Power Walking On Snow

[coccinelle]

For the past 6 months I've taken up power walking every day (this involves walking round the village which is just over 1 mile). When the bad weather gets here and we have snow I was wondering how I'll do it. Does anybody here jog or walk in snowy conditions? if so what kind of shoes etc do you use? I want to continue in winter but don't want to risk a fall etc

[Tilly2]

I power walk, coccinelle and in the snow, I just wear a pair of snow boots. I don't go if it's icy though. A couple of days off doesn't hurt.

Have you last much weight?

[ubasses]

You can buy some ice/snow grippers which clip over the sole of your boots from most outdoor shops.

[Zacs-Master]

Can't get much better than these
http://www.mammut.ch/en/productDetail/303001940_v_0128_10/Redburn-Mid-GTX-Men.html
I have the trainer version.

[coccinelle]

Tilly, I was wondering if snow boots would slow me down so not a power walk, I have 'walking' shoes.
ubasses: maybe a good idea to put them on; actually I do have some which I've never used...

[Tilly2]

It won't be the boots that will slow you down, cocci. It will be the snow. No matter what you have on your feet, you will not be able to go as fast (except for cross country skis, of course)

[coccinelle]

Zacs; Prices in swiss francs, are you in Switzerland???,

[Zacs-Master]

No but it's the official Mammut site. Very good professional quality gear.

[coccinelle]

True Tilly. I might have to forfeit my walk when conditions are bad to not risk a fall.

[coccinelle]

Zacs thanks; will look into it.

[Zacs-Master]

If you go to your local Go Outdoors, they will be able to advise you. They don't pressure sell, just advise.

[Stephen_G]

If you were looking at a pair of running shoes (Not necessarily to run in though), you'd be better off with a pair of trail shoes like these New Balance ones

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I've got the mens version (I was wearing them for work) and they are comfy. Width fittings are B, D, 2E and 4E (Narrow to widest). Addas and New Balance can be narrrow fit. Asics and Nike can be slightly broader.

Best bet would be to pop along to a proper running shop and let them analyse you (You might have to have a little jog on a treadmill, to have your gait checked - Asics do a range of trail shoes with extra arch support built in).

[coccinelle]

Zacs; can't go to local Go Outdoors as I live in France, but will look into equivalent.
Stephen; are they good to power walk in on snow???

[seadogg]

A pair of poles is handy, and can prevent a slip from becoming a catastrophe. Also have the advantage of turning your power walk into a whole body exercise, a bit like x country ski-ing.

[coccinelle]

Hey seadogg, that is a solution. I haven't tried walking with poles as I'd feel it would slow me down but it might be worth trying when walking on snow, thanks for the idea.

[Stephen_G]

Well, I don't know about power-walking, but I used to work in a sports shop (And did two years on the Footwear department), and people used to say that they'd bought something like the ones in the link for the wintry weather, because of the deep tread. A normal pair of runing shoes wouldn't give a good level of traction.

[Zacs-Master]

Ah. Ok. Maybe you can pop over to Switzerland and get some mammuts then ;-)

[Mass_Hysteria]

Don't think you need to spend a fortune, just a sturdy pair of boots with a good tread. You're not exactly going up Everest!