With much of the country getting slammed by snow this week, it seemed like the perfect time to write about my experience with my Yaktrax and my Snowshoes. We don’t have that many opportunities around here to break out the real snow gear so I was really excited about our winter wonderland this weekend.
Yaktrax
I purchased these run specific Yaktrax last year and have been itching to take them for a “test run” ever since. In taking them out of the box, they are all one piece. This is a major plus for me as I really don’t like to try to put things together. They are really easy to put on even without reading the instructions. It is easy to see which is the right and left foot and they strap on easily with velcro. Who reads the instructions right?
According to the package Yaktrax are “designed to run naturally on packed snow and ice”. I first used them in about 2-3 inches of fresh snow. This was, in my opinion, the perfect amount of snow to run in. I felt very secure and did not feel any slipping. One thing to note is that you cannot use them on pavement or sidewalk as you will slide. You will need to transport them to where you can put them on. When trying to use them in deeper unpacked snow, they really don’t work as I just sunk right in. I think they are also perfect for packed snow or half melted snow on top of ice. I did not use them on pure ice mostly because I am wimp.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA27DlrxuQv/?taken-by=deborahbrooks14
I felt as though I had to change my gait slightly by taking smaller steps and running slower than usual. The Yaktrax worth the money even if you only have the chance to use them a few times a year. They would also be great for snow shoveling and dog walking.
I am planning on taking them out for a few more runs this week as the snow gets packed down a bit. Anything to avoid more treadmill runs!
The Yaktrax were great but I have to say I had way more fun with my snowshoes . I was lucky enough to find these Yukon Charlies Snow shoes on sale at BJ’s a few years back. They still have them on Amazon and are currently around $75.
The Yukon Charlie’s came in their own carry case with retractable poles. With the amount of snow that we got, the snow shoes were perfect! I took them out for a nice trek through the woods with a friend. Snow shoeing through over 2 feet of snow is no joke. This was quite the workout and I loved it
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA-rBSkxuSv/?taken-by=deborahbrooks14
I was a little hesitant at first as I wasn’t sure how sturdy the snow shoes would be. I quickly learned that I had to really distribute my weight evenly on both feet so as not to sink in. The snow shoes are very durable and can accommodate any snow boot into them. They adjust easily to pop them on and off. As with the Yaktrax, you cannot really use the snow shoes on pavement and need to carry them to where you will be in snow. The poles are a must for balance and to help to go up and down hills or snowbanks without falling.
We went on about a 2 mile loop in our snow shoes which took over an hour and let me tell you, it is quite the workout. I found myself really recruiting my hamstrings and glutes to trudge through the deep snow. I’ve had the Yukon Charlie Snow Shoes for 3 years now and I expect them to last for many more. They are sturdy and easy to take on and off. This post contains affiliate links.
I’ve really embraced my outdoorsy side this winter!
How are you enjoying the snow this winter?
linking up with Anne Marie, Nicole & Michelle and Angelina Marie
linking up with Jenn at Because I’m cheap for the Sunday blog hop
Great review!
I am kicking myself in the butt for not picking up a pair of yaktrax when I saw them at Costco a few weeks back! Uuugh! I will go and see iff they are still there (doubt it).
Those snow shoes look awesome.
ooh I doubt it but they do have them on amazon still. It was fun!
Great info!
I am kicking myself in the butt for not picking up a pair of yaktrax when I saw them at Costco a few weeks back! Uuugh! I will go and see iff they are still there (doubt it).
Those snow shoes look awesome.
Those look really cool! No snow where I live in California…boo! I’d love to have just one or two days of snow a year…then bring back my sunshine!
Yup one or two is perfect! The rest of this week might be rough
I love my Yaks more than I thought possible! I would love to get my feet into some snowshoes. I’ve never tried them!
They are so much fun and quite the workout!
I LOVE my Yaktrax, but have found they are very uncomfortable if there isn’t actual snow on the trails.
Yes I agree you do need to have about 2 inches of good snow to use them. It’s the in between that is hard.
I would love to go snowshoeing! It always looks fun and exhausting 😀
It really was quite the workout with all of this snow!
You are so awesome to get out in that! I had a lovely treadmill run and netflix binge :-)) You inspire me!
ha it really was lots of fun and I figured I would be much happier getting out and doing something. I would like my nice running trail back now though 🙂
I do agree that I run a little slower in my Yaktrax but I love them! They come in really handy up here in the North! Thanks for linking up and sharing 🙂
I bet you use them a lot up there!
I’ll probably never have need to wear them, but Yaktrax sound pretty cool, and a lot less expensive that I would have expected. Enjoy that snow!
It was fun for a few days but I think I am over it!
With all the snow talk I have heard of these which is amazing since we don’t get much snow down here. You have to be well rounded right and I don’t mean in shape 😉
Your right Deborah, perfectly timed post!
It was lots of fun to do something different for a change
Everyone’s snow pics does want to make me try running in snow….just once…. I’ll need to travel to do so.
Come on over!
I moved to Montana last year and thought I would be buying Yaktrax for winter running, but it turns out my trail running shoes are great for anything short of ice! I will run in pretty much any conditions, but I’m a wimp about the ice, too.
That’s great that your trail shoes work for snow too. Ice is scary I do not want to take any chances. Thanks for stopping by!
FUN! We went snowshoeing last year to see how the girls liked them before buying them. The oldest wasn’t crazy about them but after awhile we all had fun. We had picked a great day to do it but when we got there it had dropped in temp and there was freezing rain that came in. With not having much snow this year, crazy for MN, we haven’t purchased them yet.
I don’t have the opportunity to use them too often but it was fun and challenging to do something different for a change
I was thinking about getting Yaktrax, but if I can’t use them on pavement, maybe they aren’t a good option for me… Hmmm… thanks for the tips!
I think you really need about 2 inches of snow to use them or you can slip. You can’t use them directly on pavement
Wow–you are hardcore! LOL!!
I don’t know about that! It was fun to do something different and was quite a workout
I have been using YakTrax for years and just love them for running in the snow. They aren’t the greatest on ice, tho. For that I use Stablicers. I have both. We have some pretty wacky weather here!
It was fun to try them out but I am kind of over it and ready to have my running trail back 🙂
So fun! Snowshoeing is one of my favorite winter activities, but I haven’t been out this year yet. (Hoping I can change that next month:)
Hope your snow stays a while so you can keep on getting out and enjoying with with your snow gear!!
It was lots of fun to do something different for a change of pace. It was a lot harder than I thought for sure
Ah it looks like you had so much fun! I almost bought Yaktrax last year but chickened out, I’d love to try some out on a snowy trail. As for snowshoeing, as terrible as I am at snowboarding, I’m sure I’d be awful at it! It looks so fun though!
Snow boarding I don’t think I would be good at bc I would be scared. Snowshoeing is really just walking so you can control the speed you can totally do it
This is a great review! I have a big farm field across from my house. The snow shoes would be fun to use there. I have always wanted to try them. My husband and I both received Yak Trax for Christmas one year. We were doing a lot of winter hiking at the time (but not in the snow). It was a thoughtful gift anyway. My husband’s pair is an 8… he wears a 12. So they are still in the box.
Yes the big field would be a fun place to try out snow shoes. Maybe you can find some on sale at the end of the season now. It was fun to do something new
Oooh those look like they could be fun! The only exercises I did in the snow this weekend were walking downtown and shoveling 😛
All of that shoveling was no joke! Hard work indeed
I love snowshoeing! It’s so much fun and a great workout. I’ve never used yaktracks even though I run a lot in the winter. I just try to stick to cleared paths and go slower over icy parts. I feel they might be too awkward to wear.
I was a little hesitant about the yaktrax they did work well on the fresh snow the problem is now that it is melting and icy. Ugh!
I’ve been amazed by those of you who have been out running in the snow. You all are so dedicated to keeping up with your running despite what Mother Nature does. Personally, I’d much rather resort to the treadmill, but I also hate being cold.
I try to avoid the treadmill whenever possible! It’s been fun but I am ready to have my trail back now
Looks like you’re making the best of all the snow this winter!! We don’t get much snow in the city so I’ve never used Yaktrax, but our local mountains are only about a 45-minute drive away so I love going snowshoeing! I took a group of girls for a 10km trek on Sunday and it was TOUGH! Fun, but tough 😉
Snow shoeing is so much fun! And it was quite the workout
Snowshoes sound like such a brilliant idea! I would have loved playing with them this weekend! Maybe I will pick up a pair with those LL Bean points I have accumulated.
They were lots of fun to play around in and lots harder than I thought!
This is really useful. Thanks for the review! I have been wondering about Yaktrax & don’t think they’d be good for me because I mostly run on pavement, at least during the week. The snow shoes sound fun!
They do not work well on pavement unless it has at least 2 inches of snow on it. The snow shoes were so much fun!
How fun! Perfect timing indeed. I still haven’t bought YakTrax but maybe this year will push me over the edge.
I have an extra pair 🙂
Strangely, we don’t have any snow right now, but the Yaktrax sound like they might come in handy 🙂
It was lots of fun playing in the snow all weekend but I am now over it!
Sounds like a tough workout. I used to ski many yrs ago. But snowshoeing may be the way to go now. A bit safer. I’d love to try it out!
I don’t ski anymore either since that was how I tore my ACL but snow shoeing is lots of fun and yes safer
I love getting to use my YakTrax and snowshoes! I have both in anticipation of a snowy winter here in Alaska but I barely got to use them this year. I also got my shoes studded so that I can wear them all over the place and not worry about breaking the studs on concrete. I recommend it if you get tons of snow/ice!
That’s a good idea too! Hope your winter isn’t too bad up there!
Great tips dear 🙂
Thanks so much have fun out there!
You look so stylish out there in the snow!! 🙂
I love snowshoeing, so I would go all the time if I could. The yaxtrax look cool and such an affordable price! Definitely looks like a great workout! Enjoy!!
The snow shoes were blast! I’ve been afraid to ski again after tearing my ACL doing it years ago but this seems safer.
I swear every winter I am going to buy a pair of Yaktrax, and while I don’t think they would have been much help in the knee deep snow, I said it again this week! I appreciate your review of them, and before the next snow, I am buying them!!
No not so good in the knee deep snow but good to have and fun to use for a change. Thanks for stopping by today
Well no snow for me but you are making it look like a lot of fun!!!
Ha ha I figured! It was fun for a few days and I am now over it
I got to use my Yaktrax last week too and I ended up having to wear them on the street and sidewalk and had no issues with slipping and sliding. The noise of the metal on the street was more annoying than anything, lol.
I think they work best when there is about 1-2 inches of snow. I had lots of fun last week but I am over it!
Thanks for the review and information; I think I’m going to order the snowshoes. The snowshoes don’t come with walking sticks. Are yours similar to ski poles. I’m wondering if my ski poles would work instead of ordering the recommended sticks.
Mine did come with the poles as a set but I think they are pretty much the same as ski poles. That should work but I am kind of hoping we don’t need them anytime soon 🙂
Thanks! I’m just going to use my ski poles then!
That will work but I am kind of hoping we don’t need them for a while 🙂