I bought new Scarpa walking boots and Meindl walking shoes last year and have been wearing them for daily walks during the recent cold spell. I was very pleased with both until the ice arrived. Both are absolutely hopeless on ice and wet leaves and I was skidding around dangerously especially as I am still recovering from a previous fall.
I searched the internet and bought a pair of Merrell walking shoes with Vibram Arctic soles; I had not heard of these soles before. Tried them for the first time this morning on wet and slippery stones and the improvement in grip was massive. Bring on the next heavy frost :D
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Get yourself a pair of Nora Dolomite wellies. A size too big so you can wear plenty socks.
You are unlikely to go on your arse wearing them.
Didn't know they did boots with special grips.
I bought a pair of these recently and was shocked how poor quality they are compared to merrell boots from previous years. It feels like I just wrapped my feet in cardboard.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/merrell-outmost-ventilator-gtx-mens-walking-boots-182059#colcode=18205905
They are truly awful in the wet, never mind the ice. Of course I've long suspected that sports direct acquire fake/reject goods so it could be that.
I got these a number of years ago.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004F8HBZ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I see they are no longer available but there are plenty more. Useful for over wading boots too :)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=ice+grippers+for+shoes&crid=220RZ44WPDI8W&sprefix=ice+gripp%2Caps%2C162&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-a-p_1_9
Quote from: ianmck on January 05, 2021, 11:58:04 AM
Didn't know they did boots with special grips.
I bought a pair of these recently and was shocked how poor quality they are compared to merrell boots from previous years. It feels like I just wrapped my feet in cardboard.
https://www.sportsdirect.com/merrell-outmost-ventilator-gtx-mens-walking-boots-182059#colcode=18205905
They are truly awful in the wet, never mind the ice. Of course I've long suspected that sports direct acquire fake/reject goods so it could be that.
The Merrells I have just bought (not from SD) seem adequately well made. Not Meindl quality but they are less than half the price. The sole, which is what I was really interested in, seems very excellent.
I totally agree that the Scarpa are a nightmare when its the least bit dodgy underfoot. I've got a plate in my wrist tp prove that, fell on the ice last year. I will be interested to see how you get on with the Merrells.
Jim
Very icy underfoot here and my wife, having had a knee replacement quite recently, is very nervous of crashing with a bad twist. Now highly pleased by my having put in 10 wader studs on each of her general purpose walking boots. Seems to be giving a very good grip on what are now the winter boots. Her good Meindle hill boots are now the general boots.
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Quote from: Bobfly on January 05, 2021, 04:14:53 PM
Very icy underfoot here and my wife, having had a knee replacement quite recently, is very nervous of crashing with a bad twist. Now highly pleased by my having put in 10 wader studs on each of her general purpose walking boots. Seems to be giving a very good grip on what are now the winter boots. Her good Meindle hill boots are now the general boots.
That's a good idea. I have just been trying to persuade my wife to get a pair of the Arctic Vibram soled walking shoes but if I fail I might try this plan.
Two years ago I bought her a set of grippers like Fishtales suggested above but she could not get on with them.
Quote from: Noddy on January 05, 2021, 03:04:33 PM
I totally agree that the Scarpa are a nightmare when its the least bit dodgy underfoot. I've got a plate in my wrist tp prove that, fell on the ice last year. I will be interested to see how you get on with the Merrells.
Jim
OK, test results.
Yesterday, frosty and icy; today frosty and very icy with lots of black ice.
Scarpa were lethal. With crampons no problem at all but a bit much for walking through the village!
Merrell with the Vibram Arctic sole were much better and quite usable but still some (perhaps understandable) slipping on the black ice.
Surprisingly good were an old pair of Dubarry sailing boots.
A bit puzzling was that my wife accompanied me wearing an oldish pair of fabric Scarpa boots with orange Vibram soles and she had hardly any difficulty with the ice!
Quote from: arawa on January 07, 2021, 11:38:14 AM
OK, test results.
Yesterday, frosty and icy; today frosty and very icy with lots of black ice.
Scarpa were lethal. With crampons no problem at all but a bit much for walking through the village!
Merrell with the Vibram Arctic sole were much better and quite usable but still some (perhaps understandable) slipping on the black ice.
Surprisingly good were an old pair of Dubarry sailing boots.
A bit puzzling was that my wife accompanied me wearing an oldish pair of fabric Scarpa boots with orange Vibram soles and she had hardly any difficulty with the ice!
There are a lot of different Vibram sole types around, some are harder than others. The best is a soft rubber sole much like the shoes curlers use.
And the teuchter over here is wandering about without a care in the world on sheet ice (it rained a lot last night onto frozen ground) in his Nora Dolomite wellies.
Quote from: Laxdale on January 07, 2021, 12:19:45 PM
And the teuchter over here is wandering about without a care in the world on sheet ice (it rained a lot last night onto frozen ground) in his Nora Dolomite wellies.
:D :D
Pretty sure my sports direct merrells are fake. Not only did I fall on my arse twice on ice yesterday, the supposedly waterproof goretex let water in the very first icy puddle I stepped in. Also the sizing is off on the right boot and I am getting blisters on both feet. Been buying merrell boots for 5+ years and never had any of those issues until now.
Quote from: ianmck on January 07, 2021, 12:42:54 PM
Pretty sure my sports direct merrells are fake. Not only did I fall on my arse twice on ice yesterday, the supposedly waterproof goretex let water in the very first icy puddle I stepped in. Also the sizing is off on the right boot and I am getting blisters on both feet. Been buying merrell boots for 5+ years and never had any of those issues until now.
I find the same with gear bought from GO, owned by Sports Direct, it just doesn't match the same gear bought from the manufacturers website, I am thinking Craghoppers gear here.
Quote from: Fishtales on January 07, 2021, 01:03:09 PM
I find the same with gear bought from GO, owned by Sports Direct, it just doesn't match the same gear bought from the manufacturers website, I am thinking Craghoppers gear here.
Funny you should say that. I bought a pair of Craghopper trousers in a Debenhams sale and liked them so much I bought another pair, without really looking at them, in Go. The material in the Go version of the same trousers was much thinner. I did an internet search at the time and found reports that there were different grades of Craghopper products being sold.
I thought this was a bit risky for Craghopper's reputation.
Lets be honest there are not too many soles than can cope with ice & wet grass especially on slopes. Everything is a compromise is it not. Think the "gripper" thing is probable the best bet. Me I just take small steps more of a shuffle than anything else keeping my weight directly in line above my feet. Best thing is do not venture out. :roll:.
Only had one bad fall in recently years & that was on a snowed tarmac path where unbeknown to be a plastic bag lay between the snow & the ice below. Luckily nothing broken but I was lucky fell on my fat arse. Bit sore for a few days but could have been easily so worse.
Tight Lines
Quote from: arawa on January 07, 2021, 01:49:22 PM
Funny you should say that. I bought a pair of Craghopper trousers in a Debenhams sale and liked them so much I bought another pair, without really looking at them, in Go. The material in the Go version of the same trousers was much thinner. I did an internet search at the time and found reports that there were different grades of Craghopper products being sold.
I thought this was a bit risky for Craghopper's reputation.
Some of my own observations include the thinness also, the tailoring, the stitching which comes away, the zip toggles break off. I have pairs of the old green ones that are decades old and still wearable and I have ones from GO that I have thrown out. I should send them to Craghoppers as they give a lifetime guarantee but it doesn't seem worth it :)
Some years back a number of sole types started to use what has been on rock climbing tight fit shoes for many years. Mine are Scarpa and are not for any walking about !!!! Quite a few folk have rock shoes that they take off between pitches to get their circulation back. The rubber is called 5.12 but more often called Sticky Rubber and it has no tread pattern at all. It is hopeless on steep wet grass but has great grip on other surfaces. This 5.12 seems to be in a lot of mixes now.
Reading up about the compound formulae for the "rubber" in winter tyres is quite interesting as it is quite a complicated business how the balance of grip and wear rate is tuned.
Quote from: Bobfly on January 07, 2021, 03:33:14 PM
Some years back a number of sole types started to use what has been on rock climbing tight fit shoes for many years. Mine are Scarpa and are not for any walking about !!!! Quite a few folk have rock shoes that they take off between pitches to get their circulation back. The rubber is called 5.12 but more often called Sticky Rubber and it has no tread pattern at all. It is hopeless on steep wet grass but has great grip on other surfaces. This 5.12 seems to be in a lot of mixes now.
Reading up about the compound formulae for the "rubber" in winter tyres is quite interesting as it is quite a complicated business how the balance of grip and wear rate is tuned.
I also read somewhere that you can't use winter tyres in the summer as the rubber melts. Summer tyres are a harder rubber and that is why normal tyres aren't usually good in snow and ice.
You should be getting Permagrip Soles £19.99 at Timpsons :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRcA93dEsjE
Great stuff ... !!! Always leaves me wondering where any fresh good comedy is to be found on the telly.
Just found some potential for comedy gold
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I've got cheap pair of casual from Sainsburys which seem to be good on icy surfaces. They almost feel slightly sticky, got to assume its a soft rubber as suggested earlier.
Jim
Just put away my Arctic soled Merrills. Have walked about 150 miles on them and the sole looks hardly worn. They were good on ice but are by far the least comfortable footwear I have as they are so stiff. Still, I suppose you cant have everything.