FAQ

Yaktrax Size Chart

Q. I don't understand your sizing. How do I work out what size Yaktrax I need?

A. We've developed a new size chart which we hope is easier than our previous chart. That previous chart came about because Yaktrax come from the US, where they have translated the US sizing into EU equivalent and printed them on the packet. However.... our personal experience is that the product sizing is on the small side.

Size	Pro/Walker		EU	UK	Type	EU	UK	Type
Extra Small		W	30	12	Shoe	36	4	Shoe
Small	P	W	36	4	Boot	40	6 ½	Shoe
Medium	P	W	39	6	Boot	43	9	Shoe
Large	P	W	43	9	Boot	47	12	Shoe
Extra Large	P		46	11	Boot	49	14	Shoe

This might be confusing for customers who receive their Yaktrax only to find the information on our site differs from that given on the packet, but when we had the packet sizes on the site together with the right size in our experience in brackets, this seemed to make people even more confused.

Shoe sizes are designed to refer to the inner fit around the foot itself - Yaktrax sizes are based on the circumference of the base of the shoe.

As a rule of thumb, if you place your shoe and boot sole to sole and there is more than a 5mm overlap, you need to move up in size for Yaktrax purposes.

Q. Do I have to take my Yaktrax off when I go into shops?

A. Yes. It is dangerous to wear Yaktrax on any indoor smooth surface such as tiles, wooden floors, and especially the flooring used in shopping centres and on kitchen floors.

When walking on such surfaces whilst wearing Yaktrax the risk of slipping and falling is even greater walking on ice without Yaktrax on.

Q. What's the difference between your products and those sold by QVC?

A. QVC sell a product also made by the US company Yaktrax, called WinterTrax. These are a cheaper version which claim to fit a wide range of sizes. WinterTrax are easy to distinguish from Walker and Pro. See As Seen on TV's US site for a clear image of WinterTrax on the sole of a shoe. Yaktrax Walker and Yaktrax Pro have three distinct crosses of coils. One on the sole, one on the instep and another on the heel. See picture

We do not stock Yaktrax WinterTrax as they are considered inferior in quality to Yaktrax Walker and Yaktrax Pro.

Q. I don't understand your sizing. How do I work out what size Yaktrax I need?

Q. What will happen if I wear the Yaktrax on other surfaces such as concrete, gravel, sand, carpet etc..?

A. It is very dangerous to wear Yaktrax on polished or shiny indoor surfaces such as vinyl, linoleum, tiles, marble, or polished wooden floors. You are likely to slip badly if wearing Yaktrax on those kinds of surfaces.

Soft surfaces may also be scratched by the Yaktrax. Carpets with loo[ed pile and coils do not mix on safety grounds because there is a risk that the end of a coil, or a coil itself, could get caught in the loops. Gravel can easily get caught up in the coils causing damage to the Yaktrax.

Walking on hard concrete, tarmac or other surface will cause the coils to bite into the supporting matrix and will also cause damage to the Yaktrax. Yaktrax are designed only to be worn on ice or packed snow.

Q. I have to walk from ice covered ground and then onto tarmac/pavement and wooded areas with no snow cover. What would you recommend?

A. Unless you spend the bulk of your time walking on surfaces covered with packed snow or ice, we recommend either removing the Yaktrax when on concrete/tarmac or mud. Alternatively you could wear ice grips with studs or spikes instead. Spikes will also get worn down through being worn on hard surfaces but they are more durable under those conditions, even if they are not all as stable on the ice itself.

Q. Are there any other icy conditions where I need to take extra care?

A. The only time you need to take extra care on ice when using Yaktrax applies whatever footwear or ice grip protection you are using. Broken sheet ice with slush or water underneath in thawing conditions will always be like slipping on a banana skin.

Q. Why are Yaktrax icegrips so hard to find on the Internet?

A. If you search for Yaktrax you will find us. The problem is that many people have heard of Yaktrax through word of mouth and search for yaxtrax, yak trax, yak-trax, yak tracks, yaktracks, yaxtracks or even yaktraxs. One of the reasons why we have dedicated a page to this question alone is in the hope that if people do type yak trax, yaktracks, yaks tracks, yaktraxs, yak-trax or any other permutation, they will find us.

Q. Do Yaktrax work on black ice?

A. No. They need ice to grip into that is at least 50% of the depth of the metal coils. The best way to protect yourself on black ice is probably to paint a mixture of rubber roof paint and coarse sand on the sole of a pair of outdoor footwear that you are not particularly attached to!

Q. Will Yaktrax stop me slipping on mud.

A. No. Yaktrax are designed to be worn only on packed snow or ice. They are not suitable for use on mud, unless of course it is frozen and covered in packed snow or ice.

Q. Can I buy the Yaktrax Pro strap to turn my Yaktrax Walker into a pair of Yaktrax Pro?

A. No. The Yaktrax Pro has moulded loops through which the strap is threaded, which the Yaktrax Walker does not. You can certainly remove the strap from Yaktrax Pro so it is as easy to put on and take of as the Yaktrax Walker, but you would not be able to use the Yaktrax Pro strap on the Yaktrax Walkler as it does not have the moulded loops.

Q. Do you know where I can get an ice grip thing for the end of my walking stick?

A. Yes! At long last I can answer this much asked query. All Good Ideas, a UK walking stick online store, have just the thing. An ice attachment for walking stick / cane.

FAQ

Yaktrax Size Chart

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