Instep crampons are great for walking up and down on sheer ice and packed snow, but sometimes you just don't need something that heavy-duty. Add the chore of taking them on and off, and I often find myself just doing without them when I'm hiking on ice or even walking on ice.

Yaktrax are a neat twist on an old idea--galoshes. Made out of a strong rubbery material, they slip on over the sole of your shoes. What makes these work is a network of steel coils that grip into ice. Wound around the rubber framework, the steel coils have no sharp edges, so you don't have to worry about spiking yourself (or somebody else!) with them if you fall or sit down on them.

While they work very well on ice, you will slip around a bit if you're hiking in moderately deep or packed snow. If you're going to go out when the snow is 4-6 inches, you'll probably be better off with instep crampons. More than a foot and you'll want snowshoes.

There are now two kinds of Yaktrax--Yaktrax Walkers and Yaktrax Pro. I haven't used the professional version yet, but they claim that the material is stronger. They also have a top strap to keep them from slipping off. For the extra seven dollars, it's probably worth it just for the strap. Honestly, though, the walkers I have fit snuggly to my shoes and boots, and I haven't had any trouble with them falling off, even while hiking in a blizzard over fairly steep, rocky terrain.

As ice shoes go, these are very easy to take on or off, and they fit nicely into a pocket or pack. Sizing is important, and follows the chart below, which I found to be accurate. When in doubt, choose the smaller size so they stay on your feet tighter.

I recommend Yaktrax on their own or in addition to instep crampons. For casually getting where you want to go in the winter, you can't beat 'em. I do recommend these over Stabilicers and some of the other types of anti-skid ice shoes I've tried, if for no other reasons than their simplicity, good fit and ease of carrying.

Yaktrax ice gripping overshoes
Reviewed by: Joe Ames