Winter is in full effect and I felt it more than ever on my weekly long run a few days ago. Ice is covering a large layer of snow and the melt-off during the day is turning into even more ice overnight. Needless to say, running outdoors is not an easy task, but with the mental issue I have with treadmills, I am determined to make it work.
I have my buddy Brian to thank for recommending Yaktrax to me. Yaktrax are a rubber attachment that connect to the bottom of your shoe and use metal wires to provide some serious traction over ice and snow. The Yaktrax Pro model, which I purchased, also have a velcro strap that hold the rubber straps in place to allow better movement without the concern of a strap falling off. They attach easily to any running shoe (I wear a size 12.5 Mizuno Wave Rider 10) and add virtually no weight to your feet. For more information, check out the Yaktrax website HERE
Today, I went out for what was supposed to be my 11.75 mile loop along the Charles River in Boston, however, the depth of the snow made it virtually impossible to stay on the river, so I had to cut it short. Lets be clear, these are NOT snowshoes and do not work well in the deep snow with a thick layer of ice over it. The snow was so chopped up and it was such a mess, running was not an option. What Yaktrax advertises on their website is that it is meant for use on packed snow and ice, which it does perfectly.
One major concern I had was what my traction would be like when there was no ice. Would I have to be constantly taking them on and off? They answer to that is NO, they work great while on concrete, with the exception of brick sidewalks, which I found slick. This definitely made them worthy of winter use and I look forward to using them on the back roads in my home town in Connecticut and in Vermont which has a ton of quiet dirt roads that will be completely frozen.
Overall, I was pleased with the Yaktrax. Once I realized that there were limitations to how much snow and ice I could use them on, they worked great on the combination of packed snow and ice and on concrete sidewalks. For a cost of around $30, it is not a bad gift for a running buddy (or yourself) and it will give you the confidence to head out over terrain that you would typically consider impassable.
SHAMELESS PLUG - I love testing gear and I am very honest when it comes to what I like and dislike. I will not say good things about any product I don't like or personally use. Now, if any company has a product you wish me to try out and review, please send me an email at [email protected]. Only if you are confident in the quality though, I will slam any poorly made or ineffective products I try.
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