UKC

Any suggestions for what to use on slippery walkins? Lighter and cheaper the better What about el cheapo "grippers" from the local petrol station etc?

In reply to iksander:

walk in to where, work? crag ? tescos ?

In reply to iksander:
Nails.

In reply to iksander: Last year, a lot of the outdoor shops in Kendal were selling some spikes mountained on a rubber frame which easily strapped on and off any footware. I'm sure the council loved them scratching up the pavements!! They were aimed at your average pedestrian and will probably be on sale throughout the internet as soon as it gets cold. I don't know any makes/models though.

In reply to iksander:

These are good, mini, light weight crampon, that will take some abuse

http://www.climbingtechnology.it/en-US/climbing/ice/crampons.html?idproduct...

In reply to iksander:
Rud shoe chains for pavements - great for work and icey pavements and don't damage them.

Microspikes for MR use and other icey hill paths - great when crampons not needed. On one call out made a difference when everyone else was sliding around.

So depends what you want them for.

In reply to iksander:

The problem with el cheapo grippers is that won't cope very well when the going actually gets a bit tough. Unless you know that your walk-in is only a wee bit slippy all the way, they probably won't be good enough.

Whereas Kahtoola Microspikes will cope with a great deal more. True, they're not particularly light or cheap by comparison, but they are bloomin' marvellous on ice and compacted snow.

In reply to tony: I was planning on putting on climbing crampons, but walking all the way down the Idwal path (for example) in crampons is a PITA but still pretty slippery

I think I might try the "screw shoes" approach on my boots and place some where they won't interfere with crampons http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

I always take my Microspikes if there is a ground frost and I am going to be using paths such as the walk in to The Cobbler etc - that path becomes a death trap during a frost. If I am going to be on snow/turf I don't bother.

In reply to iksander:

32 North Stabilicers are brill - spikes angled different ways for more grip, rubber studs for the odd bit of rock or pavement, stay on well. Used a pair on iced up tracks and farmyard last winter. Developed for winters in Maine where they certainly get lots of the white stuff. Not cheap (£27) but excellent.

In reply to iksander:

One of my neighbours has a home made set from some cheap chain, bungee cord and a bunch of zip ties - he was stomping round quite happily during the last lot of snow we had.

I'm going to copy his design if it snows again this winter.

Failing that, Clas Ohlson do some that look quite good - the also have some I haven't listed.

http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Icerunner-Ice-Grips/Pr344012002
http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Asaklitt-Ice-Grips/Pr315210003

In reply to LastBoyScout: I went nuts and splashed £6 on some screws http://www.tizaro.com/product/FA4HCK/approved-vendor-1mb62-metal-screw-hex-...

Lighter, less faff etc. Probably not as good as microspikes, but I'll have crampons anyway for when it gets steeper.

In reply to Milesy:
Microspikes: one of the best bits of winter kit for hill walking. Also great for descending slippy mud / sleet / grassy slopes.

Yaktraks for town..