Due North
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersGrand Forks, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Due North firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Due North
- Legal name
- SureWerx
- Website
- https://duenorthproducts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Due North industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Winter Safety Footwear Accessories
- NAICS
- Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Fabricated Rubber Products, Nec (3060), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Winter Sports (Ski/Snowboard) Retail (CRAMABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Ski Touring / Backcountry & Avalanche Safety Retail (AT Gear, Skins, Beacons, Probes, Shovels, Airbags) (CRAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where Due North is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Forks
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Due North business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Traction Aids: Due North generates revenue through the sale of ice and snow traction aid products, including industrial-grade and retail consumer products. Revenue is primarily one-time hardware purchase model with replacement parts (spikes) as a complementary stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Everyday Traction Aid - Available at Walmart |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-Sole Mid-Profile Traction Aids |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Due North product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Due North manufactures and sells ice and snow traction aids — footwear accessories featuring tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes embedded in proprietary rubber compounds. The company offers two main product categories: Industrial Styles for workplace environments (heavy-duty, light industrial, all-purpose industrial) and Retail/Recreational Styles for everyday consumer use, plus replacement spike accessories.
Product overview
Due North is a manufacturer of ice and snow traction aids that prevent slips, falls, and injuries during winter conditions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of traction aid products organized into two main categories: Industrial Styles (featuring ICE DIAMOND tungsten-carbide spikes for workplace environments) and Retail/Recreational Styles (for everyday consumer use). The product lineup includes Everyday G3, Everyday, Everyday PRO, All Purpose, All-Purpose Industrial, Heavy Duty, Light Industrial, GripPro Spikeless, Heel Traction Aids, and various Mid-Sole configurations (Mid-Profile, Defined, and Non-Defined). Key technology includes tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes integrated into proprietary rubber tread designs. The company also offers replacement Ice Diamond spikes as accessories. Due North was founded as Sure Foot in 1984 and became part of the SureWerx family of safety brands in 2019, with co-headquarters in Elgin, Illinois and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ice Diamond™: Tungsten carbide replacement spikes for Due North winter traction aid products, ten times stronger than steel with ice piercing edge
- GripPro™
- Everyday PRO
Products and services
- Everyday G3 Traction Aids Versatile traction aids designed for outdoor winter activities using urban and light-duty casual, dress, and athletic footwear. Features preformed molded construction with 6 tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes integrated into a proprietary rubber tread design. Aimed at retail consumers.
- Everyday Traction Aid Lightweight yet durable traction aids for outdoor winter activities featuring a webbed sole design that adapts to shoe shape and a low profile fit. Available exclusively at Walmart (USA) for everyday consumer use.
- Everyday PRO Traction Aids Lightweight yet durable traction aids designed for shoveling sidewalks, walking the dog, running errands, and general winter conditions for everyday consumer use.
- All-Purpose Traction Aids Traction aids designed for those who walk, run, or work outdoors and require more stability and increased traction in ice and snow conditions.
- All-Purpose Industrial Traction Aids Industrial-grade traction aids for tough work environments featuring an enlarged traction heel pad with 2 additional spikes, textured Diamond Knurling lining, and 8 tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes with bi-directional tread.
- Heavy Duty Traction Aids Industrial-grade traction aids featuring 40% more natural rubber for maximum cut and abrasion resistance, an exclusive rubber compound, integral retention strap, and 14 strategically placed molded-in spikes for extreme winter work environments.
- Light Industrial Traction Aids Traction aids for workers who occasionally need additional traction on ice and snow. Features special rubber compound that stays strong in subzero temperatures, 360-degree spike pattern for push and lateral grip, and a unique support hole on heel strap.
- GripPro Spikeless Traction Aid Spikeless traction aids designed for workers needing traction in conditions where spikes are not ideal, particularly for easy transitions from outdoor to indoor use. Features 22 patented hi-vis chevrons per pair, treads that channel water away, and natural rubber material maintaining flexibility up to -65 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Heel Traction Aids Traction aids designed for drivers, delivery personnel, or machinery operators where full coverage traction aids may interfere with driving. Features proprietary rubber compound with hook and strap adjustment, 4 tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes, and bi-directional tread.
- Mid-Sole Mid-Profile Traction Aids Traction aids designed to provide proper fit for mid-sized heels on work boots and footwear. Features 8 spikes per pair with high-visibility green strap.
- Ice Diamond Replacement Spikes Replacement spikes designed specifically for all Due North winter traction aid products. Made with tungsten carbide that is ten times stronger than steel, spark resistant, and retains ice piercing edge. Available in packs of 6 and 100.
- Qwik Grip Mid-Sole Traction Aids Mid-sole traction aids delivering enhanced grip on ice, snow, and slippery conditions. Available in full-wedge heel-style, mid-length, and low profile configurations providing near universal coverage.
Quantifiable outcome
- Tungsten carbide spikes are 10 times stronger than steel
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Due North
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Due North technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Due North partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- SureWerxcoreDue North became part of the SureWerx family of safety brands in 2019. SureWerx is co-headquartered in Elgin, Illinois and Vancouver, British Columbia, with a portfolio of 13 leading brands offering PPE, safety and equipment solutions. Due North operates as a brand under the SureWerx corporate umbrella.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Due North competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Petzl: Petzl is a broad incumbent in climbing, work-at-height, and winter traction equipment (e.g., crampons), competing indirectly with Due North in professional and backcountry winter use cases.
- SureWerx (parent): SureWerx is Due North's parent and operates 13 safety brands spanning PPE, footwear, and equipment — relevant as the corporate context and shared distribution platform for Due North.
- 3M Worker Safety: 3M's Worker Safety division supplies industrial PPE and slip-prevention products (including traction/mat solutions) and competes broadly with Due North in the enterprise safety procurement channel.
Direct peers
- STABILicers: STABILicers makes ice cleats and traction devices for shoes and boots, targeting both industrial workers and outdoor consumers — directly competing with Due North across SKU type and customer segments.
- Yaktrax: Yaktrax is a leading direct competitor in ice and snow traction cleats for footwear, with overlapping retail and industrial channels and a comparable spike/coil-based product range.
- K1 Series (K1 Industries): K1 Series offers ice traction cleats and winter safety footwear accessories aimed at industrial workers, overlapping directly with Due North's Heavy Duty and Mid-Sole lines.
- Winter Walking: Winter Walking specializes in footwear ice cleats and traction aids for industrial and outdoor users, closely mirroring Due North's product positioning and B2B distribution model.
- Kahtoola: Kahtoola designs traction devices and crampons for winter hiking and trail use, competing with Due North's recreational traction SKUs in the outdoor/sporting goods channel.
- Ergodyne (Trex/Trax™ lines): Ergodyne produces the Trex brand of slip-on ice traction cleats and a full PPE portfolio aimed at the same industrial/distributor channel as Due North.
Emerging players
- Helly Hansen Workwear: Helly Hansen offers winter workwear and footwear with integrated traction, an adjacent player whose expanding workwear line could pull share from standalone traction-aid brands like Due North.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Due North social profiles
Digital presenceDue North financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Due North leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Due North funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Due North M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Due North
What does Due North do?
Due North manufactures and sells ice and snow traction aids — footwear accessories featuring tungsten carbide Ice Diamond spikes embedded in proprietary rubber compounds. The company offers two main product categories: Industrial Styles for workplace environments (heavy-duty, light industrial, all-purpose industrial) and Retail/Recreational Styles for everyday consumer use, plus replacement spike accessories.
Is Due North a public or private company?
Due North is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Due North founded?
Due North was founded in 1984.
Where is Due North based?
Due North is headquartered in Grand Forks, United States, in the North America region.
How does Due North make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales - Traction Aids.
Who are Due North's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Petzl, SureWerx (parent) and 3M Worker Safety. Direct peers are STABILicers, Yaktrax, K1 Series (K1 Industries), Winter Walking, Kahtoola and Ergodyne (Trex/Trax™ lines). Helly Hansen Workwear is listed as an emerging player.
Does Due North have an API?
No public API is recorded for Due North.
What industry is Due North in?
Due North's product category is Winter Safety Footwear Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMABAJ, Winter Sports (Ski/Snowboard) Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAJAD, Ski Touring / Backcountry & Avalanche Safety Retail (AT Gear, Skins, Beacons, Probes, Shovels, Airbags). Its NAICS code is 3162 and its SIC code is 3060.