
What That Red Stick Is Really For
At first glance, finding a small red plastic stick located in the side pocket or near the zipper of your Denver Hayes boots may seem like an error on the part of the manufacturer. However, the red plastic stick serves a specific purpose. It aids in making the boots functional in winter conditions.
More Than Standard Winter Boots
Mark’s (long standing company) has sold rugged, weather-resistant boots under the name of Denver Hayes. There are a few of their models that include a retractable cleat in the heel of each boot. The retractable cleat provides improved traction on both solid ice and solid-packed snow. This, in turn, improves the ability to walk safely through these types of surfaces during the winter months. This occurs when using Denver Hayes boots and their stick component.
What Does the Red Plastic Stick Do?
The red plastic stick is used to activate the retractable cleats in the heel of the shoe.
Operation of the Red Plastic Stick:
- Locate the circular or rectangular component in the heel of the shoe.
- Put the red plastic stick into this component.
- Twist the red plastic stick to engage the cleats or disengage them from the bottom of the shoe.

While the shoes will be able to be walked on inside as normal shoes with the red plastic stick, they will be able to be walked on outside in winter with improved traction. This is achieved using the Denver Hayes stick functionality.
Solution to a Common Winter Problem
The cleats found on these shoes improve the ability to walk safely on icy or snowy covered sidewalks and driveways. However, when the shoes are being walked on inside, twist the cleats back into the sole of the shoe. This will prevent slipping on smooth surfaces or damage to the floor.
Common Mistakes
Many of the first-time customers make common mistakes once they locate the red plastic stick in the box containing their shoes. Most people mistakenly assume the red plastic stick is a shoehorn for cleaning debris from the shoe. They may think it is a leftover manufacturing piece from assembly, or a separate accessory sold with the shoes. Once the customer locates the retractable cleats at the bottom of the heel and uses the red plastic stick as instructed, the true functionality of the Denver Hayes boots stick becomes apparent.

Practical Functionality
Having a built-in traction system as part of the Denver Hayes boot makes it unnecessary to purchase and install additional devices for gripping ice and other slippery surfaces. This ingenious design, featuring the Denver Hayes stick for operation, adds practicality to your winter footwear.




