Winter Caulks, Crampons etc...From Georgia l need advice!!

[adrtree]

I'm from Georgia. I'm living and working in Norway.
Been having some trouble here in the winter especially on steep grades . I wear logging boots normally (Chippewas).
The snow is ok but once it gets an ice sheet on it or multiple layers of snow/ice sheets then I'm having serious trouble getting around. Easy to sink in and get locked at your shins by the ice layers or I end up sliding down harder bank sheets. Slows things down quite a bit.
Finally getting good use out of chain brakes though!
Been using an Iron Horse that I put ice spikes on and sometimes its the only way I can get up and down grades. Can't walk them sometimes. Steep and rocky here.
Any of you guys from colder places use crampons while doing tree work? If so, what style is the best to use for tree work?
I've tried these slip on rubber over boot short ice spikes but they don't work too well. Makes me think caulks wouldn't be much better.

Thanks for any advice in advance!!
A

[Brucer]

I use something called "Icers". They have a rubber base that straps onto the bottom of your boots. They are studded with small, hardened stainless steel cleats (they resemble hex head sheet metal screws). The cleats just screw in and are replaceable.

The hex-shaped cleats seem to work better than spiked cleats.

[adrtree]

I use something called "Icers". They have a rubber base that straps onto the bottom of your boots. They are studded with small, hardened stainless steel cleats (they resemble hex head sheet metal screws). The cleats just screw in and are replaceable.

The hex-shaped cleats seem to work better than spiked cleats.

Those are similar to the ones I tried here last year. The Icers do look a little better built than the ones I bought.
Are you able to get enough footing with them? Do the cleats bite in deep enough?
I tried some 4 point ice cleats for the Iron Horse tracks that were about 1/4 inch but they didn't bite deep enough so I switched to a more aggressive style that was  1/2 inch or more...
I'm thinking the same might apply to my boots. Thanks for the link though those might be a good solution to general traction even if not for the woods.

[Leigh Family Farm]

Crampons are meant fro ice climbing and mountaineering. They can be difficult to get on/off but thats for a good reason as they are meant to keep you from falling off the frozen waterfall! They also are meant to  only be worn on ice and not anywhere else.

I would look for a pair of used crampons that have a solid toe box (like the old style bike pedal cages) and a single strap around the ankle. Like this one:

http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/product_Grivel-G20-Cramp-O-Matic-Crampons_10215227_10208_10000001_-1_?cm_mmc=CSE-_-Shopzilla-_-na-_-Grivel-G20-Cramp-O-Matic-Crampons&ad_id=cseshopzilla&zmam=89081595&zmas=3&zmac=96&zmap=838095

It will allow for easy on/off but still stay on when needed.

[BaldBob]

I'm from Georgia. I'm living and working in Norway.
Been having some trouble here in the winter especially on steep grades . I wear logging boots normally (Chippewas).
The snow is ok but once it gets an ice sheet on it or multiple layers of snow/ice sheets then I'm having serious trouble getting around. Easy to sink in and get locked at your shins by the ice layers or I end up sliding down harder bank sheets. Slows things down quite a bit.
Finally getting good use out of chain brakes though!
Been using an Iron Horse that I put ice spikes on and sometimes its the only way I can get up and down grades. Can't walk them sometimes. Steep and rocky here.
Any of you guys from colder places use crampons while doing tree work? If so, what style is the best to use for tree work?
I've tried these slip on rubber over boot short ice spikes but they don't work too well. Makes me think caulks wouldn't be much better.

Thanks for any advice in advance!!
A

For the situation where you have an ice layer over snow that you break through and bang your shins, the best solution is a pair of Bear Paw snow shoes that have an ice grip cleat under the toe.  The best type for this application are the small metal frame type.
For plain layers of ice - What do the locals, who have lived with the conditions you describe forever, use?

[adrtree]

The locals here wear big rubber insulated boots with deep rubber treads and sometimes rubber caulks. I think they just accept the sliding around as part of the job. I have yet to see an efficient Norwegian tree guy though. They work so slow I guess they don't care how long it takes to walk up hills...

I have a pair of Sportiva Lhotse that have the slots for step in cramp ons. Maybe they could become my tree boots.

These boots look interesting.Called the Meindl Timbercat. I'm sure they are real cheap too :-[Chain stop and ice spikes.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4BKf6D8Hkg
I can only imagine water would get in the mechanism though.. They say the Meindl airstreams are good but I dunno about the Meindl Timbercat.

[Leigh Family Farm]

Sportiva is a good solid boot maker. The step-in feature is nice but can be a bit diffuclt to step out of. What about using small snowshoes? Like child size ones and modifying the boot strap?

[adrtree]

Sportiva is a good solid boot maker. The step-in feature is nice but can be a bit diffuclt to step out of. What about using small snowshoes? Like child size ones and modifying the boot strap?

Yeah, I have had my Sportivas since 2001. Never used them for work but I've used them a good bit and they are still in amazingly good shape. They look almost new.  I climbed and hiked in Alaska for 4 months straight with them.  They are the highest quality boot I've ever had. Expensive but worth it.
My logging boots never last more than a year but I do abuse them pretty bad. I use the Chippewa super loggers the last 3 or 4 years.
Never used Snowshoes before. Maybe I should try my wifes fathers pair which is a few limbs wrapped in a circle with barb wire in the middle. WW2 Norwegian snowshoes I guess. Another pair he had is shoe size squares of tire with screws in them and straps for the feet. I guess those were a progression from the WW2 style.

[Brucer]

... Are you able to get enough footing with them? Do the cleats bite in deep enough? ...

They work for me. Every year my driveway ices up for a week or two -- literally a sheet of ice. There are 3 steep hills on it and I have no trouble walking up (or down) them with the Icers. They don't bite in very deep but the rims of the cleats dig in just enough to prevent sliding.

The also work well on very compacted snow. The whole cleat digs in deep enough that they don't tear out a chunk of snow on the hills.

They aren't the most comfortable things to wear on very hard surfaces -- but landing on your behind on a hard surface isn't very comfortable, either.

[adrtree]

... Are you able to get enough footing with them? Do the cleats bite in deep enough? ...

They work for me. Every year my driveway ices up for a week or two -- literally a sheet of ice. There are 3 steep hills on it and I have no trouble walking up (or down) them with the Icers. They don't bite in very deep but the rims of the cleats dig in just enough to prevent sliding.

The also work well on very compacted snow. The whole cleat digs in deep enough that they don't tear out a chunk of snow on the hills.

They aren't the most comfortable things to wear on very hard surfaces -- but landing on your behind on a hard surface isn't very comfortable, either.

I just noticed your location. Nice country up there. One of my favorite areas in North America. I bought the Iron Horse from a guy south of you. Do you know a guy named Bryan Couture by chance?

[adrtree]

I think I found the ideal boots for this place in the winter. Check out this page

https://shop.schutzbekleidung.at/index.php?p=catalog&mode=search&parent=0&mid=0&search_in=all&search_str=Klima+Air&pg=1