I'd never actually used my YakTrax on ice before; this is the first winter I've had them and this was the first ice storm of the season.  I've tried other brands of slip-on traction devices, but they didn't fit securely on my boots.  YakTrax are different.  YakTrax stretch to fit over the bottom and around the sides of your shoes, then a Velcro strap goes across the top of your shoe to secure it.

When I let the dogs out this morning, it was like beginners night at the skating rink.  They were skidding and slipping all over the place.  Our Dane actually fell down and slid on her ass for several feet.  The driveway is pretty much a ribbon of ice between the house and the barn, and if anything, the lake of ice in front of the barn door had gotten bigger.

I strapped on my YakTrax and headed out with food and water for the sheep.  Not once did I feel like I was losing traction, even walking across hard ice.  When I got to the barn, I found that the cinder block holding the door closed had frozen into the ground.  I tried lifting it, then prying it with my fingers, then pushing on it with my boot, but it was stuck fast.  I finally managed to break it loose by kicking it.  The whole time I was doing this, I was standing on a sheet of ice and I felt totally secure in my footing.


YakTrax Pro run about $23 a pair on Amazon.com (The Pro version has the velcro strap, the Walker version does not.)  They're available in 4 sizes to fit your shoes.