TIME ICE-PROOF TO YOUR HEELS!

And other nifty ways to make sure you don’t come a cropper

FLATS THAT WON’T LET YOU FALL FLAT

Petzl Spikey Ice Grip, £9.99, snowandrock.com WHAT: Lightweight and inexpensive rubber soles with metal spikes which dig into the ice. Simply slip on over your own shoes.

TEST: I try these on a variety of shoes at an ice rink. They’re great on ballet pumps and my block-heeled boots, but hopeless on stiletto heels — you need a wide, flat heel surface over which to slide the rubber straps. As I stride onto the ice, I can hear the crunch of the spikes and feel them digging in. An excellent solution for a freezing day. I can feel them beneath my foot and they are not uncomfortable. EXPERT: Paul Trepte, managing director of specialist outdoor clothing and equipment company, trekitt.co.uk, says: The little metal tips are excellent on a smooth surface — the sharp edge bites into the ice. For really icy, snowy days you can get even more aggressive ones, that work like a crampon. Called Kahtoola Microspikes (trekitt.co.uk), they have chains, like snow tyres. 9/10

BOOTS FOR WALKING, NOT ICE

Timberland 6 Inch Premium Lace Up Beige Flat Boots, £160, asos.com WHAT: A sturdy pair of boots which have the classic Timberland sole — little raised vulcanised rubber crosses that are also intended to provide grip.

TEST: I feel very wobbly as I slide carefully onto the ice rink. There’s enough grip in these soles to keep me upright — just. Walk normally and I suspect I’m looking at a trip to A&E. Not for sheer ice.

EXPERT: The tread pattern dates back to the British Army boots of WWII, with little cross-shaped raised treads in the middle of the boots and wider ones around the outside. The problem isn’t the pattern but the rubber. Vulcanising is a chemical process where sulphur or other compounds are added to make a more durable material. It means they’ll last for ages, but softer rubber would give more grip. 6/10

BANDS OF STEEL FOR EXTRA GRIP

Yaktrak Pro Ice Grips, £19.99, yaktrax.co.uk

WHAT: These are strong rubber bands encased in coils of steel. With every step you take, hunin

dreds of metal edges bite into the ice, giving strong traction.

TEST: I note with amusement that these were worn by runners in an ice marathon across a frozen lake Russia. They look like Fifty Shades of Grey props — all metal and black rubber. Very easy to pop over pumps and even my block heel boots, though they don’t work on more delicate heels. I prefer the smoother feel of these beneath my feet to those with studs.

The grip is excellent and they feel comfortable. Could I run an ice marathon in them? Absolutely, though I’d need a full body transplant first.

EXPERT: These fit easily over just about any type of flat soled shoe or boot and provide confident grip on ice and compact snow. They are excellent for an urban environment. 9/10

SLIP-FREE STILETTOS

Nordic Grip Mini Ice Gripper, (main picture) £3.50, rohan.co.uk

WHAT: A little rubber band with two small metal studs which pulls over the front of your shoe, ensuring you get to the office in one piece. Works on any footwear. TEST: The little box in which these come fits neatly into a handbag or pocket. The wide bands are sturdy and easy to pull over narrowpink, heeled court shoes, which look as though they have a decorative black stripe across the front. I don’t slip at all, they don’t come off as I walk and also fit over my ballet pumps and boots.

I’d say these would be great for icy pavements on the way to work. But you can feel the bumps of the spikes beneath thin soles. I suspect they might become uncomfortable after a while.

EXPERT: OK for occasional and short-term use and particularly good for shoes with a longer or larger heel that won’t take the other types of spikes. The spikes are good for traction on ice and compact snow but there are only two under each foot so don’t expect substantial grip. For price and practicality, these are unbeatable. 8/10

STUDDED LOAFERS

Fairfax and Favor The Henley £140, fairfaxandfavor.com WHAT: A classic leather loafer in blue, black or brown. Handmade in Portugal, the soles are dotted with thick rubber studs, making them ideal for such activities as driving and, hopefully, walking on ice.

TEST: Loafers on ice? Whoever heard of such a thing? These look like fashion shoes, but have surhigh

prisingly good traction as I edge onto the rink. I can feel the studs digging into the ice. Expensive, but clever. However, as a fellow skater observes, they’d be ruined if they got wet.

EXPERT: You want as much surface contact with the ice as possible, but in lots of little bits of grip rather than a large, smooth sole. These can flex individually, moving with the foot, but retaining good contact. 6/10

SILICONE OVERCOAT

Women’s Overshoe for High Heel protection, £19.99, amazon.co.uk WHAT: A pair of silicone overshoes with a ridged sole to wear over

heels. They offer grip on slippery surfaces and promise to protect your shoes from rain, slush, mud, snow and salt. Arrive at work in style, remove the overshoes and reveal your pristine footwear.

TEST: These slip easily enough over my high heeled boots, with the heel fitting neatly through a hole in the body of the overshoe. They undoubtedly give more grip on the ice than the original smooth soles, but I suspect they’re better for slush than sheet ice, and there’s little protection for delicate fabric. EXPERT: Surely it’s easier to carry your Louboutins in a bag and wear some old shoes or trainers on the journey? I can see no point in these at all. 6/10

DOG WALK DREAM

Nordic Grip Non-Slip Boots by Unikia, £37.95, cuckooland.com WHAT: Fleece-lined waterproof ankle boots in a range of colours. These use what the company call IceLock technology, where microglass filaments in the tread create an electrostatic attraction between the sole of the shoe and icy surfaces.

TEST: I look like a Smurf in these boots. However, as I step tentatively onto the ice I can instantly feel the soles gripping onto the smooth surface and I can walk almost normally. Absolutely amazing and cheap at the price. I also try them in the field where I walk

the dogs and they take me down a frozen slope without a slip.

EXPERT: This is technology developed from the inuits, who are accustomed to trekking across the ice. They wrap animal fur around the outside of boots and the tiny hairs create grip. Here, minute filaments act in exactly the same way. Brilliant if you’re yomping to the office in Oslo through icy streets, but less effective in the mud and water of our cities. 8/10

SERIOUS SOLES

AKU Womens Transalpina GTX Brown Violet, £152.25, trekitt.co.uk WHAT: Developed for the most arduous of conditions, these have an exclusive Vibram sole called Megagrip, with deep lugs that combine durability with traction and stability.

TEST: These have fantastic support and grip. You can actually feel the sole sticking to the ice and there’s plenty of ankle support. The only downside is the price. These are for serious terrain or heavy duty dog walking rather than the daily grind. EXPERT: Vibram are a specialist sole manufacturer used by most quality outdoor boot companies. They develop specific rubbers for specific uses. These are for a wide variety of surfaces, being comprised of a sticky and hardwearing compound which can pick up the nuances of the ground surface. Under a microscope, the rubber has a dimpled appearance. 9/10