Boot/Shoe Ice Grippers

Verzejd

Verzejd

Joined
Mar 16, 2002
Messages
231
Anyone try these type devices? Looking for winter snow and ice traction devices. Something that you wear over your boots or shoes. Starting to get slippery here in NY. Do they work? Thanks.
 
I like 12 point crampons! Gave me a very secure and safe feeling.

I think what you are talking about are like tire-chains for your shoes, tho. Dunno how well they work.

You won't want actual crampons for sidewalks. Stone dulls them and they have to be kept somewhat sharp.
 
I had a pair of YakTrax. I liked them. They worked well, but in deep snow, they came off my shoes (lost them both in one hike). That said, I'm sure this problem could be rectified by tying a strap of some sort across the top of the shoe.
 
I'm moving to Maine soon, from Los Angeles. I think I'll need these for when I'm walking my out-of-control beagles.

The old joke in Maine is, they only have two seasons--July, and Winter.
 
You could just take some self tapping sheet metal screws (dome headed) and put them in the soles of your boots.
2 cautions. Use short screws that won't go thru the sole (doh!)
And don't wear those boots in the house.
Not for climbing but good for icy streets ;)
 
yak trax now have a strap to keep them on. but they still suck. Fine if you're walking in snow or snow ice mix, but if you have to walk on hard surfaces at all they are very slippery AND the little wires will shear through the rubber straps in very short order ( an hour or two ).
 
DaveH said:
yak trax now have a strap to keep them on. but they still suck. Fine if you're walking in snow or snow ice mix, but if you have to walk on hard surfaces at all they are very slippery AND the little wires will shear through the rubber straps in very short order ( an hour or two ).
Click to expand...

What Dave said. I've seen something similiar that works a lot better. They're rubber with metal inserts, like studs on a snow tire. Woman I talked to said that her father-in-law got them from work, one of the railroads. She's real happy with them.

Gordon
 
YakTrax are good for those days when it's icy...skating rink kind of stuff, when you fall stepping out the door. I've had them two seasons with no complaints. I walk a bit slower and a bit more surefooted, which is to be expected, and feel plenty secure. As you can tell by previous entries, they are not for snow, long walks, or a serious hike (where crampons are called for). But good enough for around town. Easy on and off too, which is important if you're going in and out of stores. I have seen the more expensive model...but the 'originals' do the job.
 
Good point about going in and out of stores. The screws that I mentioned would be skates on terracotta or hard tile.
:eek:
 
Kahtoola makes a lightweight crampon designed for trail running in the snow. They are very flexible and only have 10 points (the points are much shorter than mounttaineering crampons.) These might be the best cross between full fledged crampons and Yaktrax type devices. See em here: http://www.kahtoola.com/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top