Walking in Viking Footsteps: The Millennia-Old Secret Behind Modern Winter Traction
Exploring how medieval Norwegian shoe spikes were eerily similar to our modern crampons and microspikes
Winter is upon us again, bringing a daily dance with icy sidewalks and snow-slicked roads for countless Americans. If you find yourself slipping microspikes or crampons over your boots, you might be intrigued to learn that you’re stepping into a longstanding tradition that includes the Vikings. Recent findings from Norway suggest that Vikings and early medieval Norwegians were using iron crampons, not unlike ours, to keep their footing firm on treacherous winter terrain.
Tested and True: Viking-Era Crampons in Action
A Science Norway article, “The Vikings also used crampons to avoid slipping on ice,” spotlights archaeologist and museum educator Espen Kutschera, who tested reconstructed Viking-age crampons in real-life conditions. Kutschera’s experiment was simple but effective: by strapping these spiked contraptions onto his shoes, he found that they made a clear difference on icy ground. Through these first-hand tests, he gained practical insight into how Vikings might have managed daily life in a much colder climate that might have been even more unforgiving than modern Norwegian winters.
The heart of these findings is that humans living in the Viking Age weren’t merely braving the elements without any aid. On the contrary, they had specialized gear that adapted to local conditions. According to Kutschera, it shouldn’t be surprising that traction aids appear in numerous Viking Age graves, revealing just how ubiquitous these devices may have been. The message is clear: crampons were your best friend if you needed to get around on ice during the Viking Age.
What Did Viking Crampons Look Like?
We tend to picture Vikings with swords and ships, but these crampons, often small iron frameworks designed to be lashed to leather shoes, remind us of their more mundane and quotidian realities. While modern crampons frequently have multiple pointed spikes set into a steel or aluminum frame, Viking-era crampons could be more straightforward, with two or four carefully forged spikes. Some were shaped like small arches of iron designed to cradle the foot, while others may have been less uniform, reflecting local blacksmiths' skill (and style).
These iron devices could be tied or strapped under a traveler’s shoes. The exact placement of the spikes, as well as how snugly they fit, would have determined their effectiveness on ice. Modern testing (like Kutschera’s) suggests the historical models worked quite well, albeit with a bit of a learning curve for first-time users.
Ice, Snow, and Wooden Boardwalks
Despite the typical stereotype of Vikings as perpetual raiders at sea, they spent much time traveling over land across mountains, along winding forest trails, and through towns that might have had wooden planks for walkways. In winter, those log walkways became as slippery as an ice rink. The newfound artifacts fill gaps in our understanding of how Norwegians coped with their rugged environment.
In many Viking Age settlements, wooden boardwalks or rough-hewn log paths were meant to keep pedestrians out of mud and slush when the weather was mild. Yet, these same surfaces became a hazard once temperatures dipped below freezing. It’s easy to see why the Vikings would have turned to iron crampons: just as we spread salt and sand on our streets today, they found methods to counteract ice. Fastening spikes beneath one’s shoes helped keep feet on the ground and bodies off it.
A Common Need, Even for Horses
The Science Norway article also underscores that traction wasn’t solely a human necessity; Vikings also needed safe travel for their animals. Horses, critical for transporting goods and people, would have faced the same peril on icy terrain. The presence of traction aids in some archaeological contexts points to adaptations for horse hooves, mirroring the logic behind studded or spiked horseshoes. This practical reality stresses how important secure footing was not only for farmers and traders but for entire communities dependent on efficient, safe transportation of goods.
A Glimpse into Viking Mindsets
Seeing these crampons appear in graves from the Viking Age underscores their significance. Objects placed in graves often held special meaning, sometimes to display a person’s social status and sometimes to ensure they had what they needed in the afterlife. The presence of crampons could imply that safe travel, even on the slickest surfaces, was woven into the fabric of Viking identity. It might also signal that these spikes were common and important enough that burying them alongside their owners made symbolic sense.
We don’t typically think of everyday survival gear as “treasured” artifacts, but their inclusion in burial contexts suggests that these seemingly mundane items were highly valued. After all, if an object helps prevent falls in a climate where a broken bone could be disastrous, it’s more than just a tool—it’s a lifesaver.
Bridging History and Today
For those currently contending with icy sidewalks, knowing that Vikings faced and solved similar challenges may feel oddly comforting. Our modern crampons, fashioned from lightweight steel and designed with convenient straps or chains, may look more refined than the blacksmith-forged iron arcs of old. Yet the principle remains the same. Whether crossing a slick parking lot or traversing a frozen fjord, a few well-placed spikes can mean the difference between sure-footed progress and an unfortunate tumble.
While marveling at the Vikings’ sailing prowess or awe-inspiring raids is easy, examining something as practical as crampons reveal their broader ingenuity. The Vikings understood their environment, adapting to nature’s obstacles with resourceful inventions. We might joke that “people back then must have slipped a lot,” but artifacts like these show they weren’t content to let winter immobilize them, and they improvised and innovated.
Safe Travels this winter
As you head out in the cold this season, pulling on microspikes, Yaktrax, or any other traction aid, consider the long legacy you’re joining. Vikings and early medieval Norwegians faced harsh winters just as we do, and they tackled the ice head-on with their brand of technology. These excavated crampons, tested by experts like Espen Kutschera, speak volumes about the day-to-day ingenuity that has echoed through the centuries.
In a world that often focuses on monumental battles and epic voyages, it’s refreshing to zoom in on a humbler aspect of Viking life: staying on one’s feet in winter. From wooden boardwalks frozen solid to the slippery slopes of Norwegian fjords, the ancient Norse found ways to move forward safely—just as we do now with our traction gear. Whether then or now, the desire to walk without fear of falling on the ice remains universal—and the Viking-age crampons unearthed in Norway prove practicality can be just as impressive as any longboat adventure.
To check out the original article by Science Norway, CLICK HERE.
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