What Winter Walking - Ice Cleats does

Winter Walking is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of industrial ice cleats and winter traction devices for work boots, headquartered in Horsham, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1974, the company operates with a small team of seven employees and has specialized exclusively in workplace winter safety products for over 40 years. Its portfolio spans 16 core products organized into a proprietary Color Coded Traction™ system: Walking Traction (green) for occasional outdoor exposure, Working Traction (blue) for sustained outdoor work, and Transitional Traction (orange) for employees moving between indoor and outdoor environments or operating vehicles.

The company's technology is built around tungsten carbide and carbonized steel stud configurations, aluminum oxide grit surfaces, and patented or patent-pending mechanical innovations including the Dual Elasticity Design, the Spare Cleat replaceable-stud system, and the Angle Tread self-cleaning tread. Product formats range from compact heel-only traction devices (LOW-PRO HEEL, HEEL GRIPS) to insulated 14-inch overshoes (ICEGRIPS OVERSHOE). The ICE-BREAKER one-size-fits-all line, launched in 2023, received the 2024 New Product of the Year award from Occupational Health and Safety Magazine.

Winter Walking generates revenue through B2B hardware sales to enterprise customers via a direct quote-based sales motion and a distributor network covering the United States and Canada. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company serves major North American industrial buyers including Amazon, FedEx, Verizon, Delta Airlines, the United States Postal Service, Waste Management, Pepsi, Cintas, and others, primarily through enterprise safety programs targeting slip and fall prevention and workers' compensation cost reduction.

Name

Winter Walking - Ice Cleats

Legal name

Winter Walking

Website

https://winterwalking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Winter Walking is a U.S. manufacturer of industrial ice cleats and winter traction devices for work boots, serving enterprise safety programs across logistics, utilities, telecom, airlines, and government in North America with a color-coded portfolio spanning walking, working, and transitional traction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Safety Footwear / Workplace Traction Equipment

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140)

akta.pro primary industry

Winter Sports (Ski/Snowboard) Retail (CRAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial ice cleats
• Winter traction devices
• Workplace safety footwear
• Slip fall prevention
• Tungsten carbide studs

Headquarters

HQ city

Horsham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ice Cleat Product Sales: Direct sales of ice cleats and traction devices to industrial customers. Products are sold in various sizes and configurations to outfit entire workforces. Replacement parts and accessories also available.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Winter Walking designs, manufactures, and sells industrial ice cleats and winter traction devices that strap onto work boots to prevent slips and falls on icy and snow-covered surfaces. The company sells a portfolio of 16 core traction products organized into three color-coded categories (Walking, Working, and Transitional Traction) and also offers accessories such as replacement spikes and ankle strap kits. Their products are sold primarily to enterprise industrial customers across North America for workforce winter safety programs.

Product overview

Winter Walking is a specialized manufacturer of industrial ice cleats and winter traction devices for work boots. The company offers a portfolio of 16 core products organized into three color-coded traction categories: Walking Traction (for occasional outdoor exposure, simple and economical), Working Traction (for sustained outdoor work with aggressive traction and industrial durability), and Transitional Traction (for employees moving between indoor/outdoor environments or driving vehicles). Products include ice cleats with tungsten carbide studs, carbonized steel studs, and gritted traction surfaces, ranging from lightweight heel-only devices to insulated 14-inch overshoes. The portfolio also includes 3 accessory products. The ICE BREAKER with Transitional Traction was named 2024 New Product of the Year by Occupational Health and Safety Magazine. Winter Walking serves major industrial companies across North America including Charter Communications, Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and Delta Airlines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Color Coded Traction™ System: A categorization system organizing ice cleats into color-coded categories (Walking Traction - green, Working Traction - blue, Transitional Traction - orange) based on job tasks and exposure levels.
• ICE BREAKER™
• SPARE SPIKE™
• E-CLEAT™
• HIGH-PRO®
• ICE BEAST™
• LOW-PRO®
• GRIPS-LITE®
• EASY-SPIKE™
• HEEL GRIPS®
• ICEGRIPS®
• ICEGRIPS OVERSHOE®
• ICEGRIPS OVERSHOE® Low-Cut

Products and services

• ICE BREAKER with Walking Traction (JD125) One-size-fits-all ice cleat that is lightweight and provides aggressive traction on ice and snow. Features 18 molded-in high-profile tungsten carbide studs for aggressive and permanent traction. Designed for walking on ice and snow. Targeted at industrial workers with walking exposure to icy surfaces.
• ICE BREAKER with Transitional Traction (JD110) One-size-fits-all ice cleat that is lightweight and provides both traction on ice and snow as well as versatility to be worn in other conditions. Low-profile design makes them safer to wear indoors compared to high-profile designs. Orange studs and straps indicate Transitional Traction.
• SPARE SPIKE (JD510) Lightweight and compact ice and snow walking device featuring 16 replaceable tungsten carbide studs. Patent pending spare cleat built into the toe area for quick replacement. Dual rear pull-tabs for easy on/off. Sized XS-XXL.
• E-CLEAT with Walking Traction (JD450) Lightweight industrial grade winter traction device that fits over all types of shoes and boots. Features 26 molded-in carbonized steel studs for aggressive and permanent traction. Sized S-XL. Green studs indicate Walking Traction.
• E-CLEAT with Working Traction (JD425) Aggressive, industrial grade ice cleat with 26 aggressively exposed tungsten carbide studs. For extended outdoor use only. Sized S-XL. Blue studs indicate Working Traction.
• HIGH-PRO (JD6625) Compact, light industrial strength ice and snow walking device with 26 aggressively exposed tungsten carbide studs. Features patent pending dual elasticity design for easy on/off and greater abrasion resistance. Sized S-XXL.
• ICE BEAST (JD7725) Aggressive ice and snow overshoe stretch device featuring 28 permanent high-profile tungsten carbide studs for extreme traction. Ring style design with wing-tip connection points. Defined heel for safe climbing. Sized S-XXL.
• ICE BEAST LOW-PRO (JD7710) Versatile ice and snow overshoe stretch device with 28 permanent low-profile tungsten carbide studs for transitional traction. Ring style design allows access to defined heel for safe climbing. High-Vis Orange and Gray. Sized S-XXL.
• LOW-PRO (JD6610) Compact, lightweight industrial strength ice and snow walking device with 26 minimally exposed tungsten carbide studs. Patent pending dual-elastic design for quick easy on/off. Safe for indoor use and driving. Sized S-XXL.
• LOW-PRO HEEL (JD310) Compact heel-only ice cleat with 14 minimally exposed tungsten carbide studs. Weighs less than 4 ounces per foot. Safe for indoor use and driving. Defined heel for stability. Sized S-XXL.
• GRIPS-LITE (JD6612) Compact, lightweight ice and snow walking device with sandpaper-like aluminum oxide grit traction. Non-sparking and non-conductive, designed for industrial environments. Safe to wear indoors and while driving. Sized S-XXL.
• HEEL GRIPS (JD325) Lightweight, economical heel-only traction device with 14 high-profile tungsten carbide studs per pair. Fully adjustable and replaceable upper strap. Defined heel for stability. Sized S-XXL.
• EASY SPIKE (JD350) Compact, lightweight industrially designed winter traction device with 22 molded-in carbonized steel studs. Extremely easy to use. Sized S-XL.
• ICEGRIPS (JD4472) Aggressive strap-on ice cleats with 22 tungsten carbide studs. Patented Angle Tread design for maximum surface contact and self-cleaning. Fully replaceable upper straps. Sized S-XXL.
• ICEGRIPS OVERSHOE 14" (JD6472) 14" insulated overshoe combining gaiter protection with ice cleat traction. Built-in 22 tungsten carbide studs. Water resistant nylon construction. Defined heel for safe climbing. Sized XS-4XL.
• ICEGRIPS OVERSHOE LOW-CUT 6" (JD5472) 6" non-insulated overshoe combining gaiter protection with ice cleat traction. Built-in 26 tungsten carbide studs. Water resistant nylon. Sized XS-4XL.
• ICEBEAST STRAP KIT (JD7701) Optional ankle strap for additional security and support. Compatible with ICE BEAST models JD7710 and JD7725.
• REPLACEMENT SPIKES (JD510-SK) Replacement studs for SPARE SPIKE ice cleats. Includes 6 studs per kit. Compatible with model JD510.
• ANKLE STRAP KIT (JD3800) Ankle strap kit for additional security. Compatible with models JD510, JD350, JD6610, JD6625, JD6612, JD425, and JD450.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces slips and falls on snow and ice

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Yaktrax: Yaktrax is one of the most recognized consumer and industrial ice traction brands, producing a wide range of ice cleats and traction footwear accessories. It directly competes with Winter Walking across both consumer and B2B segments with comparable stud-based traction technology.
• Ergodyne (Tenacious Holdings): Ergodyne produces the Trex brand of ice traction cleats alongside a broader portfolio of industrial safety products. It competes directly with Winter Walking in B2B workplace safety traction and shares the same enterprise distribution channels.
• Stabilicers: Stabilicers manufactures ice cleats and traction devices targeting both industrial workers and consumers, with comparable stud configurations and stretch footwear designs. It directly overlaps Winter Walking's product offering and customer base.
• Trex Ice Traction: Trex produces ice traction footwear accessories for outdoor and industrial users, directly competing in the same product category with similar stud and strap-on ice cleat designs.
• Grip Products (K1 Series): Grip Products manufactures the K1 Series of ice cleats and winter traction devices, competing directly with Winter Walking in B2B industrial safety channels with comparable product specifications and pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Industrial Safety: Honeywell offers a broad portfolio of personal protective equipment and workplace safety products including some traction and footwear solutions. As a massive diversified safety incumbent, it competes indirectly through distributor relationships and bundling with Winter Walking's enterprise accounts.
• 3M Worker Safety: 3M is a global diversified industrial safety conglomerate offering personal protective equipment for workplace applications. While not specialized in ice cleats, it competes for overall safety procurement budgets at the same enterprise customers Winter Walking serves.
• Dunlop Protective Footwear: Dunlop Protective Footwear manufactures boots and protective footwear for industrial and agricultural workers, some with integrated traction features. It competes adjacent to Winter Walking by offering built-in traction solutions rather than add-on cleats.

Others

• Vibram: Vibram is a footwear sole technology provider whose Arctic Grip technology delivers ice traction built into outsoles. It represents an alternative technology approach (integrated sole traction) to Winter Walking's add-on cleat model, making it an adjacent/competing approach rather than a direct product peer.
• Cintas: Cintas is a major industrial services and uniform rental company that distributes workplace safety products including ice cleats to enterprise customers. Listed as a Winter Walking customer, it represents both a buyer and a potential competitor/distributor for safety traction products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Winter Walking - Ice Cleats