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Running on snow/ice - Yaktrax etc

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SpicedApple Nov 2011 10:04pm, 29 Nov 2011 5,464 posts	Quote Pin SpicedApple It's that time of year again - well, hopefully soon. Which Yaktrax (or similar product from a different manufacturer) do you have? What are your experiences? I've seen these http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/yaktrax-walker-p164643. They don't look extremely "grippy" to me, unlike the ones with chains or even little studs/spikes, but the price is reasonable. Opinions?
JohnnyO Nov 2011 10:21pm, 29 Nov 2011 10,757 posts	Quote Pin JohnnyO Advice last year was that they are quite good, but nightmare if you hit tarmac/concrete, as you have no grip on a 'normal' surface. Don't really know myself though as I never tried them. I invested in some Orocs. They are an expensive solution, but they work well, and i see them being useful for years to come. El Bee sells them.
Duchess Nov 2011 10:27pm, 29 Nov 2011 462 posts	Quote Pin Duchess I bought the Yaktrax Pro last winter (I wasn't running at the time but it was on the recommendation of a serious runner) and found them brilliant. Yes they don't look like they should grip but the coils dig into the ice or snow making them feel incredibly stable. Although I was only walking, I never fell over once which is very unusual for me Would definitely recommend the few extra £ for the Pro version - the strap over the top of the foot will add a bit of extra stability to the Yaktrax and hold it still on your foot. I suspect if you flex your foot a lot whilst running, the walker version could come loose.
Muddie Nov 2011 10:37pm, 29 Nov 2011 18 posts	Quote Pin Muddie I've got the Yaktrax Pro, which has a strap that goes over the top of the foot. I used them last winter on compacted snow & icey conditions and they worked well for me. Definitely gave more grip & had great fun in the park. You do still have to be careful of course - it's still not like running in normal conditions. And no, you're not supposed to use them indoors or tarmac etc. This year they've also brought out the XTR Extreme version [step too far for running?]. See gooutdoors.co.uk Sorry can't do links.
Muddie Nov 2011 10:38pm, 29 Nov 2011 19 posts	Quote Pin Muddie Oh! Apparently I CAN do links. Hello again Duchess.
greenbox Nov 2011 10:39pm, 29 Nov 2011 180 posts	Quote Pin greenbox Well call me thick but I was wondering how people manage to run in the snow without going A over T ..... I'm getting some
IanS Nov 2011 10:46pm, 29 Nov 2011 1,212 posts	Quote Pin IanS I got microspikes: kahtoola.com Great for ice and packed snow but rubbish on bare roads or pavements
SpicedApple Nov 2011 10:53pm, 29 Nov 2011 5,465 posts	Quote Pin SpicedApple Thanks all! The Yaktrax Pro look good (Ian's microspikes look proper grippy, but a bit above my budget.). How much leeway is there in terms of sizing? On their website https://www.yaktrax.co.uk/shop/yaktrax-pro, each size range is from one "boot" size up to a larger "shoe" size. Are boots bigger than shoes, or does that mean there's an overlap between, say, small and medium? My running shoes aren't all the same size, and the largest pair is just above what seems to count as a "small" for Yaktrax...
Torry Quine Nov 2011 10:55pm, 29 Nov 2011 7,367 posts	Quote Pin Torry Quine I got Yaktrax for Christmas last year. They're great.
Muddie Nov 2011 11:15pm, 29 Nov 2011 21 posts	Quote Pin Muddie For sizing advice ............. yaktrax.co.uk