Such ice shoes have two important advantages: on the one hand, they can be put on and taken off quickly, and on the other hand, they “raise” only the heel, and therefore are practically not felt when walking .
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But they also have a significant drawback: the leg of such a “harness” is only partially fixed on the ice and the toe will continue to slip – this is especially evident when you have to walk uphill. You are unlikely to fall, but you will not be able to maintain your walking pace due to the instability and you will not feel very confident.
There is no need to remove indoor “heel” ice skates: due to the fact that there are no metal pads under the toe, the shoes will not slide on tiles or marble, and the click will not be too loud and annoying.
Ice shoes with forefoot spikes
Thanks to the attachment point, such ice shoes allow you to feel more confident on the ice than the previous model, but they also have a drawback: due to the padding only under the metatarsal, the forefoot rises slightly, which affects walking technique. A healthy person will feel a little uncomfortable, but a person with joint problems may make them worse.
The undoubted advantages of this design include ease of use: such ice access shoes are easier to put on and then take off. A three to four centimeter heel allows you to simply move the ice fins up to the instep, while leaving them on your foot – this is more convenient than putting the ice fins in a bag first then in a bag.
Ice drift with spikes on the toe and heel
Maximum safety when using ice drifts is achieved when the spikes are scattered throughout the foot – in this case you can safely climb, descend and even run on the ice without fear of falling. You will have to pay for it in comfort – these models are felt more on the foot than others. Also, prepare to remove ice dams indoors: on tiles and marble, they will slide and make a deafening clicking sound.
The ice drifts without points
Unlike their studded “brothers”, which can be very different, ice shoes with sandpaper are represented by only one model with an abrasive lining on the wide part of the foot. They do not lift the metatarsal as high as the toes and are therefore almost not felt on the foot.
For more comfort, you will have to pay for less reliability: the fleece covering is slightly in the recess and gets clogged with snow at lightning speed, reducing the entire anti-slip effect to nothing.
Tips for Choosing Ice Drifts: What to Look for
How to make ice drifts at home
Homemade ice drifts will be inferior to factory ones, but will still reduce the risk of falling, so look for different instructions on how to create ice drifts.
These are the simplest homemade ice drifts available: place dots on the sole with superglue, sprinkle with baking soda and let dry. Such “sandpaper” will not last long, but updating it is very simple.
Another recipe in the spirit of “how to make your own ice cubes from what you have in the kitchen”: just stick the hard part of a dishwashing sponge on the sole of your shoe – that will be enough to walk to the store and back. Pieces of sandpaper will work even better.
Read also: How to make an anti-ice insole at home: a simple tip
Let’s move on to more complex options: here is the “recipe” for making ice drifts at home from wire. The author claims you can do it in 15 minutes, but we’re sure you’ll have to spend the whole evening on it (the first time, of course).
These homemade ice drifts are also not so easy to make: you will need a drill, a piece of thick rubber and self-tapping screws. However, users in the comments assure that it is worth it – such handmade ice accesses hold up no worse than purchased ones.
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