As wet streets freeze into ice-skating rinks, pedestrians best be on alert. Sanding the streets can only do so much; pedestrians are advised to also resort to different kinds of aids to stay upright in these slippery times.
Shoe salesman Petri Kyllönen from Kenkä-Keskus (‘shoe centre’) shop in Kemi recommends various kinds of shoe gear to survive the icy season.
“Shoes with spikes on their soles are definitely the best in this kind of weather. Another choice is shoes with grip on the soles, so these won’t slide. They’re a bit like studless snow tires for cars,” Kyllönen advises.
For outside use only
The most treacherous weather warrants proper anti-slip accessories that are attached to the soles. Some are screwed on, while others can be attached with Velcro strips. The prices of such accessories vary considerably, depending on their properties.
“The cost of anti-slip accessories is between 30 and 100 euros. This isn’t such a bad price for staying standing,” Kyllönen notes.
Though life-savers outdoors, such accessories can prove disastrous indoors. Indeed, these should always be removed before stepping inside, as spikes and studs are actually very slippery on floor surfaces.
“While the anti-slip devices are safe outside, one must remember to take these off inside, where they are perilous,” the shoe retailer says.
Rubber, not plastic
When looking for winter shoes, low prices often signal poor quality, and less hold on ice.
“If winter shoes cost 20-30 euros, they cannot be very good quality,” says Kyllönen.
Good materials in the soles are especially important in winter weather. The better the rubber, the more hold the sole has. Conversely, soles with a lot of plastic could be a recipe for disaster.
“The more plastic a sole contains, the more it hardens up and is slippery in subzero temperatures,” Kyllönen warns.