The wintry mix weather we had the last couple of weeks have left us with a crust of snow that would support an elephant and a thick layer of ice that is being worn away on our roads but refuses to leave our driveways and barnyards. Even with the sun out, what thaws during the day freezes solid at night.
My warm, insulated barn boots have lugged soles that are great in snow, but (just like snow tires) are of almost no use on ice. The barnyard next door is a disaster of ice peppered with mostly frozen mounds of horse poop. It's either an obstacle course or a skating rink. At 6:30 in the morning, it's a poor way to start the day. And this morning I discovered that it's a poor way to bring stovewood in.
Yak Trax have never been a good solution. It takes strong hands to get them over a shoe, and that is now a real problem for me. Also, Yak Trax are designed as a web of sharpness, and the boot lugs are so tall that when they go through the openings in the web, only the sharpies under the heel and toe touch the ground. Not enough grip.
So I went to Belmain's in Randolph and invested almost $50 (!!!) in some devices called StabilIcers, which are the answers to the maiden's prayer. They cover the entire bottom of the boot (the lugs don't poke through), and the StabilIcer sole is covered with cleats. StabilIcers fasten on with very sturdy Velcro strips. I can get myboots on and off without taking the cleats off.
Boy do they work! No more baby steps! No more careful balancing! I can move a full wheelbarrow (either stovewood or hay) with confidence. It's wonderful how little things like sharp cleats will brighten a person's day.
No comments:
Post a Comment