Traction aids for snow and ice?
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chriscm70
Posts: 76 Member
To those of you who run outside in the winter snow... what do you use/like? What works for you?
It looks like there are TONS of products out there to choose from, from DIY sheet metal screws on up... just wondering what people actually use that works. Thanks!
It looks like there are TONS of products out there to choose from, from DIY sheet metal screws on up... just wondering what people actually use that works. Thanks!
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Most of the time I run with no traction aids at all - just shorten my stride and, so far so good.
For icy conditions I have Yak Trax (they're slippery on dry surfaces) and prefer to run without them, if there's freezing rain I'll usually stay inside and use the dreadmill. I haven't tried sheet metal screws but know a couple of runners that swear by them (you pretty much need to dedicate a pair of shoes to winter running with them)0 -
I use a retired pair of runners with small #6 screws 3/8 inch long in them little noises on pavement but work awesome on trails and packed snow, I don’t run huge distance with them but they work great for my 10km winter/ice runs. Cost me $1.70 for 12..0
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Thanks for the advice. I'll probably try the screws on an old pair first, nothing to lose really!
I really don't mind running on the treadmill but I need to get some miles in outside as much as I can for a possibly icy February race.
Good feedback on the yaktrax, I didn't realize they'd be slippery on dry roads, thanks!0 -
I use a retired pair of runners with small #6 screws 3/8 inch long in them little noises on pavement but work awesome on trails and packed snow, I don’t run huge distance with them but they work great for my 10km winter/ice runs. Cost me $1.70 for 12..
I did this when we had a ton of ice here a couple of weeks ago. It worked really well.
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Oh cool, I like the screw placement.. I'm going to steal your design ;-)0
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Great tip w/the screws!0
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Oh cool, I like the screw placement.. I'm going to steal your design ;-)
I ran out of screws so I didn't get as many on there as I would have liked. I had 10 per shoe and would have liked at least 2 more per shoe to make it an even dozen. But they worked great with just 10.0 -
Just ran on snow covered roads this morning for the second time this week. I run in the same shoes I use when the roads are dry and have not experienced any issues. I keep my stride on the short side of normal (for me) and try not to stray into the dark patches (black ice) when I can help it.....0
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I have winter "screw (it, I'm running!) shoes." An excellent description of application is here:
http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm
They work really well, even on steep trails. If you want a little extra security (at a price,) some people I know swear by these:
http://www.solespikes.com
Happy running!0 -
I just bought the Yaktrax Pro & used them Saturday for the first time. Loved them. I won't see dry pavement where I live for several months, so that's not an issue. I had a combination of loose snow (it was snowing during my run), packed ice, and greasy snow and they were good on all the surfaces.0
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I just ordered Ice Spikes.. they work like the screws. I just didnt feel confident
that I wouldnt ruin my shoes w/ regular screws. I also have yak trax but I have
seen several people now lose one in a race.. they pop off when they get old.
That's a problem.0 -
Yaktrax! Can't imagine life without them anymore!0
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I bought the YakTrax Run a few weeks ago and have used them twice now - both for my long 20 milers pre-marathon, and in somewhat different conditions:
The first run I used them on was mostly just compacted snow on dirt roads (very little ice) - they worked great, definitely felt like I had great traction. I maybe could've gotten by without them, but I felt better knowing I had them, especially going up hills.
The second run I used them on was a very thin layer of ice on top of paved sidewalks - and once again, worked great! I started my run without them, not knowing the paths were frozen. After 3/4 of mile of slipping and sliding, I ran back to my car to put them on, and I could instantly notice a HUGE improvement!
Overall, I was really grateful I had them, especially for the second run! Definitely worth the $40 in my opinion!
(side note - I kept seeing tons of slip and slide tracks from geese...so wish I could've seen them sliding around, lol)0 -
Quick update... I was going to do the "screwshoes", and still might, but I got a pair of the YakTrax Pros for Christmas and wow, no problem at all, even on uneven bumpy ice with water over top of it, stuff that's impossible to walk on. As long as thy prove to be durable I think these things are amazing! I walked for a few cars as they drove by... just to not freak them out so they slammed on the brakes, but still average cadence was 174 at 8:41 avg pace.
The ice was somewhat soft, with some slush patches, so the YakTrax really dug in. I'm not sure yet how they'll be on really hard ice but they seem like they'd be fine.
It was nice not to have to have to run on the treadmill today :-)0 -
I use a retired pair of runners with small #6 screws 3/8 inch long in them little noises on pavement but work awesome on trails and packed snow, I don’t run huge distance with them but they work great for my 10km winter/ice runs. Cost me $1.70 for 12..
I did this when we had a ton of ice here a couple of weeks ago. It worked really well.
Nice visuals!0
