Slipping around on ice!

[troutman]

Hello all,

Well it's certainly icy here! Having slipped and fallen wearing my Salomon approach shoes which have a pretty aggressive tread I'm now a little more than hesitant about venturing out on the icy paths and pavements to work.

I know there are small spikes that slip over shoes you can buy but I don't have any and would have to walk over said ice to get some.

So does anyone have any tips for improving grip? Homemade mods? Walking techniques on slopes? Feel free to share them here, I'm sure I'm not the only one that would appreciate it!

 

[wandering1]

Well those slip on rubber ice grips are good...

I actually wrapped a metre length of old sink chain around my walking boots (not particularly comfortable ) but it worked pretty well as a temp solution
Also if u got some 1/2 inch u nails stuck 4 at toe end and 4 in the thick heel that works aswell

 

[Macaroon]

Pull a pair of old socks over your shoes; when I was a kid all the old socks were in a bag by the back door and were used for exactly this. If you take them off as soon as you're over the icy bit, take them off - it's surprising how long they last

 

[troutman]

Pull a pair of old socks over your shoes; when I was a kid all the old socks were in a bag by the back door and were used for exactly this. If you take them off as soon as you're over the icy bit, take them off - it's surprising how long they last

Brilliant idea! This forum never fails to impress. Hopefully that will do the trick for getting over the worst bits. Thanks macaroon.

 

[troutman]

Pull a pair of old socks over your shoes; when I was a kid all the old socks were in a bag by the back door and were used for exactly this. If you take them off as soon as you're over the icy bit, take them off - it's surprising how long they last

Brilliant idea! This forum never fails to impress. Hopefully that will do the trick for getting over the worst bits. Thanks macaroon.

 

[bikething]

Pull a pair of old socks over your shoes;

used to do that as a kid as well

 

[Joonsy]

yeah that’s an old dodge in the days before modern climbing shoes folks often climbed in pumps (remember them) and they would sometimes put socks over their pumps to improve grip.

 

[troutman]

Quick update on this. Bought some Yaktrak walkers for 15 quid. I have to say they are certainly worth it. Only problem is having to take them off in patches where there is no ice.

 

[John Fenna]

Socks over shoes - I remember Joe Brown doing the first climb of Cenotaph Corner like that as the rock was wet and slippery - I think it was one of his favourite climbing tips
That and having a cigarette half way up a climb to ease the nerves....

 

[Wayland]

It's the same principle that has been used to produce Autosocks for vehicles which are a great bit of kit.

 

[Goatboy]

Like Macaroon & Mr Fenna said the socks are great for this, it's one of the reasons that Dachstein mitts and socks survived so long amongst winter climbers. The grip on snow and ice is pretty good. SO saying I find it hard to touch them without setting my teeth on edge as memories of trying to pull iced up hairy mitts off with my teeth on a frozen belay are burned into my mind.

 

[Joonsy]

Socks over shoes - I remember Joe Brown doing the first climb of Cenotaph Corner like that as the rock was wet and slippery - I think it was one of his favourite climbing tips
That and having a cigarette half way up a climb to ease the nerves....

a pal of mine seconded cenotaoph corner last year, aged 70

yeah he liked his socks and whillans liked his cigs, here is the last climb the pair did together, whillans died a few months after the film was made.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6CTK2hFvrw

 

[JohnC]

+1 for the socks, works well.

 

[Trencakey]

Quick update on this. Bought some Yaktrak walkers for 15 quid. I have to say they are certainly worth it. Only problem is having to take them off in patches where there is no ice.

I leave them on,I dont bother removing them between icy sections.

 

[troutman]

I leave them on,I dont bother removing them between icy sections.

Should have worded this better. My walk passes through an indoor shopping centre and a long stretch of concrete that is always gritted.