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Ice Grips For Shoes
In most areas that experience snowfall, it is common to find reports of people falling and suffering serious injuries while walking on snow-covered and icy walkways. It is not easy to walk on icy pavements. Even when wearing specialized winter boots, if you come across an icy stretch of pathway the boots will often not provide the traction needed to prevent a slip or a fall.
It is not possible for most of us to stop from leaving the house just because of snowfall outside. People have to leave their house to go to work, buy essential items, doctor appointments, or simply to meet with family or friends. For better protection and to avoid risk of serious injury, it is necessary to wear the right gear when going outside in more extreme winter conditions.
By adopting proper safety measures and appropriate clothing, it is possible to avoid several health risks that are the result of extreme winter conditions. In this range of products, an important add-on safety gear is the ice grips for shoes.
These traction devices are known as ice grips, ice cleats, shoe chains and ice spikes. These add-ons are designed to be worn on almost any normal footwear.
Traction systems provide a higher level of traction and stability on the ice, which is generally not available with simple winter boots. Icy conditions can be challenging and dangerous for anyone. The young, elderly and even kids are at risk of slipping and falling on ice without the proper accessories.
Like many other important and useful products used by people, ice grips were first designed for the military personnel. Special ice cleats were designed hundreds of years ago to improve the mobility of these personnel in snow-covered and icy mountainous areas.
Unlike there predecessors, present day traction devices are made using very advanced techniques and materials. The newer materials and designs provide more comfort, lite weight, with greater flexability and strength. The increased flexability allows you to maintain a more normal gait (walking patern) putting less stress on your body and of course continues to provide the traction for the wearer while walking on the ice or snow.
Many of these ice cleats are made using a stretched plastic material known as Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE). There are also other types of synthetic rubbers and plastics that are manufactured and modified to be used in these cleats. Many designs incorporate special hardened steel teeth that result in better grip and traction even on the slickest of ice.
Generally metal mesh, coils and rings are incorporated in the making of ice grips. These designs result in the formation of spikes and teeth like structures that offer better traction on the snow and or ice. Most grips are of the removable variety and can be fitted onto almost any type of footwear. It is also a cost-effective way because there is no need to purchase special winter boots that are used only during the winter months.
With the help of this gear, even normal footwear can be worn all year round. Ice grips for shoes can be worn on all types of shoes including but not limited to shoes for running, jogging, walking and even on the winter boots.
Normal footwear is not adequate to deal with extreme and icy conditions. A person can suffer serious injuries from a fall on the ice. Such injuries can incapacitate the person and lead to financial losses in the form of medical bills and lost wages. This is an unnecessary risk that can be avoided easily and, simply by wearing a quality traction system.
There is a wide range of ice cleats, ice grips and snow chains available in most department stores where winter conditions prevail.
While local municipalities try their best to clear the ice on the main roads, very few of them have the financial capacity to clean ice and snow from all accessible areas. An interesting fact is that many homeowners and commercial stores avoid clearing ice and snow on the pavement in front of their doorways. They do so because if a pedestrian falls and suffers injuries because of the thrown pile of snow, the injured person can sue the property owner for compensation claims.
It is better for individuals to adopt preventative measures like using ice grips for shoes. This way it is possible to avoid suffering injuries, some of which can be serious such as fractures, dislocations and concussions which can lead to hospitalization.
With the help of such useful gear as ice cleats, there is no problem in going out during winter months when walkways are covered with ice and snow. You wii be sure footed and safe on your daily ventures!
A Fond Memory of Yosemite Lodge
When I was on a hike with two friends in December of 1985, we were ascending the High Sierra loop trail to the top of Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park. It was a warm sunny day and the last thing that we expected to encounter was patches of ice. As the day progressed, it began to get colder and colder. we knew that there would be ice farther ahead if we decided to continue toward Nevada falls. I turned to my friends and suggested that we return to the Valley floor. I warned them to be very careful because its getting slippery due to icy conditions beginning to develop.
We decided to turn around and return to the security of the Valley floor before putting ourselves in a potentially compromised situation. On our descent we came upon an area of the trail that had frozen over in the short time we passed during our ascent and the time of returning to the same point while returning to the Valley floor (approximately 1 1/2 hours)! In trying to safely pass this section of trail, I severely sprained my ankle. Following the injury I was forced to walk three more miles to the return to where my friends and I had lodging in Yosemite Lodge. I had my ankle casted and was on crutches for a month! If only I had the knowledge then of what I know today! Needless to say, I do not venture into potenially icy situations today without my ice grips for shoes!