Anyone tried Yax Trax? Pro or Walker model? Do they work? Noticeable extra weight/bulk?
I use the Yak Trax Pro - they work great. Haven’t used them once this year though! Don’t really notice them on clean pavement (a problem with the screw method) and I’ve never slipped with them on.
i have the pro model and run in them all the time. Get the Pro for the strap helps keep them on. Also if you are on the top of the size chart Ex Med 8-11, and you are a 11, go to the large size. Your toes will thank you. Not alot of noticeable wieght, but I am running in 9-12 inches of snow currently and that is weighing me down more than anything. I also tend to run on some off camber narrow trails and no slippage at all.
I have the pro model. They work great on ice. I don’t notice the weight.
scott
My $.02 —I don’t like the yak trax as they are not good on pavement if your route has a mix of snow, ice and wet pavement. They also mess up the ride of the shoe on pavement.
I made my own screw shoes after someone posted a link here (thanks slowtwitch) and I swear by them. Very cheap ($2), very effective on wet/pavement, ice, snow you name it.
pro- both my wife and I. Really like them, also good for winter hikes when crampons or snowshoes just dont make sense. I got them here for <$20. Best price and free ship (insanely quick) if your order is over $50 (actually bought 3 pairs, me+wife+buddy). I don’t notice them at all, unless they slip off, then you notice the loss in traction immediately (pretty rare that they slip off, and I’m not sure if its due to tangling feet or something else.
Have 'em. Use 'em. Like 'em.
I have the pro version - which I reccommend - they have no appriciable weight disadvantages. The only caveat is that they are best on snow and only so-so on clean roads so you’re best off using them on a completely snow covered route. They don’t slip on clean pavement or anything, just feel a bit wierd.
I raced in them in the past weekend’s winter tri- the Pros…they were great- didnt notice the weight, and traction was awesome.
I’ve got the regular ones and they work great on my Montrails (you might need the pro on a less beefy shoe).
Also I’ve never had a problem with them on dry patchs of pavement.
They work great for shoveling the driveway too!
A lot of runners wore them last weekend at the Buckeye Trail 50K in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland. This was a run on frozen single track; ice and snow the whole way.
But, I know a lot of runners were using screws too, with success. I kinda’ wished I’d done one or the other. I wore trail shoes and felt like I was dragging a load of bricks after about 20 miles.
My opinion on Yak Trax - pretty flippin’ awesome. You can’t run full speed, but they offer a lot more confidence. Depending on conditions with the amount of snow/ice/open pavement, I’ll decide between either the yak traxs or my shoes that have about 20 1/4’’ hex head sheet metal screws in the bottom.
As for yak traks, I’m a big dude and have probably put more than 100 miles on a pair. I have broken through one of the pieces but they still work (built in redundancy), so I’m happy with that. And the metal springs are surprisingly durable with the amount of open pavement I’ve been on (between ice patches).
My $.02 —I don’t like the yak trax as they are not good on pavement if your route has a mix of snow, ice and wet pavement. They also mess up the ride of the shoe on pavement.
I made my own screw shoes after someone posted a link here (thanks slowtwitch) and I swear by them. Very cheap ($2), very effective on wet/pavement, ice, snow you name it.
http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm
It there is snow/ice I assume you are wearing pants. If those pants have pockets, you can take off your yak traxs during your run, put them in your pockets and continue your run. You could also carry a hex head ratchet wrench for your screw shoes.
The screw shoes are fine on pavement. You don’t even notice them other than the sound. There’s enough rubber still hitting the pavement so there’s plenty of grip. The last thing I want to do on a run is stop to take something wet and salty off my feet and put in my pocket.
Mine are great for icy pavement, but are not too good on snowy/icy trails- they tended to slip to the side of the shoe. Pavement is where the real danger lies, so very worthwhile for that. I have the pro.
Best investment I have made in years. I use the cheap basic walker ones and they have been a life saver this winter. Excellent on ice, snow, slush but not nice on asphalt.
They feel like they slow me down a touch, but so does running in snow. I mean my 8-min. miles might be 8:15s now, partly due to Yaktrax and partly due to the ice. I wouldn’t want them for tempo runs or races, but I don’t do either in January. Saturday I hiked up the hardpack at the local ski resort to watch an AT race. I put my Yaktrax on my hiking boots. They’re awesome.
I also have friends who use screw shoes and they work well. They don’t use 50 in each shoe like in that link, more like 5.
I absolutely adore them - on snow, on ice and they don’t bother me on pavement - I have taken them off/ put them on if I have a totally split run.
I have the pro version as I had heard the strap helps more for running.
The last thing I want to do on a run is stop to take something wet and salty off my feet and put in my pocket.
Really? Because the last thing I would want to do it have to take a dump in public without toilet paper… but to each their own.
2nd last thing I’d rather do is to dig on a guy who has finished any IM < 10hrs. So don’t mind me.
They wouldn’t stay on my shoe and kept slipping up the toe. Maybe it’s the 13 EEEE shoes I had them on, I threw them away.