I live on one of the steeper roads in Forest Hill and I'm not particularly looking forward to another winter spent slipping and sliding down the hill to the station. I saw some over the boot snow shoe things advertised recently - they claim to provide excellent traction on compacted snow and ice.

I'm just wondering - do they actually work? And are they any good for walking downhill?

I'd appreciate any advice or tips before I part with my money.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, they are good and provide good traction. You will still need to take care walking down hill, but it should at least make it a little less hairy.

Thanks, I'll give them a go.

I know the feeling. This year we are trying to get prepared early in anticipation. I bought a pair of these crampons from Finches but you can get them a lot cheaper on line. I have twins and needed extra grip to push a double buggy around. I have to say that with these on I really enjoyed getting out and about compared to previous times and never slipped at all. The studs do wear down though so I'm buying another pair as a back up.
The Guardian were advertising them recently too. I can recommend them on the hills but the only time they won't work is when water is melting over ice- but I think nothing will work then so you just have to watch out. I have also a pair of mountain walking sticks which I carry with me which also helps- these are retractable and fit nicely into a rucksack. Probably looks silly but I didnt notice anyone laughing last year.

Hi Roz - I think I had crampons originally in mind, but I ordered what looks like a pair of strappy things with a moulded plastic toe and heel and spiral metal bits underneath.

I read some reviews and they seem to be highly thought of, but some also said they wear out fairly quickly.

Will let you know how I get on.

I'm pretty sure that all this readiness means there will be no snow this year. We even got rid of our lovely, low-slung sporty rear-wheel drive car that couldn't move in more than an inch of snow. I am now driving something very boring but snow worthy. There will be not a flake.

I've been relying on my walking boots up until now but I don't find they can cope with my road - in fact their weight seems to make me slide down even faster!

There's your answer, seeformiles. Just bring a tin tray and slide down. Getting back up might be more difficult, though.

But did I mention there will be no snow?

Ah well, we'll see. I divide my time between here and a village which is in a bit of a dip in Oxfordshire, and I guarantee I'll need these over shoe things there. It seems to get cut off by snow every year.

A light scattering of snow would be nice though. :-)