These are a pair of Scarpa Moraine GTX Alpine Cross Shoes that come in grey & brown. Tried them on out of the box & they seem to fit well. I switched the insole with my own custom ones, put on a lighter sock & they feel great.

Just in time for an afternoon Labor Day adventure on some of the local Hailey, ID trails & dirt roads. I have been stomping around all summer in my big Asolo Power Matic 200 GVs & it will be a pleasure to try some lighter footwear. Keep an eye out for a more detailed review after I cover some ground in these.

These are pretty heavy duty backpacking boots & to the minds of my fellow hikers they are overkill for general day to day adventures. I prefer a stout boot though and as my adventures often lead me off trail & into quite a variety of terrain I am always happy to have something solid underfoot. Especially in thick undergrowth, wet conditions & stream crossings or moving through loose scree & shale. Add a pair of gaiters to these babies & you are bomber.

Now to get a pair of red laces to make them official.
~ DS

I will write up a more extensive review after I have covered some miles in this new pair and compare them to my old pair which I finally had to retire.

That was last winter and so far the Yaktrax Pro has served me well. I have used them winter hiking, getting around town and shoveling the drive. The coiled springs really do help provide the traction you need. They are fairly easy to put on though I would recommend sitting down to do so. Pulling them on standing up is fine but may require practice and is best suited for those with confident balance and flexibility.

For indoors you must be very careful or remove them altogether particularly for hard surfaces as the coils don't provide the designed traction and can potentially scuff up a nice finish. I have a beat up wood floor in my place and the Yaktrax don't seem to cause any extra damage but I just can't recommend these for any surface you are concerned about scratching.

There are two models currently available - the Yaktrax Walker and the Yaktrax Pro - the only difference being a velcro strap on the Pro that goes over the top of your boot or shoe. This is marketed for more active winter users - winter running etc. If you are going to be moving fast, coming down hills or through mixed terrain I recommend going with the Pro, otherwise the Walker should be fine and a good choice for general winter use and good for older folks as well.

Winter is just now really settling in here in the mountains so I will probably be putting these to a lot more use. Check back later for my further impressions and review for the Yaktrax Pro.

Shop for deals on Yaktrax at eBay:

YakTrax Walkers for walking on snow and ice - never worn    US $6.99

Yaktrax Pro Ice & Snow Grippers XL Black New In Box for Winter sled    US $12.99

Shop for deals on Yaktrax at Amazon:

	Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats for Snow and Ice List Price: $27.99

	STABILicers Lite

I use a pair of Outdoor Research Flex-Tex gaiters and have owned a couple pairs. The stretchy fabric fits to your footwear easily and they close up with Velcro, have a front hook and nylon lace that runs underneath to hold them down. If you cover a lot of ground the lace will start to wear out but is replaceable and there is a good trick to extend it's life which we will touch on in a later post.

Outdoor Research also makes their Rocky Mountain Low gaiter which seem to be about the same size but not made out of stretchable fabric.

Outdoor Research Flex-Tex Low Gaiter Excellent for day hikes on damp days and cross-country ski shoes during snowy dumps, these Outdoor Research Flex-Tex Low Gaiters feature a Spandura fabric that stretches to mold over your boot and shoe contours. A 1-in. wide Velcro closure in front helps keep everything attached although you can use the boot lace hook to minimize tight-fit tension. The included nylon instep laces withstand plenty of wear through several seasons.