As you can see from the picture, the Stablicers have 17 metal screws for traction and have strong Velcro straps that wrap tightly around the toe and the heal/ankle area of your boot. This provides a snug fit with very little wiggle room. Most often the traction devices made out of rubber webbing will hold on the icy surface, but your boot will slip out of the webbing.

Believe it or not, I found this rubber webbing type traction device on the side of the trail!

I tested these on a steep north-facing, ice-crusted trail, with my 20 pound son in a backpack on my back. They held like glue. There's noway I would have taken my son on the trail without these on my boots. It was like there was no snow on the trail at all. Not once did I slide, nor did the Stablicer fall off my boot.

My father-in-law uses boot traction devices to shovel his steep driveway. He has had four pairs of the rubber webbing type boot traction devices in the last three years. They have all fallen apart due to the stress put on the webbing. He's used the Stablicers this year and has had no problems with the straps breaking and has much better traction.

32 North markets these with pictures of workers wearing these while during repairs on the Alaska Oil Pipeline, and that's no joke. The are a workhorse.

PROS
Not only are these constructed well, they also stay on your boot. They don't rotate when you're on steep terrain and hold almost as well as an ice crampon. You can buy replacement cleats from 32 North, but I think you can just use 1/2" metal, hexhead screws from your local hardware store.

CONS
Twice as much ($50 vs. $25) than other models and other brands. (You get what you pay for) If you're walking on a fairly flat surface then other boot traction devices will work for you.

Buy 32 North® STABILicers? Ice Cleats

BOTTOMLINE: INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH TRACTION CONTROL