Best Avalanche Safety Gear
Keep in mind the Walk may look smaller than your actual shoe size, but are designed to stretch considerably to fit appropriately over your shoes or boots. Made In USA: Designed and manufactured in the USA to the highest quality and performance standards, the Walk offer a secure fit for shoes and boots and are easy to pull on and remove.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Upon inspection the product looks great and I would have given both pair 5 stars except the sizes promoted on the website are not accurate."
"My size L cleats are perfect."
"I'm glad I did - the XL size fit my size 13 boots quite well, and also seem like they'll work fine on my size 12 shoes, although I have not walked with them on my shoes yet, just slipped them on to check the fit."
"I then ordered a size X-Large and found that they were easier to put on if I use the proper technique."
"I put these on my boots and never slipped once on the ice and felt confident with every step."
"We regularly got severe ice storms and all our roads were quite hilly, so for 10 years, all 180 of us tried every type of ice cleats we could find, from very expensive professional quality crampons designed for glacier climbing, to very low budget ones. As a result, we became very familiar with the quality and durability of the different types of rubber used in ice cleats. Unfortunately, as soon as I stretched the rubber of the Stabilicers, my heart sank because the sides were so extremely flimsy, just like all the other rubber cleats we had tried over the years."
Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats are tested safe from breakage in temperatures as low as -41 degrees F. They are available in four sizes to fit most shoes: Extra-small for petite sizes (fits shoe size W2.5-6/M1-4.5); Small (fits shoe size W6.5-10, M5-8.5); Medium (fits shoe size W10.5-12.5, M9-11); Large (fits shoe size W13-15, M11.5-13.5). Made of abrasion-resistant 1.2 mm steel coils with zinc coating to prevent rust; secured to shoes with durable Polyelastomer outer band.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Today I trialled them on the hills of our trails which are steep and I have to normally go off the trail so I can stay upright."
"I used these bad boys after it snowed a whopping 2 inches in Portland, Oregon the other day."
"I climbed up and down a very steep 1/4 mile hill that was snowed/ iced over for 2 weeks back and forth to work last winter wearing these, with no falls."
"Trail conditions here are highly variable, especially after an event of "wintry mix" (any combination of snow, sleet, freezing rain)."
"If you are a runner and hate running on the treadmill, I highly recommend this product."
"There, I found this to work much better Micro spikes Footwear Ice Traction System Safe Protect for Walking, Jogging, or Hiking on Snow and Ice,Uelfbaby (19 Spikes/ Black XL). (edit: changed from 4 to 5 stars because they are very good at what they're being sold for - safer walking in city)."
"One cleat broke within 30 mins on first day clearing icy driveway."
"I would happily give these a 5 star review, but - after just a couple of weeks of not very heavy use one of them broke."
Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats are available in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes to fit most shoes: Small (fits shoe size W6.5-10, M5-8.5); Medium (fits shoe size W10.5-12.5, M9-11); Large (fits shoe size W13-15, M11.5-13.5); X-Larger (fits shoe size W15.5+, M 14+). Traction cleats that fit over shoes for safely walking, hiking, or jogging on packed snow or ice.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I just went for my first run in the Yaktrax. I found that one of the hardest things about running in the snow had been the feeling of running in sand where not all your momentum propelled you forwards. Friends, it's going to be a long cold snowy slushy winter followed by an equally cold snowy slushy spring."
"He's fine, thank you, :) but since that day we have NEVER been without at least 2 pair of YakTrax each. As soon as the temps begin to hit freezing, we each keep a pair of shoes, with YakTrax attached, by the back door, & neither of us goes out without them. While you can switch the YakTrax to different pairs of boots/shoes/sneakers, I think it's better to have a few pair available just to make sure you don't leave home without them."
"I ordered a medium and they were stretched so tight over my size 11 sneakers that I couldn't put my shoes on for fear of snapping the cleats. Even my dad who has smaller feet than me was unable to use them on his boots so I had to return the pair for a size large. In the past while running on snow covered streets there would be slipping and hesitation at opening my stride or picking up my speed which is a good way to get hurt."
"I threw these on over my boots, and was so pleased at how well and secure they fit over my shoes and how well they gripped the ice so that I could safely take all the garbage out to the curb, otherwise it was far too icy to walk."
"The only bad thing I've experienced was the snow we had after the rain got packed in the cleats caused me to slip a little. Cons. Snow get packed in causing slippage."
"Also some of my hiking shoes or boots have more aggressive patterns and/or higher or lower toe and heal and these do not fit on those really."
Best Avalanche Beacons & Transceivers
Backcountry Access stepped it up again this winter with its all-new Tracker3 Avalanche Beacon. Battery life: minimum 1 hour in search mode after 200 hours in transmit mode (approximately 250 hours in transmit only or 50 hours in search only).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So great I bought 2!"
"Easy to use."
"Amazing safety equipment."
"Extremely easy to turn on with gloves."
"Nice features, intuitive operation; complete instructions included."
"Very easy to use and high quality."
"A necessary piece of equipment for playing in the backcountry."
Best Backcountry Snow Probes
FEATURES of the Backcountry Access Stealth Avalanche Probe Easy assembly with no loose cable to cause hangups Top segment nests inside the next probe section, reducing the number of segments and size of the probe bundle when disassembled in your pack Laser etched depth markings for measuring snowpack. Easy assembly with no loose cable to cause hangups.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Quality fit and finish along with the bag as well."
"Item is exactly as described."
"The missing piece to his backcountry gear to make his wife be at peace..."
"High quality probe."
"Fortunately, I haven't had to use it for a real rescue, but it worked really well for 2 days of intensive avalanche rescue training."
"Great product, reasonably priced, arrived faster than stated/expected."
"Quick assembly."
"As expected and seems of nice quality."
Best Backcountry Snow Shovels
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Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Amazing little shovel!!!"
"This winter, NY was hit by wet snow and it quickly turned into ice. Now the real reason, why I have deducted 1 star is more due to the fact that there are some areas where it could use some improvement. First of all, the entire body of the shovel is made out of aluminum and there is no grab provided for the fore-hand. Lastly, the handle is really uncomfortable but this is somewhat understandable as they wanted to make it as portable as possible."
"When used to dig vigorously in compact snow, the fulcrum point connecting the shovel to the handle bends and warps."
"I was so impressed with the quality of that shovel and the reasonable price that I purchased a second shovel when we replaced our second family vehicle this month. In the compact position, the shovel is easy to handle around care tires and under a vehicle caught in a drift. I didn't anticipate this feature when I bought it for emergency use, but when my two year old wanted to shovel the driveway with daddy last winter, I gave him the AAA Sport Utility Shovel with the handle in the compact position and he loved it."
"This little shovel is very solid and durable."
"I am about 5'6 and it works just fine, if you are closer to 6 feet or above, I would recommend getting a larger collapsible shovel."
"I have had a similar lexan expedition shovel for 25 years and it's still as good as new."
"This was a great little shovel that I kept in my car for emergencies."
Best Ice & Snow Traction Cleats
Keep in mind the Walk may look smaller than your actual shoe size, but are designed to stretch considerably to fit appropriately over your shoes or boots. Made In USA: Designed and manufactured in the USA to the highest quality and performance standards, the Walk offer a secure fit for shoes and boots and are easy to pull on and remove.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Upon inspection the product looks great and I would have given both pair 5 stars except the sizes promoted on the website are not accurate."
"My size L cleats are perfect."
"I then ordered a size X-Large and found that they were easier to put on if I use the proper technique."
"I put these on my boots and never slipped once on the ice and felt confident with every step."
"Therefore, bring a plastic bag with you to remove since they'll be dripping wet if you're going into a store with shiny smooth stores."
"Fits well enough but the plates that the spikes are attached to don't cover the bottom of your feet completely so you can feel the edges of the plates through the soles of your boots or shoes."
"We regularly got severe ice storms and all our roads were quite hilly, so for 10 years, all 180 of us tried every type of ice cleats we could find, from very expensive professional quality crampons designed for glacier climbing, to very low budget ones. As a result, we became very familiar with the quality and durability of the different types of rubber used in ice cleats. Unfortunately, as soon as I stretched the rubber of the Stabilicers, my heart sank because the sides were so extremely flimsy, just like all the other rubber cleats we had tried over the years."
"Caused me to walk on the outside of my foot and throws my balance off."
Best Crampon Accessories
Grippers give you the great traction you need to stay on your feet. Crampons ONLY, shoes displayed in pictures are NOT included! MULTIPLE USE - You can use it not only for outdoor ice and snow but also for mud and wet grass or other poor conditions,hiking, fishing, shoveling snow and other outdoor activities, protect you and your family from slipping and falling.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since I live in North Georgia, I don't have a real need for anything that helps me walk on ice, but I have used these cleats for doing yard work on a very steep hill, or berm, in my backyard. There are a lot of reviews here for using these cleats on icy terrain, but I just wanted to say they're great for working on steep grassy or bare earth hills."
"I'm a clumsy person on dry pavement, add snow or ice and I'm just a hot mess!"
"Says size 11-13."
"You couldn't walk on the ice without some type of additional traction is was so slick."
"She wears braces and has a hard time walking which is made worse by the snow and ice in the winter."
"So I live up notth where we get plenty of ice and snow for that matter but we do a lot of ice fishing!"
"Bought these as a gift for my Sister who has to deal with Snow and Ice ...She is so Happy with them."
"Da Bomb!!!"
Best Ice Climbing Tool Accessories
The easiest and fastest placing ice screws on the planet, the Black Diamond Express Ice Screw features a tapered tube where the teeth cut a hole just larger than the tube itself, for less friction during placements. Advanced tooth geometry for easier starting and faster placement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The product is the standard by which ice climbers judge their saftey."
"excellent gift for the climber."
"-set up kite and lines (make sure kite is well anchored before leaving it unattended). -hook ice screw to chicken loop (I use about 4ish feet of climbing rope with a carabiner on each end)."
"Easy to turn into the ice, extremely secure, and the hole is large enough to fit some tie down rope through."
"keeps you alive on the ice."
"These lil guys work amazing for holding onto my Kiteboarding kite on the ice while rigging and for taking breaks in between sessions!"
"The Black Diamond Express Ice Screws are the same as the Turbo, but they are faster to place after you get them started."
Best Mountaineering & Ice Climbing Ice Axes
FEATURES of the Petzl Glacier Literide Axe Compact: Measuring 50 cm, the Glacier literide is as compact as it is light, and therefore easily transportable on a pack The upper part of the pick offers excellent grip (comfortable supporting surface) The pick and the shaft are lighter, yet extremely robust Very good anchoring qualities in hard snow and ice The profile of the pick, for sure and stable anchoring The pick of toothed steel, thinner at the tip (3 mm) The stainless steel spike, for very good penetration in hard snow High strength and practical aspects High-quality steel pick (identical to picks of technical ice axes) Very strong steel adze with an edge designed for efficient cutting of steps Head and spike equipped with holes for clipping a carabiner or attaching a sling High-quality aluminum shaft (aluminum 7075, used in aeronautics), with anodized finish for excellent rust protection Handle cut into the shaft provides better grip when used for technical ice climbing. HIGH QUALITY: The GLACIER LITERIDE's high-quality steel pick is identical to technical ice axe picks.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If I had been more experienced and known better what I would have been using it for, I would have gone with the CAMP Corsa Nanotech Axe Ice axes 50, since this is really just good insurance to have on some slopes on the types of hikes that I do where the majority is on soft snow where you wouldn't necessarily need to self arrest to stop a slide. You want a great axe that is slightly heavier, a wallet that is slightly heavier, and the ability to chop steps into icy surfaces?"
"On a five day summer glacier traverse my buddies were jealous that my axe was so light!"
"Lightweight, does the job, and my daughter loves the color!"
"What can you say, there's a reason this is the top choice among ice axe's of its kind."
"Works great for self arresting and the spike was good for self-belaying."
Best Mountaineering & Ice Climbing Crampons
Whether you're walking along mossy lakeshores, over slimy river rocks, or some combination thereof, the Streamtrekker gives you a firm grip on the ground so you don't end up being up close and personal with your prey. Abrasion resistant steel beads provide aggressive grip on slick, mossy rock.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you're looking for something to fortify your existing pair of rubber boots these worked great!"
"Great grip, but I didn't see the head of the spike that caught the trekkers and luckily, pulled them off my foot."
"Had no issues with traction, even on smooth stone river bed and strong current."
"Fit well, worked well until one of the attachments brook after about 7-8 uses."
"Great to prevent falling on ice."
"I didn't want to buy two boots since it requires us to hike through a wet forest for a while before we get to the stream."
"These are great for hiking, backpacking, winter/fall hunting & fishing."
"The Neos and the Stream Trekkers are much easier to pack than a heavier set of waders."
Best Mountaineering & Ice Climbing Ice Tools
This shovel is an ideal accessory for your car, truck, SUV, recreational vehicle or snowmobile. Ideal accessory for your car, truck, SUV, recreational vehicle or snowmobile.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Amazing little shovel!!!"
"I've owned many Army/Military style collapsible shovel tools that can do a lot more and are almost indestructible..The only reason I bought this was because I figured it would be needed mostly for snow removal and it has a larger shovelhead than the military ones."
"Feels like I'm holding a coal shovel but lighter."
"Used this to dig my truck out of 3 ft of snow that i got stuck in."
"Great little shovel, just what I was looking for in a winter snow shovel for the car. I like the idea of being able to shovel myself out, when away from home and no access to the big shovels."
"A huge box that was so big a ton of crumpled paper was included to keep this from being rattled around."
"Very nice basic shovel for emergency or backpacking."
"This was a great little shovel that I kept in my car for emergencies."