Yaktrax Run Review
Winters’ snowy and icy conditions can slow you down on your daily run. Thankfully, Yaktrax have been around for a few years and allow you to run a bit more carefree through improved traction in the winter elements. The original Yaktrax featured metal coils in both the heel and forefoot region and were one model fits all for runners, hikers, walkers, etc. Fortunately, Yaktrax has expanded and now includes a specific model geared towards runners. The Yaktrax Run is anatomically designed and are right and left shoe specific. The Run model is available in 5 different sizes to get a more custom fit.
The Yaktrax Run model fits on running shoes better than its’ predecessors and doesn’t cause the shoe to buckle or loose its’ flexibility when in place. They are also easier to get on and off thanks to a larger lip in the toe region and ridge in the rear to help give you something to hold onto when sliding them on/off. They now feature labels to help ensure that you don’t put them on upside down or backwards. The Yaktrax Run also offer reflectivity in two places, the strap that goes across the top and at the heel, which is important for winter running when there is less sunlight for running. As for the weight of the Yaktrax Run, they didn’t add a tremendous amount of weight to your shoe and I felt that the trade off for performance was key.
As for traction, the Yaktrax Run feature the 1.4 mm steel coils found in other Yaktrax models. That is not all, the Yaktrax Run also have incorporated carbide steel spikes in the forefoot region. The steel spikes are less noticeable than the steel coils, which are featured in the Yaktrax Walk and Pro models, yet offer the same amount of traction. If you are a mid or forefoot striker, you will like the feel of the carbide steel spikes as opposed to the feel of steel coils with each foot strike. My one beef with the steel spikes is that if the snow is a wet snow, it would tend to get stuck underneath the rubber that holds the spikes in place. From time to time I would have to stop and kick out the snow so as to not throw off my stride. This did not happen with my previous Yaktrax Pro model. I had wondered if this was because I had the wrong size of Yaktrax for my shoe size or that they were not placed on my shoe properly, sadly this was not the case.
The Yaktrax Run retail for $40. The Yaktrax Pro retail for $30, while the Walk version retail for $20. I felt that the price tag of $40 was a bit steep when comparing the overall difference of each model. The inclusion of carbide steel spikes is the likely culprit, but I’m in favor of a lower price tag with respect to the small difference between each model.
