Yak Tracks/Trax...opinions?

imported
#1

Hi Hikers…well I did it good this time! I fell on the ice in last wk’s ice storm, & hurt my shoulder (rotator cuff) big time. Doing PT & chiropractor for that. Lovely. Well anyway, a woman I met briefly mentioned that I may want to buy some “Yak Trax” (sp?), a plastic & metal device you slip over your shoe. I found some & cked them out; they were out of my size, so I ordered a pr. at $20. Now I’m starting to wonder if they are as good as the woman said. I seem to remember folks here mentioning them. Is anyone here familiar with them? Glad you got them? Do they work? Thoughts?

Leah

#2

The basic ones are fine for walking in a parking lot, shoveling snow and other light duties.

For hiking (and esp. running), the Yak Trax pro is better. They are designed to be more durable for active use.

I’ve used the original version for trail runs; they did OK. Because people are using them for more active uses then they were designed for, the makers came out with the Yak Trax Pro.

Mags

#3

Well, I think the YakTrax are really good on snow/packed snow. The Spiky Plus might be a little better on blue ice…they have little miniature tire studs embedded in pull on toe rubbers, etc. The “Plus” model has studs under the heel, too. I did find that the heel tended to ride up over the boot when going down hill.

You might want the YakTrax “Pro” model, because it stays on better for any serious walking. You could probably figure out a way to modify the regular ones, if that’s what you got.

Hope you’ll let us know how you make out with them. Get well soon! :tongue

Lady Di

#4

Last year I brought them to work a few times in case the sidewalk was icy when I left in the evening. They were OK for very short walks, but slide off my feet easily.

At home I keep an old pair of golf shoes with metal spikes near the door and wear them whenever I have to go outside in the ice.

Yeah, too soon old and too late smart. But at least when you get old, you do get smarter.

Bob Jewett

#5

I do trail running as mentioned (though hiking is my true love), as such tend to see things that work well for hiking that started out for running and visa-versa. This may be overkill for some…but still interesting:

http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

Mags

#6

Ha! I just checked out the link–That’s a pretty wild solution and seems like it might work…
(“Happy screwing.” har-har!):lol

Tyger

#7

I had the same question and so started a thread regarding this topic on Trailtalk. The consensus was that nothing special is needed on the AT other than trekking poles and shoes/boots with good tread. I have no personal experience, just passing that which was related to me by others, including 2 thru hikers from '04.

Good luck. Hope to see you out there.

Nimblefoot

#8

I don’t thnk the original query was about the AT per se; more about walking on ice in general.

For AT thru-hiking you are quite correct, any type of ice grip is overkill. Winter hiking, OTOH is another ball of wax. Don’t forget the White Mountains are on the AT and I’d hate to do parts of that with just good boots and poles in winter. :smiley:

Leah, please correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe you were asking about an AT thru-hike in particular?

Mags

Mags

#9

You got it Mags…I was asking about walking around town in general in Yak trax…wanted to know about the product itself. Thanks! (It is interesting how often folks here get off track (trax!!) of the original ?. Its human nature to wander I guess! girl

leah