Went out running in last winter's snow with YakTrax over my Mizuno Wave Rider running shoes and can confirm they (a) grip excellently and (b) are indeed hazardous on indoor non-carpetted flooring
Common sense still applies and do not suppose to still go at full pelt as normal. Neither should they be used on flat solid ice. On fresh snow and even slush they are good. They are quite grippy on tarmac, providing good feedback when you come across melted bits.
I'd say that Yaktrax on horizontal sheet ice are okay for walking if you're deliberate and smooth, but no, I wouldn't run with them in those conditions. Icebugs are superb for running on icy stuff, though hard to find in the UK and expensive given that you'll probably not use them for more than a few weeks a year. The only issue I've had with them was on steep icey slopes where, eventually they'll start to slip, but a stamping-type motion helps with that - as it does with crampons on ice.
I really want to try icebugs out but I don't believe in buying online without the ability to try them out for fit in a store first. I don't see why you can't wear icebugs at other times of the year. Afterall you can get fell shoes / orienteering shoes with similar studs that get used in the hills all year round. Also Icebugs do shoes with a removeable set of studs. Think they call it bugweb or something like that.
I've been tempted by orienteering shoes before now for walkingin the hills. They tend to be tougher on the uppers and have those studs which are actually good on rock, mud, grass and even snow/ice. The only trouble is they tend to come in garish colours. I really don't want to be walking about in yellow footwear.
Think I'll head off to Stavely this week and get some Pogu spikes. The company is based there and I noticed they had a shop when I was last there. IMHO they look slightly better than the microspikes from Kahtoola and are £5 cheaper. The hillsound spikes look good too but reckon the bigger spikes aren't best for this sort of kit. I have walker crampons so bigger spikes are covered with them.
Well studs fine off path, but on it - and there are plenty of made paths in the Lakes! - surely rather sub optimal? Icebug ones do retract so better that way but still it'd feel like overkill.
Wouldn't worry about yellow shoes though. They won't stay yellow
I avoid made paths on health and safety grounds if at all possible. I think stone pitched paths are a nightmare in the wet and icy conditions. You see a lot of pitched paths with side paths forming even straight after they have been laid. So I doubt studs would be an issue for me.
As well I find that those tungsten carbide tips on trekking poles grip surprisingly well on rock IME so I wonder why studs on fell shoes don't do the same. Never tried them so I don't know. The icebugs do retract and the reall benefit of this is they still contact the rock and should offer some grip but the retraction is only as far as is needed to allow the whole sole to contact. I reckon the weakness with non-retractable studs is they could lift the rest of the sole off the rock. Anyway I'm still happy with my relatively new roclite 318gtx bought for £70. A real bargain from Pete Bland Sports so I doubt I'll get anything new for the rest of the winter. Then I'll be into my spring/summer shoes.
Would not think of using Yak Trax on the hill, But yesterday used my Pogu spikes for the first time. Brilliant!!! Put them on after i needed to use them as opposed to fitting them in a very delicate position, ( so far up an icy slope on An Socach, took the direct route from Altanour Lodge ruins ). I had tried them fitted to my boots in the comfort of my hallway, that was easy!!! and it would have been a simple task fitting them before tackling the slope and cutting steps with my axe, at my age that is totally Knack*****. But once fitted no problems. Kept them on for the remainder of the climb and back to the lodge. The grip is great going down steep snow sprinkled heather and much more comfortabe than full lobsters, which I would obviously still use when climbing serious stuff!! The spikes showed no sign of wear even after clambering over a lot of icy rock. A great piece of kit and easily stowed in the rucksac.
