Snowshoes and Ice grips

Both snow shoes and ice grips are designed to prevent slips and falls in snowy or icy conditions by offering a better grip than regular shoes or walking boots. Snowshoes may not be orthopedic shoes, however by making your footing safer in snow and ice they certainly have a health benefit.

Snowshoes

A snowshoe is a special kind of shoe or boot designed with the aim of making it safe to walk on slippery surfaces like snow or ice. The purpose of this kind of shoe is to offer a secure grip in extreme and sometimes potentially dangerous and hazardous conditions.

The types of snowshoe used by mountaineers and hikers are designed for extreme conditions and they have a number of important features that help them to deal with these harsh environments (see details below).

Additionally, there are also occasional snowshoes. These are shoes and boots that can be used for normal activities like walking to and from the car, doing shopping etc, but in snowy or icy conditions. This type of snowshoe takes the hazard out of normal daily life in the event of a heavy snowfall or freezing conditions that produce ice. Some of these snowshoes will slip-on over regular shoes which saves the need to carry a separate pair of shoes to change into at the desired destination.

What to look for in snowshoes

All good snow shoes should have most of, if not all of, these important features.

The snowshoes should -

• Extend beyond the ankle to provide comfort, warmth and support. Some of these shoes will extend up the lower leg.
• Be thermally insulated with adequate cushioning and a warm fleece like lining. Feet can easily be damaged or injured in very cold, snowy or icy conditions.
• Fasten using Velcro (hook and loop or hook and mesh) easy close fastenings. Closures of this type are easy to use even when wearing gloves and they are also easy to adjust for tightness and fit.
• Have an outer sole with a good, deep and well contoured tread capable of providing sure footed grip in the slipperiest and most hazardous of conditions.

Some snow boots have spikes or studs that can cut into the ice and ensure a positive grip. However another alternative to this is ice grips.

Ice grips

Ice grips are special adaptations to standard walking, running or hiking boots. They work by fitting over the outer sole and lower upper of a normal shoe to provide a modification to the sole that grips in icy conditions.

The ice grips normally take the form of an open mesh or net like plastic that stretches over the outer sole. Around the plastic mesh are metal coils capable of cutting into the ice and these secure the grip in poor underfoot conditions.

The big advantage of ice grips is that they are small and this means that they can be carried around and put on to a pair of shoes, or taken off a pair of shoes, as and when required. Furthermore, they make it possible for almost any type of shoe to become safe and usable in ice.