  In classical and quantum frustrated magnets the interactions in combination
with the lattice structure impede the spins to order in optimal configurations
at zero temperature. The theoretical interest in their classical realisations
has been boosted by the artificial manufacture of materials with these
properties, that are of flexible design. This note summarises work on the use
of vertex models to study bidimensional spin-ices samples, done in
collaboration with R. A. Borzi, M. V. Ferreyra, L. Foini, G. Gonnella, S. A.
Grigera, P. Guruciaga, D. Levis, A. Pelizzola and M. Tarzia, in recent years.
It is an invited contribution to a J. Stat. Phys. special issue dedicated to
the memory of Leo P. Kadanoff.
