Field Report: YakTrax Pro

January 9, 2007

Personal Biographical Information
o Name: Rosaleen Sullivan
o Age: 56
o Gender: Female
o Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
o Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
o Shoe size: Women’s 11 (US)
o E-mail address: rosaleen43 (at) msn (dot) com
o Home: Eastern Massachusetts, USA

Tester Background/Style
I’m a "slow but steady" middle-aged backpacker who likes to be reasonably comfortable. Usually, I stick with one hot meal per day, but can "coax myself" into drinking a hot beverage on a very cold morning. My constant search for ways to lighten up has me weighing even my clothing my clothing as I chose each item for a trip. I usually carry a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or fuel tablet stove, retooling gear to complement the current trip. I also like to make a lot of my own gear. My preferred backpacking trips are for 3-day periods, but I have backpacked up to 10 days at a time, escaping to trails far from home

                                                                 

Manufacturer: Yaktrax, inc. Manufacturer Information URL: http://www.yaktrax.com Tested Product size: Medium Color: Black rubber with steel coils Year of Manufacture: 2005 MSRP: $ 27.95 US Specified Weight: Not found Delivered Product Weight: 4.5 oz (128 g)

Product Description:

Black rubber straps with steel coils. For more information, please see my Initial Report.

Field Report and Test Conditions:

Much to my dismay, we are still in a "snow drought." At this time last November, we already had had measurable snow. Consequently, while I have kept the Yaktrax available, and either had them in my vehicle or in my pack on several camping, hiking, and backpacking trips in eastern Massachusetts and western Pennsylvania, I have yet to actually use them on snow or ice. I have had an opportunity to look at the Yaktrax Pro devices next to a pair of standard Yaktrax, and was surprised to see that the Yaktrax Pro does, in fact, have a heavier rubber cordage system than the earlier Yaktrax models. The mild rubber odor is much less noticeable with the Yaktrax being out of the package for several months.

TESTING STRATEGY

Things I will look for or Test (Once we have something frozen on the ground again...)
o Do the Yaktrax devices bite into packed snow? Ice? Shiny hard Ice?
o Ease of use or convenience? How easy are the traction aids to slip on or off over various
shoes or boots?
o Are the coils safe for me to walk into a building and to a chair before removing?
o Do they mark the floor or cause slipping indoors?
o Durability: Any breakage or obvious wear during the test period?
o Any odors noticed when the product is new? The rubber odor has dissipated significantly.

This concludes my Yaktrax Pro Field Report. Please look for my Long Term Report due at the end of January 2007.   Picture taken  from Yaktrax website.