Best non slip boots for icy pavements ?

[BookWorm45]

Wondering if anyone has good advice for what are the best non-slip options for boots to wear on icy pavements.... not so much when it's snow, but more when there is frost / some black ice on pavements. This has been the case every day this week where I live.

I do have some Yak Traks with little studs on them, which fit over shoes, but they are more for biting into snow / ice and don't work so well on a pavement.

Trying to do my best to avoid any sprains / falls / fractures given the state of our health service at present !

Tbh once the top layer starts to melt, even the best non slip boots will slip as the thin water layer acts as a very efficient lubricant. So I use anything with a good tred and resort to a walking stick for balance. The yak tracks seem to work best in proper, deepish snow/ice Imo.

I have a pair of snow boots from Decathlon which have been great this week.

Walking stick would be a good idea - I do have some hiking poles !

@emmathedilemma are your snow boots rubber-soled maybe (or another type ?)

I've got some North Face Nuptse boots, extremely warm and have great grip. Bit like a trainer but with a down upper.
They are far far from looking fashionable but in this weather I dont rightly care 😂

They're rubber and really warm. I hesitated to buy them thinking I didn't them when I already owned hiking boots and trail running shoes but they're much warmer than both, waterproof (which my trail shoes aren't) and much grippy than my hiking boots. These aren't the exact model (had mine a year or two) but they're similar www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-warm-waterproof-high-snow-boots-sh500-x-warm/_/R-p-324197?mc=8738750

Rubber soles.
Soles should be flexible, so your feet can mould around and 'grip' any indentations in the ice surface.
Wee teeth in the soles, or similar. Trail running shoes often have them, so look for similar soles on whatever type of footwear you're looking for.

No footwear grips completely flat sheet ice (except crampons but you knacker them on pavements).

It's more important how you walk - small steps, keep body weight above feet. Flexing slightly at the hips/knees on particularly slippery bits will help you fall well. If I think I might slip I lean forward very very slightly so that I should fall forward - better chance of avoiding injury. Or aim to land on bottom! Just avoid stiffening up or you'll go down much harder.

North Face Nuptse or if you really don’t care what you look like the Croc boots are brilliant and also waterproof and a lot cheaper (£50 on Amazon)

Aye, walk like a penguin.

🐧 love the penguin suggestion ! Thank you for all the links / suggestions so far

Dr Martens

I've got north face snow boots which are great but if it's just ice they are very very warm. I just near my dms which are great.

Must be an age thing, I never used to worry so much. But now I'm conscious of the damage that I could do to myself, after having had some surgery in the past, and how long it takes to recover health.

I've worn my doc martens for this latest cold snap and had no slips 😊

My DMs are terrible in the ice. I've only had them a few months so the grip hasn't worn.

Fellhof boots.

So far the Croc boots are a total surprise to me, I didn't know they existed and they look like a good (and waterproof) cheaper possibility.

I was also surprised by the Croc boots, I stay in Glasgow and we have some really steep streets, they do well on them so I’d imagine they’d work well anywhere.

Having had very icy weather here in Dublin I too wondered what Mumsnetters would suggest as great footwear to wear when pavements are slippy.
I have Geox snowboots but I didn't find them great in the ice. They're great in snow though.

Sorrel boots have great grips for ice

Nothing outside of spikes works well on ice.

But Dainite soles are well regarded.

You want soles with lots of friction, lots of cuts on the sole like the bottom of a walking boot. In this weather I just wear my walking boots so if I do slip I'm unlikely to sprain an ankle too and change to indoor shoes when I arrive.

Soft rubber treads are a must
If you have to only go a short distance (ie down a black ice driveway) throw handfuls of sand or kitty litter or wood ash down in front of you as you go.
I keep a Ziploc bag of sand in my coat pocket

Thermagrip

£19.99 from Timpsons