I grew up in a country where your footwear was usually sandals or, if you were walking in the bush, boots through which a snake bite could not penetrate. Therefore I had a little chuckle when I was looking at some Icebug shoes the other day.
I battle to walk on the ice but have been given the advice to walk like a drunk with a nappy (diaper) on. Bent knees, feet far apart and sway from side to side!
Gee – minus 38 in Stockholm – when was that? I have had it up in Jämtland, but think it’s never been below thirty since I moved to Stockholm in 2002 (as far as I can remember at least 😛 )
This was in Norsjö a few years ago! Coldest I have experienced in Stockholm was -26° and that was in the early 2000’s
I use crampons because I walk my dogs every day in all weather. Safety before vanity 🙂
For 50 years I have not have a need for shoes to cope with cold conditions. That is till 2 years ago when we took a ‘Winter Wonderland’ photographic trip to Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island. The only boots I could find in the shops (I didn’t look online) were rated to -30 and in the way of companies today, had pink on them. Why oh way must everything marketed to women have to be pink! The best purchase we made though, were slip on crampons to go over the boots. (dog nab it – they were pink too!) They made walking on snow and ice, something we have no experience with, much less dangerous. I didn’t fall once, unlike some experienced people who pooh-poohed our crampons and fell at least once while carrying thousands of dollars of camera equipment. Guess who bought our crampons at the end of the trip! Despite my reservations, the boots were surprisingly comfortable, and warm enough although I did make a dent in the supply of warming pads to put in them. The coldest we got was -25.
That is so funny! In Sweden, crampons are seen as seriously uncool and only worn by old ladies, despite being given out for free by many municipalities here. I desperately want a pair but everyone says noooooo that is so naff! In the end this was the best compromise. In a year or two I won’t care what everyone on the bus thinks!