More Ice is coming and I have already had one too many slips and falls.

I went to the store to get some Ice cleats. I was told that summer sporting goods are now stocked and no ice cleats.

Well, I decided to make some of my own, from a Dog harness and home building materials.

This is what I want to share with you - in this instructables.

Please note these cleats are not a replacement for common sense (when in doubt don’t go out).

Caution these cleats are sharp

Step 1: Design – Items and Tools

Design

I wanted to make the cleats at a low cost and from available off the shelf items.

I went to the local building supply store for the material ideas.

The cleats: I first looked at electrical plates but they required drilling and bending and were costly. Then I found the mending plates. Mending plates intended use, is to help hold wood framing together.They fit the bill, under a dollar each, several sizes to choose from. They already had the serrated teeth for the grip, very sharp. They will cut your fingers.

The downward strapping: I wanted to be able to easily take off the cleats with a snap clip or buckle. The local dollar store had dog harnesses. The have nice buckle with double strapping - perfect, I first thought of the small size but selected the larger for the wider strapping.

Rubber back strap: I know that the downward straps tend to loosen up, I wanted to have a rubber cord to hold the cleats on. Also, the straps go from the top of the boot to the bottom, I wanted the rubber to keep the horizontal movement down to a minimum. Well Mini bungee cords fit the bill.

Connectors : My biggest design issue was how I was going to keep the metal plates onto the downward straps. I first thought pop rivets – nuts & bolts - screws (downward - additional cleats) – metal straps – metal staples – wire - not bad; but I wanted something else. I came up with the zip ties. Zip ties are quick and easy.

Items

For spikes – two - 3 inch by 6 inch mending plate (they are used for connecting wood in house building).

Bungee cords – two – 10 inch mini bungee cords with steel hooks

Zip ties – eight total (four per side) – 4 inches long by 1/8 inch wide.

Strapping – two – large dog harness fits dog chest sizes - 18 inch to 24 inch. I purchased these from the local dollar store. A large is actually quite small to my dogs. Base on this sizing chart, my dogs are mutants.

Tools

Household scissors

Flat nose pliers

Side cutters

Leather gloves