Most Winter Boots Have Terrible Grip on Ice
Winter boots should protect you from the cold and keep slush out. It’s easy enough to check: look for insulation and waterproofing. But how do you know if those boots will keep them from slipping on the icy sidewalk? The Toronto lab found the answer.
The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Winter Laboratory tests winter boots on a tiny ice rink, and then researchers tilt the rink floor to see if the tester can walk at an angle. The better the boots pass this test, the more tenacious they are, even on level surfaces. But of the boots they tested, 90 percent were unable to climb the seven-degree wheelchair ramp.
The researchers planned to rate boots with one, two, or three snowflakes depending on how steep they can climb, but so far they have only been able to assign a rating to one snowflake.
The best boots for this ranking include the Sperry Cold Bay Vibram Arctic Grip Men ‘s Boots, the Sperry Powder Valley Vibram Arctic Grip Women’s Boots, and the Caterpillar Stiction Hiker Ice + Waterproof TX Boots .
Boots with Vibram Arctic Grip or Green Diamond outsole performed the best in tests, and you may want to look for these soles when shopping for shoes. Check out the ranking of your favorite boots at the link below.