I have poor balance - winter boots with good grip please?

[KindleMum]

I fall over on slippy snow, slush or ice embarrassingly easily. I've had the Walk GTX from Clarks which is supposed to be for snow but has rubbish grip, having tried it on the mild snow this week. My other boots to try are the Merrell Yarra, which I've worn today and seem OK but today's snow hasn't frozen yet.
Can anyone recommend anything with good grip that preferably isn't so heavy and outdoorsy that it looks like I got lost while climbing Ben Nevis?

Have you tried yak Trax?

Work gave us all a set, they go over your normal shoes and are amazing in the bad weather.

Really recommend them.. Although dont wear them inside!

(sorry if I'm hijacking Kindle, I have the same issues...)

Little, I recently bought yaktrax but haven't needed them yet. If you can't wear yaktrax inside and you wear them walking to, say, the supermarket: do you have to stand at the door, take the yaktrax off your soaking boots, walk round shop as normal, and then put them back on? That sounds awkward and a bit annoying.

Yes, you need to remove yak trax before going inside or you will slip on a smooth floor. They are excellent on the ice so well worth a bit of hassle for the grip you get.

Otherwise I find ordinary DMs are good. Much better than CAT boots or Merrells which are the others I've tried.

Yaktrax sound great for the really icy days but I'd still like the best grip boot I can find for the more normal days, or the days that don't merit Yaktrax.
Interesting that you recommend DMs, GoldenGreen. I used to have a friend who spent a lot of time in Finland in winter and he always said they were useless in snow and leaked a lot. That was a few years back so I wonder if they've improved.

I wouldn't wear them in proper deep Finnish snow, no! though mine have been fine in heavy rain. It's the grippiness on icy surfaces I like them for.

Thanks, they do sound worth it, I'll try them out soon.

If you are going for comfort and safety over style then look at PAVERS.

I vote for DMs too - my first winter wearing them and they are great. I am a bit unsteady and feel much more stable in them. I also have yak traks type things for deeper ice and snow. They are worth the effort.

I swear by my Lands End snowboots, into my fourth winter with them.

I am also have terrible balance and finally this year went to a podiarist. I have very high arches and now have custom fit orthotics to deal with my terrible pronation.

Interestingly she said that I should buy shoes with non grip soles, as shoes with grips get caught and then I go flying.

Not sure that helps your dilemma but thought it might be relevant.

I have lovely Mammal boots with cleats (grips) that fold down for snow and ice and fold back up for indoor wear. They are very warm and have a big fluffy trim that I like.

Me too re the orthotics - I wear them in my DMs.

I love these store.drmartens.co.uk/p-7824-dr-martens-gayle-boot.aspx

Don't think I need orthotics as I see an osteopath reasonably regularly for a knee problem and I think they'd have flagged it. Might ask them what they think of the no-grip being better idea though I doubt I'd be brave enough to try it.

Pavers look good, never heard of them before but I am absolutely loving the idea of the Mammal boots and the up/down cleats. Verrrry tempted....