Walking On Ice: Stabilicers, Yaktrax, etc...

[Quillfred]

I am looking for opinions on the different gadgets for walking on compact snow and ice. Some of the brands I noticed are:

Yaktrax

Stabilicers -soles and lite models

Shoe Claws

Some of the other types look as they could be flimsy and unreliable. Have you tried them? What is good/bad about them?

Thanks
Quill

[divingbiker]

I've got Yaktrax. I only use them when walking the dogs in winter. They work pretty well, though I still walk very carefully when going down a hill on ice. They can be a pain to strap on your shoes if you're in a hurry, but generally I'd say I'm pleased with them.

[DebW]

Are you talking about walking on flat ice or steep ice? In the city or hiking mountains? I have full crampons for winter hiking, but find instep crampons to be wonderful in lots of conditions that don't require full crampons. Insteps have 4-6 points and fit under your instep only, allowing you to take a few steps over rocks on the balls of your feet without engaging the points. They have a simple strap that goes behind your heel and over your instep. I hike with mine on moderately steep trails - when other people are mincing their way up and trying to step from rock to rock, I'm galumpfing my way up rapidly by stomping over the iciest parts. On downhills I take the big steps with confidence and move rapidly. You need to learn to walk confidently on crampons and stomp your feet down with some force to get the best purchase.

The Stabilicers and many of the alternatives have very short spikes, which aren't even sharp, limiting their usefulness to soft ice/packed snow at low angles. Insteps have sharp points like regular crampons, so they really stick. They do stick out from your foot by about 2 inches, so awkward to walk on if they can't dig into something. I do wear mine for taking the dog out in icy conditions, sometimes even over sneakers, but that would be uncomfortable for a long excursion on icy sidewalks. So your application will dictate your choice. If you are interested in insteps, Backpacker mag did a review of several models a few year ago and you could probably find it on their web site (www.backpacker.com). The pair I have are no longer available, but have given me great servive for 25 years.

[East Hill]

Oh, those are aspects I had never considered! I think Quillfred and the rest of us PNWers are thinking about steep, hard packed ice, in the city. That's what we had for the last few days.

East Hill

[DebW]

There's a new brand of full crampons called Katoolas (or something like that) that have short spikes and hinges for flexible shoes. Some hikers use them over trail runners. I believe they're aluminum and lightweight, which means they would wear down quickly if used on rocks or bare pavement very much. Might be a good choice for steep ice in the city.

When using any type of crampon, you need to learn kind of a bow-legged walk so your feet stay further apart than normal and you don't catch your points on your pant legs and trip. Gatiers are good for keeping the pants out of they way, but gaiter tears are still pretty common.

[Quillfred]

For the most part, my use of the anti-slips would be flat and hilly ice for around home and in the mountains (parking lots). I will be spending a week in Juneau and Wrangell (Alaska) in December but I don't have illusions about walking on the glaciers. Time for XC skiing.

I found a few more links this morning (thanks coffee) that provide some debate. The recommendations do shift based on the steepness, frequency of use, altitude (climbing vs walking).

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/arch...hp/t-3862.html

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...egory_rn=69710

divingbiker - I am leaning towards the Yaktrax for my applications. I won't be using them often enough to worry about durability. Glad to hear you like them.

DebW - I haven't hiked in the winter before but have had pretty good luck with my poles and Vibrams crossing the occasional ice field on Rainier trails during the Summer and Fall. However, if we continue to have snow and ice with any frequency, I will consider http://www.kahtoola.com/ Thanks for your well-considered answer.

EastHill - You're right there. I posted this after hearing a quick mention of Yaktrax and Shoe Claws mentioned on the news. I figured if I was thinking about it, others might be too.

Thanks!
Quill