Winter is a rather traumatic period, especially during icy conditions. Although utilities sprinkle sand or salt on the sidewalks, pedestrians should be very careful during such periods. Slippery soil in combination with inappropriate shoes and irresponsibility when moving can cause a fall and, as a result, an injury in the form of a bruise, sprain, fracture. To protect yourself when icing, it is not enough just to be careful when walking. It is necessary to select shoes with non-slip soles and additionally use anti-icing overlays for shoes bought in the store or made by yourself.
Least slipping shoes
When choosing winter shoes, you need to pay attention not only to its appearance, comfort, price and brand, but also the quality of the sole. You should take a good look, because if it is not intended for walking on ice, the consequences can be dangerous - from discomfort when worn to injuries. When buying, you should try on a few pairs of shoes, trying to feel its grip on the floor in the store.
You need to stop your eyes on the shoes with grooved soles. The best option is a tread with a uniform deep relief, directed in different directions. It will provide excellent tenacity with an ice surface. The heel should be wide enough, stable, not too high. It is better if the sole of the shoe is made of soft material that will not stiffen in the cold: rubber, polypropylene, polyurethane. A great option is to buy boots made in those countries that are familiar with cold winter weather.
If you still made a mistake when choosing, and the boots turned out to be unsuitable for walking on ice, you can use anti-slip pads for shoes purchased in the store or made with your own hands.
Professional linings
There are several types of factory fixtures that attach to the sole and protect against slipping and falling. Anti-slip pads for shoes are produced for boots with heels, and for ugg boots, and for ordinary boots. They are easy to put on and take off. The most common devices that can be purchased at any hardware store are:
- ice drifts - slip-on overlays for shoes that envelop the lower part of the boots, providing a braking effect on the ice surface;
- icebreakers - devices similar to ice drifts, but additionally equipped with spikes (most often in the toe area), guaranteeing stability;
- other ice devices - anti-slip rubber pads, removable hoops, chains, felt elements.
Such devices have several advantages. It:
- low price;
- wear resistance;
- ease of use;
- good slip protection.
How to choose shoe pads
If you decide to purchase anti-icing shoe pads at the store, read the tips for choosing them. The main thing is to bring along shoes on which devices are bought, so that you can try them on. The pads should be sized, not squeeze the foot and not be too loose. Take a few steps to determine if you are comfortable with them. From the aesthetic side, it is worthwhile to choose devices in the tone of the shoe or with a natural metallic color.
Carefully inspect the linings that you intend to buy. They should be light so as not to heavily weight the already large-sized winter boots. Their shape needs to match the type of shoe. The material from which the anti-slip pads for shoes are made must be durable (preferably steel or polyurethane) and without various defects.
How to make an overlay yourself
This is completely uncomplicated. To make do-it-yourself anti-ice pads for shoes, it does not take much effort. First, on both sides of the heel are attached "cheeks" made of a steel plate. A bracket covering the heel is connected to them by hinges on which replaceable metal spikes are inserted in the tubular holes. They provide traction with a slippery surface. Also on the bracket is a threaded sleeve. Elements are attached to the bracket by welding.
A metal plate with holes above and below is fixed on the heel back. Using the inserted screw (in one of them and in the sleeve) equipped with a knurled head, the bracket and plate are fixed. When the bracket with the spikes is in the lower position, the spikes protrude beyond the supporting surface of the heel and perform their anti-slip function. In the upper placement they will be inoperative.
What can be done in the workshop
To make shoes more adapted to ice, you can contact the workshop. It offers several options.
- Polyurethane heels. This material is soft, does not harden in the cold and clings well to ice.
- Metal heels. They have excellent grip and do not allow the sole to slide.
- Rubber overlays for shoes against sliding. A gasket glued to the sole will allow more stable walking on the ice.
Folk methods
There are folk methods that protect against falls during ice. For example, if the shoe has a smooth sole, you can improve its adhesion to the surface - to make it grooved on its own with a nail, soldering iron, sandpaper or grater. The main thing is not to overdo it so as not to spoil the shoes.
Strips of sandpaper on an adhesive basis are sold in stores. By attaching such anti-slip pads to your shoes, you will protect yourself from ice for several days. Then they should be updated. In addition to sandpaper, you can stick a medical patch or felt on the sole. Another option is improvised spikes made from small screws or nails.
A great way to make shoes non-slip is to apply “Moment” glue to the sole with ornate patterns and sprinkle it with sand or rub it with a large emery cloth after drying. You can use another effective method - to rub the protectors of shoes with raw potatoes.
Remember that even with the right shoes and the use of different pads when walking on ice, you should be extremely careful and careful. It is necessary to look well under the feet, not to make sudden movements, to move in small steps.