YAK TRAX

[VT9]

YakTrax. Have you seen them? Maybe you've read posts with some of us expressing our satisfaction with them and how they make getting around in winter a bit safer and easier.



Guess what? Winter's not over!

If you live where it snows or ices over on a regular basis these things come in quite handy.
Personally I wear them more to get around a little easier on packed snow and ice rather than to prevent falls. If you wear them thinking you won't slip on ice you'd be wrong. They'll greatly improve your traction and if you start to slip they usually grab. But they aren't cramp-ons!

Don't let the wound springs and rubber fool you. They really do grip. I've walked up packed down sledding hills pulling children to the amazement of their parents. "How'd you do that ****y? What do you have on your feet?"

I've found they work awesome for walking IN snow. Not just ON snow or ice. When rough housing and playing with my friends dog or climbing the berm downrange I've always had firm and confident footing.

My guess is the success in those situations is the YakTrax don't accumulate snow like boot treads do. While observing my friends wearing theirs the treads may be all white with packed snow but you can clearly see YakTrax are ready to get traction as soon as the foot hits the ground.

While I have worn them driving and do wear them in business' I'd have to caution one to be carefull while wearing them on a hard surface like a grocery store floor. In a situation like that you've got a lot less rubber soul contacting the hard floor due the the grip springs.

Don't let the $30 price tag on the website scare you off. I believe our local Eastern Mountain Sports had them for $24 last winter. Up here we refer to EMS as Expensive Mountain Sh*t. So my guess is if your look around online you could get them for less. I can't what recall what I paid for mine but I ordered them online as I didn't want to pay EMS prices. Even better, last winter my buddy that works ski lift got us some freebies. Apparently YakTrax dropped a pallet of them off at the mountain.

Now I've got two pair. A large pair for my surplus micky mouse boots and Blizzard Stalkers the other for smaller boots and shoes.

Don't totally freak out about fitting them to your boots. I could use either pair on any of my boots. I just don't feel like fighting to get the smaller ones onto the micky boots.

So...are you using YakTrax? How do you use them? Would you recommend them to others?

[Old Hawk]

I have over 3 years experience with Yaktrax and recommend them highly. I only use them on ice and my feeling is that it is unlikely you would ever slip provided you take small steps planting your feet firmly.

For sure you will greatly reduce the risk of falling.

I am using the Walker model and it suits my needs. Having read many users' reports it seems that the Walkers are sometimes lost (actually what happens is that they break and fall off). This seems to be especially true for those who actually go out and walk long distances. The Pro model is more ruggedly built and has an additional strap over the instep.

The price is very low if you do some shopping. At Amazon you can get the Walkers for as little as $9 and the Pros for $16 depending on the size and color you order. I tried to post the link here but it doesn't work, just go to Amazon and search for Yaktrax.

You will also find there similar products from other manufacturers.

As this terrible winter seems to be going on forever you may well need a pair this season.

OH

[VT9]

I only use them on ice and my feeling is that it is unlikely you would ever slip provided you take small steps planting your feet firmly.

That's what I was trying to convey. Only I didn't quite know how to explain that one needs to use some common sense. Like even though you've got these cool grippy things attached to your feet you can't walk around like you're on dry concrete.

[Feather]

I have friends that wear theirs to get to and from the bus line. They love them. The only problem there has been is one friend had one slip off her boot while shoveling, we are hoping it re-appears when the snow melts.

[stars01]

I bought Yak Trax last month after my husband ended up with a concussion from falling on ice. He hasn't had a chance to use them but we're in the 12-16 inch range for the next snowstorm so we'll see how it goes. Snow is easy to walk in but the ice is another matter.


paula

[Ought Six]

http://thisbluemarble.com/showthread.php?t=23060

[VT9]

Originally Posted by Ought Six

http://thisbluemarble.com/showthread.php?t=23060

Me and OldHawk were talking about them in chat and he felt they deserved their own thread. I think he's getting some use out of his lately.

[Ought Six]

I just posted the link because there is some good info in the previous thread.

[Potemkin]

Swedish military versions available for US$22 here:
http://www.deutscheoptik.com/catalog...oducts_id=1658

[Feather]

A couple of friends have that model and love them. They didn't loose one this winter like they normally do. That strap really helps keep them on your feet.