By: Blonde Two
I live at the top of a hill. This is good news in many ways; I always have lovely fresh air to breath, I get lots of exercise if I decide to walk home and (most importantly) I can see Dartmoor from my bed.
This morning, however, the hill is not good news because it is cold and this means that everything outside might be slippery. Our hill gets so slippery that, in one morning, we have seen three cars slide out of control into the wall.
I don’t do slippery. Legs and feet are supposed to stay underneath you and I get a bit discombobulated when they start darting off in unpredictable directions. I am usually alright on Dartmoor (once I have left the car park) because grass and bogs are actually easier to deal with once they are frozen.
So I have been thinking about investing in something to help me to stay upright. Crampons, I imagine, would be a bit overkillish on the moor (if you are not sure about the difference between crampons and tampons then you are past help) There are, however some weird gripper things that you can strap to the bottom of your boots that might just do the trick.
I have never tried the gripper things, nor have I met anyone else who has. Most ice-walkers are macho enough to have crampons (macho ice-walkers do not usually have tampons)! There are some grippers pictured below from Yaktrax.
All opinions gratefully received. Preferably before I have to slide down this hill to work on my bottom!
But not, of course, that hill.
I think you owe it to your loyal – nay, adoring – readers to distinguish between crampons and tampons and to identify their relevant application. To use either, mistakenly and substitutionally, could lead to grievous bodily harm. There’s also the etiquette thing: if the bed is shared crampons should be detached
Funnily enough, I am sure that I wrote exactly that blog post once, but I can’t find it anywhere. Maybe it was written in my sleep and never put to paper. Watch this blog space for a “Dummy’s Guide”!
Kahtoola spikes. Very good and easy to put on. They sell them on Amazon, but let’s try and avoid that if possible, try Needlesport in Keswick whose website tends to give more expert and informed opinion. They are one of the best and most knowledgeable outdoor gear suppliers.
These are not a substitute for proper crampons, but you only need those for more serious climbing. Kahtoolas are fine for walking. They also look better than the ones you illustrated (more Blonde).
http://www.needlesports.com/catalogue/results.aspx?search=Kahtoola+spikes
Oooh, you are right, they are much more Blonde and I really quite fancy them (plus, of course, the bag to put them in). What happens if you keep them on when it is not so icy? They look a bit fragile in the spike department.
They are well made from some special steel. I haven’t used them enough to find out, but I reckon the metal parts would take a lot of punishment, not so sure about the rubbery bits, but again they look well made.
At the suggestion of the local Grimswitchdyke & District Sewage Sniffers Society’s Mountain Leader I tried croutons once but they weren’t successful.
Perhaps they’ll work on Dartmoor.
I’ve got a set of Yaktrax XTR spikes, they’re absolutely awful in Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup but quite effective on ice.
That is funny! I can think of other things that croutons would be absolutely hopeless at. Lighting a fire when soaked in hand gel for instance.
Would you use those contraptions on Gripper’s Hill?
I have determinedly not been visiting Gripper’s Hill until I buy myself some. It would seem wrong. Neither have I visited Shovel Down since I stopped carrying a trowel!
Endorse Roderick’s concerns entirely and would further add that wearing tampons on the bottom of your boots would have no effect at all against snow and ice – you may as well use them elsewhere.
I can, however, recommend YakTrax – I’ve used them over many winters and they definitely give you more confidence in slippery conditions . It’s great fun watching others slip and fall uncontrollably whilst you gracefully pass them by!
Thank you for that. There has been some confusion today over tampon usage. I shall be putting you all right very soon, in the meantime, I shall continue to use them to light fires.
I bought rubber strap things that have rows of metal teeth to strap on the bottom of my shoes (which are sandals rather than shoes – awkward feet). Trouble is, it is too difficult for me to stand in a doorway strapping them on (can’t reach my feet unless sitting down) and even worse trying to get them off again. Solution – don’t go out on snowy or icy days – hibernate with a jigsaw, hot chocolate and afternoon TV! Love, B2GM
Hibernation! Of course, why didn’t I think of that!
I gave some to a friend one Christmas. I will enquire – but I have a feeling they were never used. They were very hard to stretch onto the boot. Personally, when conditions have been dire, I have used instep crampons, that are quite effective, but the oddities of my right foot preclude me from using such things at the moment. Besides, they clank if used on tarmac.
One can’t have clanking, I make enough noise with my walking poles on tarmac. After a while I have to put them away because the sound is annoying me so much!
I love my yaktrax. Stretch easily over your boots in seconds (best done either seated or when boots are not on feet), make a huge difference when walking on ice, and don’t damage indoor floors.
Thanks for that. I will do some more investigation. Putting them on before donning your boots sounds like a good idea.
I had some Yaktrax once and they were great on icy pavements while they lasted but they didn’t last very long. The rubbery bits went.
I now have some instep crampons to try out just as soon as I can muster the courage to drive on to Dartmoor on icy roads.
Hmm interesting. I had never heard of instep crampons until I wrote this post. So many options when, as you say, actually getting onto the moor can be the main issue.