HeatTrak Heated Snow-Melting Mat Starter Kit Review
Plug-in heated mats for the one set of steps everyone uses — one walkway mat, two stair mats, and the power unit, and ice simply never forms.
The verdict
HeatTrak mats are the set-and-forget answer for a high-traffic entry: rubber mats with embedded heating elements that melt snow at roughly 2 inches per hour and keep the surface ice-free as long as they're plugged in. This starter kit bundles a walkway mat, two stair mats, a power unit, and a cable extender — enough for a typical front stoop. They draw household 120V power, cost pennies an hour to run, and are the only product here that means no shoveling and no salt at all.
Typical price: ~$500 (typical street price — current price shown on Amazon)
Buy on AmazonWhat we like
- +Melts up to ~2 in of snow per hour (mfr); ice never gets a foothold
- +No salt, no shoveling, no slip risk on the most-used steps
- +Modular — connect more mats later; kit includes a cable extender
- +Heavy rubber mats with non-slip surface; stay out all winter
- +Low operating cost on standard 120V power
What to know
- −Expensive up front versus a bag of ice melt
- −Needs an outdoor GFCI outlet and cord management
- −Covers only the mats' footprint — not the whole driveway
- −Mats are heavy; storing them in summer takes space
Full review
Every other product in this category is about removing snow and ice after the fact. HeatTrak mats prevent it: plug them in before the storm and the snow melts on contact, the melt water runs off, and the surface stays dry and black while everything around it turns white. For a front stoop, a set of deck steps, or the walk between the garage and the door, it's the closest thing to not having winter.
The starter kit is sized for a typical entry: one walkway mat plus two stair mats, daisy-chained to a power unit, with a cable extender to reach the outlet. Mats are thick rubber with a non-slip surface and are designed to stay outside all season — you don't move them when it snows; that's the point. The melt rate of about 2 inches per hour keeps ahead of most storms, and because the surface never freezes you're not spreading salt that ends up on your floors and your dog.
It's a premium solution and priced like one, and it covers only where the mats are. The people it makes the most sense for are those with a senior in the house, a steep set of entry steps, or a professional need for a reliably ice-free path. If you're one of them, the cost looks very different against one fall.
Best for: Front steps and stoops, seniors' entries, and anyone who wants one path to the door that is never icy.
Specifications
| Kit contents | 1 walkway mat, 2 stair mats, 1 power unit, 1 cable extender |
|---|---|
| Power | 120 V household outlet (use GFCI) |
| Melt rate | ~2 in/hr (mfr) |
| Construction | Heavy-duty rubber with embedded heating elements |
| Surface | Non-slip tread |
| Expandability | Connect additional HeatTrak mats in series |
| Placement | Stairs, stoops, walkways, deck steps |
| Warranty | Limited (HeatTrak) |
Ready to get one?
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~$500 typical price
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