Snow chains for your tootsies...

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Snow chains for your tootsies...
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Seasonal and Frugal Shopping

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sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 10 2:24 pm Post subject: Snow chains for your tootsies...
Linky. Anyone tried them?

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 10 2:55 pm Post subject:
They're shown being used on smooth-soled shoes - I would have thought it would be better to just use some stout shoes or boots with good soles in the first place. These things look a bit like wearing shorts with special clip-on leg extensions in the cold. Just wear long trousers in the first place.

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 10 3:02 pm Post subject:

I've got a pair - just waiting for some snow and ice to try them out (though I'm hoping that buying them will mean that I never need them

).

TBH I think they'll be a PITA in some ways as you can't use them indoors so wearing them to go shopping would mean having to take them on and off as you go in and out of buildings. That would be unpleasant and difficult with cold hands. You aren't supposed to wear them on tarmac either, so not much use in the patchy conditions we tend to get here.

OK for emergencies, but for frequent/regular use in long-term bad conditions rugged-soled boots and a spiked walking pole or two would probably be better. I'll know better if/when I get a chance to try them out.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 10 3:47 pm Post subject:
i've got a set somewhere, never had the need to use them. if they are where i think they are, i'll offer them for swapsies

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46212
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 10 4:48 pm Post subject:
not as good as vibrams on snow or external socks on ice some of the mini walking crampons are ok on mixed surfaces but plated boots and real crampons are best if a bit cumbersome on all but the steepest ups i vote skis for snow

TINKS30

Joined: 20 Sep 2010
Posts: 162
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 10 10:32 pm Post subject:
My ex had a set he clipped on to his boots. He said they were good in the snow in january.

Bodrighy

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2157
Location: Near Devizes

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 10 11:11 pm Post subject:
What's wrong with a pair of woolly socks over your shoes/ works for me and a lot cheaper than those and more comfortable I should imagine. pete

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 10 7:48 am Post subject:

Bodrighy wrote:

What's wrong with a pair of woolly socks over your shoes/ works for me and a lot cheaper than those and more comfortable I should imagine.

pete

I guess you don't knit your own woolly socks... After I've spent weeks toiling over my knitting I'm certainly not going to wear my socks over my boots!

SmattyB

Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 127
Location: Just landed in Aarhus, Denmark.

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 10 8:06 am Post subject:
I bought a similar set in Norway, with small tungsten studs on a silicone rubber frame, just stretched over your boot. they were invaluable on the ice. Have to remember to take them off before you walk on anyones nice polished floor though!

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 10 1:19 pm Post subject:
They look worth investing in. Our yard is on a slope and even with boots with good soles, in icey conditions, you can end up going down it a lot faster than you would prefer!

gardening-girl

Joined: 25 Feb 2009
Posts: 6024
Location: Somerset.

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 10 2:10 pm Post subject:
I used to be sooo embarased when my mum put socks over her shoes Found it very usefull last winter though. My boys turn to be embarased

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Thu Nov 04, 10 2:23 pm Post subject:

gardening-girl wrote:

I used to be sooo embarased when my mum put socks over her shoes

Found it very usefull last winter though.
My boys turn to be embarased

The joys of parenthood

I've a good pair of Caterpillar boots that were great at coping with snow and ice last winter (crap for driving in though...)

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 10 3:27 pm Post subject:
DIY alternative: screw shoes

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46212
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 10 7:19 pm Post subject:
that works on heavy soles for rock thin ice combo but claggs in wetter snow ,not sure if i want to wear trainers in winter

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 10 10:58 am Post subject:

SmattyB wrote:

I bought a similar set in Norway, with small tungsten studs on a silicone rubber frame, just stretched over your boot. they were invaluable on the ice. Have to remember to take them off before you walk on anyones nice polished floor though!

Just an update on this while many of us have been walking on snow and ice. My OH has a pair as described by SmattyB and they've been very good on compacted snow and ice. However, they look as though they'll wear quickly on the road where the ice has gone so they need to be taken off. They are also a little tricky to put on. Fine for emergencies.

I've found a pair of cheap trainers I've got to be very good. They're sort of walking trainers with a bobby grip but the rubber is very soft and seems to grip the ice quite well.

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