Skip navigation
Community: Exchange advice in the forums and read running commentary Resources: Personal running log, calculators, links and other tools for runners News: Running news from around the world Training: Articles and advice about fitness, race training and injury prevention Races/Results: Find upcoming races and past results Home: The Cool Running homepage
Cool Running homepage  Search Cool Running Community

Up to Threads in Equipment and Gear
4082 Views 21 Replies Latest reply: Jan 13, 2010 1:03 PM by PeteJoneseu RSS 1 2 Previous Next
GOLFNSKI Rookie
GOLFNSKI
104 posts since
Oct 28, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 3, 2007 11:25 PM

Yaktrax

I'm excited for winter!  Anyone ever try Yaktrax Pros?  I've read reviews that they wear out real fast.  I'm a little sceptical about how it might feel to have these coils under my running shoes.  What has been your experience?

  • merigayle Amateur
    merigayle
    1,569 posts since
    Aug 15, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Oct 4, 2007 6:49 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I have Yaktrax and have only used them once and thought they were great, however, i ran solely on ice/hard packed snow, no pavement.

  • mrinertia Pro
    mrinertia
    1,310 posts since
    Dec 14, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Oct 4, 2007 10:44 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    Got 'em, love 'em

  • lakerunr Amateur
    lakerunr
    151 posts since
    Dec 12, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Oct 4, 2007 4:19 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    Got 'em. Hate 'em. Want 'em? You can have 'em.  !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

    They kill my feet, are atrocious on pavement, and just a general pain in the...

  • aharmer Rookie
    aharmer
    452 posts since
    May 25, 2005
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Oct 4, 2007 5:30 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    quote:

    Originally posted by lstall:

    Got 'em. Hate 'em. Want 'em? You can have 'em. !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/smile.gif|border=0!

    They kill my feet, are atrocious on pavement, and just a general pain in the...

     



    I have them as well but have only used with with boots on ice while fishing.  Would you expect them to work on snow covered trails, or would it be too soft for the small coils to get any grip?

  • lakerunr Amateur
    lakerunr
    151 posts since
    Dec 12, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Oct 5, 2007 8:16 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I didn't notice any appreciable advantage on snow-covered trails.

  • run50096 Amateur
    run50096
    50 posts since
    May 24, 2004
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. Oct 7, 2007 9:21 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I've had two pairs over three winters in Norther Wisconsin. They work great and I've done several 6-8 mile runs in them.  Highly recommended if you get ice and snow.

  • GOLFNSKI Rookie
    GOLFNSKI
    104 posts since
    Oct 28, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Oct 8, 2007 10:19 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    Thanks for the replies.  Reviews are very mixed, but it's the only viable option that I see so I'll give it a try.  BTW - I have seen the website that instructs on putting screws into the bottom of your shoes, but that just doesn’t seem practical.

    Cheers!

  • merigayle Amateur
    merigayle
    1,569 posts since
    Aug 15, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Oct 9, 2007 6:21 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    oh i was going to recommend screw shoes, it does work very well. if you are too cheap for yak tracks, just do that to your old shoes.

  • GOLFNSKI Rookie
    GOLFNSKI
    104 posts since
    Oct 28, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Oct 15, 2007 6:24 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    quote:

    Originally posted by merigayle:

    oh i was going to recommend screw shoes, it does work very well. if you are too cheap for yak tracks, just do that to your old shoes.

     



    Gee Merigayle, My OP asked about your experience with Yaktrax, not my wherewithall! !http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/mad.gif|src=http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/mad.gif|border=0!

    I found the following relevant information from another forum if it interests anyone:

    AKTrail
    Cool Runner posted Oct-12-2007 01:30 PM
    ________________________________________
    <a href="http://home.att.net/akrunning/TractionDev/index.html" target="_blank">http://home.att.net/akrunning/TractionDev/index.html[/URL" target="_blank">

    Cheers!

  • choover Legend
    choover
    1,120 posts since
    Oct 7, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Oct 15, 2007 6:31 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I live in Montana and have used my YakTrax several times.  Initially, they felt weird on my feet but I quickly forgot about them once I got going. I definitely felt more safe using them but still had to becareful on pure ice. I have not tried anything else for traction but feel the YakTrax are definitely better than nothing if you are worried about slipping and falling.

    ----


    choover[/URL" target="_blank">

  • trifecta082 Rookie
    trifecta082
    57 posts since
    Nov 6, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    11. Oct 16, 2007 12:25 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I made a pair of screw shoes last winter and they were phenomenal on sheet ice, frozen slush, crusty snow, and work on stretches of plain pavement too (although they make a lot of noise).  With a pair of screw shoes you could run on an ice rink without a single slip or misstep.

    It takes about $1.50 worth of sheet metal screws, access to a drill or electric screwdriver, and about 15 minutes. Use an older pair of shoes or even new ones because you can take the screws out at the end of the season and the shoes aren't damaged at all.

    I haven't tried any of the commercial products but screw shoes are so easy, cheap, and effective that I'd never have the need.

  • Pete O'Boyle Amateur
    Pete O'Boyle
    74 posts since
    Oct 17, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    12. Oct 25, 2007 12:13 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    Wouldn't a pair of good trail shoes work nearly as well? Are trail shoes worth investing in?

  • GOLFNSKI Rookie
    GOLFNSKI
    104 posts since
    Oct 28, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    13. Oct 26, 2007 1:11 AM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    quote:

    Originally posted by Lovrunnin:

    Wouldn't a pair of good trail shoes work nearly as well? Are trail shoes worth investing in?

     



    I've been running in Gore-Tex trail shoes the last two winters.  (Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR).  I highly recommend them for powder snow.  Typical road running shoes are mesh and it doesn't take long before the socks are wet and/or frozen.  Still, I have traction problems with ice and packed snow.  Particularly in the morning when there's been melt that freezes overnight.  That is the reason for my OP.  I didn’t want to have to invest in a second pair of trail shoes for the screws.  I ended up buying the YakTrax Pros, and as soon as it snows again, I'll report back.

  • NH_Runner Amateur
    NH_Runner
    17 posts since
    Dec 6, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    14. Dec 11, 2009 2:32 PM (in response to GOLFNSKI)
    Re: Yaktrax

    I never found the strap-on versions very helpful and certainly not comfortable.  The screw shoes (sheet metal screws) work great, much better than YakTrax but wear out quickly -- 1 long run if there is some dry pavement.  Best option out there for running on packed snow and ice is Icespike -- http://icespike.net -- hardened steel screws that last much longer (1 set lasted me the season last year).  Great traction, light weight, durable.

     

    Hope this helps!!

1 2 Previous Next

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...