Best ice grips for shoes UK (2026): spikes, coils and who they suit

EXOspikes use tungsten carbide spikes anchored in a flexible TPU plastic base, which Kahtoola says stands up to pavement and rough ground. Its pitch is road-to-trail use for hikers, runners and walkers. A UK retailer says the harness shape allows easy entry, which is worth weighing if fitting grips with cold hands or limited dexterity is a concern.

Best for People who move between icy pavements and gentle trails.

• Maker describes the carbide tips as standing up to pavement wear
• Lighter than the chain-based MICROspikes at 220 g a pair in large
• A retailer notes a harness shape designed for easy entry

• Spikes are shorter at 7.4 mm than the MICROspikes at 10.4 mm
• Maker pitches them at moderate terrain, not steep or mountain ground
• Sizes follow footwear, so check the chart before ordering

Who shouldn't buy it: You need maximum grip on steep icy hillsides. Take them off indoors, on smooth hard floors and before driving.

The MICROspikes are Kahtoola's all-round design, with steel spikes on welded chain under an elastic harness. The maker aims them at mountain and winter-trail use, so they suit icy paths and field edges better than a short stroll to the shops. The medium pair is a mid-range size; check the maker's size chart against your boots before buying.

Best for Walkers and hikers who need the most aggressive bite on hard ice and packed snow.

• Longest spikes in the Kahtoola range, which the maker says dig into stubborn ice
• Welded chain and reinforced eyelets are built for repeated use
• A UK retailer describes them as easy to get on and off

• Heaviest of the four Kahtoola models, at 338 g a pair in medium
• Maker aims them at ice and packed snow in mountain terrain; its carbide models are the ones pitched at streets

Who shouldn't buy it: You mainly walk on cleared pavements and want the lightest option. Take them off indoors, on smooth hard floors and before driving.

NANOspikes are Kahtoola's urban model, with ten short tungsten carbide spikes and plastic plates that keep the foot close to the ground. The maker designed them for hard surfaces such as icy streets and sidewalks and says they resist wear from pavement. They have the shortest spikes in the Kahtoola range, and the listing checked is the small size only.

Best for Everyday walkers and commuters on icy streets and paths.

• Maker designed them for hard icy surfaces and says they resist pavement wear
• Low profile helps keep a natural stride, according to the maker
• Light at 193 g a pair in small

• Shortest spikes in the Kahtoola range at 5.3 mm; the maker designs them for hard icy surfaces
• The listing here is the small size; other sizes need a different listing
• Maker aims them at streets and sidewalks rather than mountain trails

Who shouldn't buy it: You mainly walk on deep snow or hill trails. Take them off indoors, on smooth hard floors and before driving.

The RAC suggests snow grips that slip over your shoes as an alternative or extra to grippy boots, and the AA puts grips in its own winter kit: after a breakdown you may have to walk on a surface no driving shoe was made for. YakTrax's Pro is the long-standing steel-coil design, listed for packed snow, slush and mixed conditions; its Pro Plus is the one YakTrax lists for ice. Check the size chart, since each size is its own listing and you go up a size over boots, and take them off before you drive.

Best for Walking safely on packed snow if you have to leave the car

• Slips over the shoes you're wearing
• Steel coils bite into packed snow
• Flat enough for the glovebox

• This listing is size M only
• Pro Plus is the one listed for ice
• Off before driving or going indoors

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you keep proper winter boots in the car: the RAC lists boots with a good grip first, and grips as the extra.

The Ghost swaps the steel chain of the standard MICROspikes for a flexible plastic matrix, which Kahtoola says makes it 43% lighter. It keeps twelve steel spikes per foot and is pitched at trail runners and ultralight hikers. In large it weighs about 200 g a pair, so it also suits anyone who dislikes heavy things on their feet.

Best for Runners and light-pack hikers who want spike bite without the weight of a chain.

• Maker says it is 43% lighter than the original MICROspikes
• Twelve heat-treated stainless steel spikes per foot, 9 mm long
• Backed by a 4-year limited warranty, according to Kahtoola

• Spikes are shorter at 9 mm than the standard MICROspikes at 10.4 mm
• Maker positions it for mountain terrain rather than town pavements
• Made in XS to XL only, with no XXL size

Who shouldn't buy it: You want a general-purpose grip for town pavements or need a size above XL. Take them off indoors, on smooth hard floors and before driving.

The Diamond Grip trades coils for case-hardened steel beads threaded on aircraft-grade steel cable, with zinc-coated chains and eyelets, all held by a natural rubber band. That build makes it the most substantial Yaktrax model here, and the size chart runs up to extra large. Like every Yaktrax grip, the maker limits it to packed snow and ice outdoors.

Best for Walkers who want a heavier beaded grip for icy pavements and packed-snow paths.

• Case-hardened steel beads on aircraft-grade cable, per the maker
• Zinc-coated steel chains and eyelets, according to Yaktrax
• Offered up to extra large on the Yaktrax UK size chart

• Yaktrax lists 236 to 338 g a pair depending on size, bulkier to carry than a coil grip
• Maker warns never to wear them indoors because smooth floors become slippery
• Maker restricts use to packed snow and ice

Who shouldn't buy it: You only cross short cleared pavements and want something light for a coat pocket, or you cannot take them off at the door.

The Walk is the lightest grip in the Yaktrax range: hand-wound steel coils held under a polyelastomer band that stretches over an everyday shoe. Yaktrax limits it to packed snow and ice, which suits short town walks on frosty mornings. It has no spikes or chain, so it is not the pick for steep frozen paths.

Best for Anyone who wants a light, simple coil grip for icy pavements and paths close to home.

• Yaktrax gives 57 to 114 g a pair depending on size, the lightest figures in its range
• Maker says the coils are hand-wound and protected against rust
• Coils contain 70% recycled steel, according to Yaktrax

• No extra large size, according to the Yaktrax UK size chart
• Maker warns never to wear them indoors because smooth floors become slippery
• Maker restricts use to packed snow and ice

Who shouldn't buy it: You walk steep frozen hill paths, take a shoe size above EU 46, or would struggle to take them off before going indoors.