Ice Grippers (Read 1444 times)

Srew Shoes. Every winter, around the first snowfall, I say, "This is the year I'm going to make me some screw shoes." Usually this is while I'm out for a run in my regular shoes and I'm slipping and sliding all over and I say, "Yessir, I'm going to the hardware store and getting me some sheet metal screws tonight!" And then I get busy and I forget and I never do it. And then the snow melts and I'm running on pavement again and, while I'm cold, my footing is okay and so I don't think about it anymore. Until the next storm of the season when I say, "That's really it this time, I'm doing it." And then the snow melts again before I get around to it. Until the next storm when, well, you get the idea. But this time I'm really gonna do it. Really.

If I could find a route that was 100% snow packed or snow covered the Screw Shoes or Yaks would work great. The problem I find is that my routes are rarely all snow covered. So far my best option has been the screw shoe. They work great except when you do get on a hard surface then they really feel weird. They do provide good traction and work best on snow packed roads. I have only ran in them twice this year and that is with 23" of snow fall so far this month. There have been a couple of runs that I was wishing I had worn them.

Screw Shoes

La Sportiva Hobnails ($40, http://www.sportiva.com/products/prod/441) Like do-it-yourself screw shoes, but they are easier to install and don't tend to work themselves loose. Also much more expensive. Heard good things about them on the Boulder Trailrunners list recently.