Best thing for winter walking

[Resonator]

After slipping and falling down 3 times while working outside, I looked at different styles and sizes of traction soles for my boots. I bought a pair for less than $20. They make a HUGE difference walking on ice, making it much safer. They are made of a stretchy black rubber with stainless steel spikes, and are made to slip over the heel and toe of the boot or shoe, and fit different sizes. Took a little work, but got them onto my snow boots. The only caution is I have to take them off before I walk inside on floors.

[Pulphook]

Those look like the Stabilicers we use...work well.
My local logger buddy screwed 3/8" SS machine screws into his boot soles. He says they're better to work in than the strap-ons.
Not what I'm going to do to $$$ boots. :

[barbender]

I tried those once, and they do work great if you're just working or walking on the ground. However, if you're on and off equipment (like running a cable skidder as I was at the time) you'll end up breaking your neck when you step on a metal object and the cleats slide on it. 

[sprucebunny]

I leave a set on a spare pair of slip-on boots. ( Muck chore) The kind I have are hard to drive in.

[goose63]

 

 

After I fell and broke my hip I bought these Nancy said NOT in the house 

[Resonator]

Correct, they are not to be used on hard surfaces (metal, floor tile, etc.), but they do work great walking on ice. This winter where I live we had freezing rain that turned to ice, followed by powdery snow. That covered the ice and hid the slippery spots until I would "find" them. With sub-zero temps, falls can be even more dangerous. When I'm hand cutting trees in the woods, I want all the traction I can get.

[Old Greenhorn]

I bought a pair of those for my dad when he hot 85 and was having a hard time with the ice. He found he kept 'walking' out of them in the snow. He did use them but gradually stopped gong outside when the ice was bad, his mobility was waning at that point. For myself, I use the strap over cleat that sits in the instep of the boot sole. I can drive with those, but they grab good on the ice and I have used them for many miles backpacking. If I could find them I would put up a photo, I bet they are within 6 feet of where i sit right now, but I don't see them . If we were having an ice storm, I would find them in 5 minutes. I should have dug them out the wear for the last 2 days. I am thinking about running some studs into my logging boots for the winter, because I can't wear them in the house anyway, they bring in too much junk in the lugs. Falling on the ice is serious business. Logging boots work TERRIBLE on ice whether they are 100 bucks or 500 bucks. without some kind of stud or spike, you will be in trouble. I am very careful where I step.

[gspren]

I've had good luck with YakTrax, sort of springs on rubber straps, they don't mark up the garage floor but in the house would cause me serious trouble.

[upnut]

I broke out the Eagle Claw super stud sandals for dog chore duties following the rain/freeze-up cycle we endured. I hate rain in the winter, nothing good comes from it! Like Sprucebunny, mine fit nicely on a pair of Muck boots, nothing I would cut wood in. The Haix chainsaw boots have been a major improvement in snowy conditions, haven't worn them on ice yet. I chained up the atv to haul sand for the icy driveway, we'll find out about the Haix boots when it's time to haul firewood.

Scott B.

[WLC]

I like that type cleats.  Done worn out two pairs of them over the past 14 winters.

[low_48]

Timely advice. Our 38 year old son just fell last week near his office in Lisle, IL. He had surgery on Tuesday to repair a break just below his knee cap. No weight on that leg for 8 weeks. Good news is that he doesn't have to go outside as Chicago may set an all time record for low high temp this week. Of course that is a small consolation. I have worn some slip over rigs that have coil springs under the sole of my shoes. We had a Golden that had no sense of not wanting a walk despite horrible weather.

[Crusarius]

I use kahtoole microspikes. The wrap over everything I wear on my feet. they are not as good on sneakers though. They kinda squish your foot.

Whenever I get called to a chimney fire I wear them. they are the best thing ever on an icey roof. I have not fallen off yet

Just don't use them on steel. They can be quite treacherous on concrete as well. But they dig right into wood

They are very easy to take off when heading into the garage or house.

[Pulphook]

I use kahtoole microspikes. The wrap over everything I wear on my feet. they are not as good on sneakers though. They kinda squish your foot.

Whenever I get called to a chimney fire I wear them. they are the best thing ever on an icey roof. I have not fallen off yet

Just don't use them on steel. They can be quite treacherous on concrete as well. But they dig right into wood

They are very easy to take off when heading into the garage or house.

No chance of chimney fires here. Try to burn hot and clean even with grilled caps on the 2 flues that can clog in shoulder burning times.
An annual spring flue brushing does the job and has for a couple of decades.
Crusarius--you're not coming on my new DIY asphalt shingled roof with those spikes !

[Crusarius]

if its a choice between my spikes on your roof or you house burning?

surprising thing is I have actually tested it and you cannot even see any penetrations from the spikes in asphalt shingles.

[Pulphook]

if its a choice between my spikes on your roof or you house burning?

surprising thing is I have actually tested it and you cannot even see any penetrations from the spikes in asphalt shingles.

No, the choice is to burn clean, burn hot. Have safe flues; prefer the SS insulated ones or lined masonry chimneys.
There's been no chimney fires in this area for decades.
When I have to clean the 2 flues, rubber soled climbing shoes work on this 10 pitch asphalt roof. Although SWIMBO ( She Who Must Be Obeyed ) made me adjust the HD ridge antenna after some gales late last fall. Had to go without the rubber shoes since it was too cold and some snow.

[Crusarius]

if everybody was as diligent as you I would not need these spikes. Thank you.

We had one "customer" that called us out for a chimney fire every year. He finally made the mistake of saying something to one of our assistant chiefs. The quote was something like this. 

"I usually just call in a chimney fire, you guys do a better job of cleaning the chimney and are alot cheaper than paying to have it cleaned"

That was the last time he called us because the chimney was removed from the house because we couldn't seem to get all the fire out. He was not very happy but he did call us every year and we cleaned his chimney very well.