs
Thanks for the heads up! I definitely live in a place where the snow and ice is a constant during the winter months. I am hoping to at the very least maintain my fitness over the winter, but it is always challenging when it get icy.
Hope we don’t need them as much as we did last year. Blecccccch. 135 days to Boston, hope MOST of them are snow and ice free.
They look great, would love to win a set.
Being a new runner, any advantage to keep me going through the winter would be great. I started running in March and had the help of a running club in Freeport and the Back Cove 5K series this summer to help train me for the Beach to Beacon 10K. Would be great to have that safety for running outdoors throughout the winter season.
I’ve tried the sheet metal screws with limited success, found tough to install and usually lost some on run.
Hi Blaine. I’d like to try some ice spikes on the trails this winter.
What a great idea! I’d love to try them. They’d help avoid me avoid doing my long runs on the treadmill. Thanks Blaine!
I would love to try ice spikes. I’ve tried screws but they don’t seem to last long.
last winter I used metal screws as well as yak trax … if I won a set I would definitely use the Ice Spikes as this unseasonably warm weather isn’t going to last forever. Regardless if whether I win or not, I continue to enjoy your blog and efforts Blaine -- thanks!
I live on a country road. These would allow me to run outside instead of on the treadmill this winter. That would be awesome.
Having not used any sort of traction besides trail shoes last winter, looking forward to trying something like this out this season. Thanks!
I’d love a pair! I moved away and don’t have Blaine to put screws in my shoes any more.. no one here in PA has even heard of doing that!
After slipping on slippery wintery roads, I’d love to try a pair!
Anything that keeps me off my a$$ in the winter time is always appreciated!
I’d love to give them a shot.
Are we ever going to get temperatures cold enough for ice? Would love to check out a pair when it does come! Thanks for the info.
I almost bought some generic ones of these at Kohls this morning, and then decided to hold out and get the “good ones.”
Never let the elements slow you down. These ice spikes look like the trick to me. Great concept
I’d certainly rather try Ice Spikes than hibernate when the weather gets rough. They sound great!
Would love to try the ice spikes. I have tried others things and running in Alberta, Canada in the winters can be very treachous at times. Would love to have something that would give me more confidents in winter running since I’m also tense and worrying about slipping and falling.
I’d like to give them a go! Thanks!
Thanks for the motivation! I live at 7200 feet in the Sierras. Dry wall screws are a mist have to keep me running outdoors in the winter months. After a blown out knee I’m way more gun shy when I’m running. ice scares the bejeebers out of me!
Would love to try them
The streets right now are one treacherous sheet of ice and it would be great to be able to get back running confidently out there again with a set of Ice Spikes. Thanks!
running at Mt. Charleston is impossible without spikes. The roads either go up or they go down, but they are never flat. I need these.
Winter training for Providence and Sugarloaf begins soon! Would love to win a pair of these, and sincerely hope they’re not needed on race day(s)!
I love free stuff!!!!
Last winter was my first experience with Yak-Tracks….and I had mixed success. They would sometimes twist around and/or come completely off at the toes. I’d like to try Ice Spikes.
Thanks,
Chris
Those ice spikes look like I could strike out with confidence on Maine roads in winter.
I’d love to try them. I hope I win.
Would love to try these! Have gone the yak track and microspike route, but looking for something better for running!
Ice spikes really help keep me on track as I train thru the winter for spring races and my second half marathon. We get more ice than snow in the Washington, DC area so they would really come in handy.
after slip sliding around all last Saturday at the Trail Race I really need to find something better than yak-trax. I would love to test these out!
Please enter my name to win the spikes ad I trudge the winter roads this winter to train for BM.
It would be great to try the ice spikes and compare them to the Yak Trax I’ve used in the past.
we don’t get a whole lot of snow around my area, but ice spikes would come in handy for those icy mornings!
i’m in…love the winter night runs on the snowmobile trails.
As you say Blaine, sheet metal screws don’t last long, would love to try the ice spikes!
I would live to try some Ice Spikes. We are expecting a rough winter in NJ.
Would love to try them out…have been sticking to the treadmill instead of running out side, and miss it
I’d sure like to win a pair of the ice spikes for my son who is a high school cross country runner! We definately live where we get a lot of snow during the winter months that affects winter training! Thanks for the information!
I would love these. Thanks for the info. I hope we both win. I love to run, the sleet and ice can make for a tough terrain.
They sound like they’d be great -- I love to try them on the trails.
Noon has come and gone -- and random.org has made a choice! I’ll get the winner posted momentarily!
Greta idea!
Hi Blaine, I know that for me when I run during the winter time I always have to hold back and use caution when I’m on snow-covered ground. I’m sure that having improved traction on my shoes would help me to run with greater confidence and ease. Thanks for telling me about this.
Would love a pair of these, I did fall last year when I hit a patch of ice that I did not see.
Thanks!
As my winter running begins and the ice and snow arrives I would love to try a set.
Thanks