Sometimes necessity is the mother of all invention. That is certainly the case with Spare Spike, an ingenious solution to slipping on ice. This all-traction footwear product is an easy and affordable way to gain traction in the ice and snow. This traction comes from 16 carbonized steel studs which are easily replaced. Weighing in at only 4 ounces per foot, it can easily be stored within your pocket or purse when not in use.
Spare Spike also works with all types of footwear including boots, athletic shoes and even high heels! With the rear pull tab you can quickly take them on and off in thirty seconds.
Living in Minnesota, I know how dangerous walking outside in the winter months can be so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to try these out. My husband was equally excited when they sent him a pair as well.
As soon as the package arrived my husband immediately wanted to try them on a run. Training for marathons outside isn’t easy when the sidewalks aren’t cleared and the roads become treacherous at night. He does have a pair of expensive waterproof shoes but while they work great for the snow, he can loose his footing often on the ice. He slapped these onto a pair running shoes still in good condition but practically no traction left on the sole. He came back excited that he didn’t slip once and even ran fast up an icy hill! His only issue was the size. He felt that his size 12 shoe would have been better for a size L versus the XL as suggested simply because while running a tight fit is preferred. Keep in mind these are meant to be able to fit over the boot and this wouldn’t be a concern for just walking.
I had them only a couple of days before the perfect opportunity presented itself. We had freezing rain and the following morning we decided to make a trip to Target. The sidewalk and driveway were super slick. And by that I mean get out your ice skates it is time to go skating kind of slick. I was able to easily add them to the bottom of my shoes and felt no slipping whatsoever on my way to our van. It is hard to describe but you can actually feel your feet getting traction and gripping to the ice without impeding your ability to walk. All my husband and I could talk about on the way to Target was how awesome these Spare Spikes are.
If you want to see them in action, check out this video!
These would be fabulous for anyone who lives in an area that sees true winter conditions and perfect for that hard to buy for person on your list. What an extra thoughtful gift for the elderly, disabled or for someone who works extensively outside during the winter months.
DISCOUNT: Spare Spikes retail for $25.95 and are available at www.winterwalking.com. You can receive 10% off with the code “LOVINGMAMA” at checkout.
{ Giveaway }
I have FIVE pairs of Spare Spikes to give to FIVE of my readers!
MAIN ENTRY: Tell me how this product would help you survive the winter months or why you’d like to win!
Want more entries? (Come on? Do you really want to slip and slide outside?) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.
-Tell me an embarrassing slip or trip on ice story (2 entries)
-Become a fan of Baby Loving Mama on Facebook
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-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway
Win one of 5 pairs of the Spare Spike, a simple solution to stop slipping on ice @babylovingmama http://tinyurl.com/yahtob5 #giveaway PLS RT
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-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Winter Walking (3 entries)
This contest will end on 2/9/10 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before I draw another winner or do a live giveaway.
Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review . This has no bearing on my completely honest review above and was not influenced by any type of monetary compensation. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.
I want to win this for my sis – who is about to move up NORTH!
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I have DVTs, Blood clots easy, fibro, osteo… Well I won’t go on, except to say I DID slip a couple of wks ago, not good & my legs are SORE….not good for anyone, but ESP not moi;) :0/
We don’t often get much snow in Atlanta, but we do get freezing ice which is very dangerous, especially in a city that doesn’t salt or sand its streets. 2 weekends ago we were iced in for about 3 days since we couldn’t get out of our super steep icy driveway and road. Finally us neighbors banded together and found someone who lived in town and brought us some salt.
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Well I think I just told one story before I read abt having 2 lol! Needless to say, I am in post-op x2 from Nov on top of everything else, so it was not cool (joke was not intended, but kinda funny now that I wrote it).. & get this, I was on the way to the Dr to boot..early am;);):):(
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Where I live, my road gets very icy and since I don’t drive and walk a lot this would be a great help to me.
i’d love to win these for my dad…who still works around the house, even in the winter…this way i don’t have to worry about him falling
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we are dog sitting for my mom right now and her dog is small(terrier)…but strong…i’m sure the neighbors have had a few chuckles..seeing the dog almost pull me to the ground…because in combination of being pulled and walking on our icy backyard with him…i think i’ve windmilled several times…close to getting me down but he hasn’t succeeded yet!!
my mom actually got him from a shelter cause he pulled down his old owner twice…
we are dog sitting for my mom right now and her dog is small(terrier)…but strong…i’m sure the neighbors have had a few chuckles..seeing the dog almost pull me to the ground…because in combination of being pulled and walking on our icy backyard with him…i think i’ve windmilled several times…close to getting me down but he hasn’t succeeded yet!!
my mom actually got him from a shelter cause he pulled down his old owner twice…2
These seem like a great idea. They would definitely help me get through the winter since I live in an apartment and walk a short distance to my car. I live in the Northeast and it’s usually icy and slippery here from November to February or even March. Thanks for the opportunity!
Because I am a suoer dork and I fall on my Arse at least once every winter
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The worst was last year this time. I had spent about 5 hours the previous night making special birthday treats to bring to school for my daughter’s 7th birthday. They were candy coated preztles in the shape of butterflys~ Needless to say I was proud and My daughter was super excited. So when we got to school I was walking her treats and her into the school, when all of a sudden a ice sheet jumped in front of of me and,… Well this is where I picture my feet flying over my head,.. but all I recall is slamming tail bone into assphalt,..OUCH!! My daughter screamed are you ok and parents making the carpool loop also stoped,.. the worst all those amazing butterflies were busted and half of them were laying on that evil ice sheet. I brought them in thinking I would be okay but my arse was sore,.. When I got home I begged my hubby to bring cupcakes since her birthday treats were ruined,… worst thig about the story I was 3 months preggo, so I was really nervous about the fall, lucky I was after a quick ultrasound everything was fine,.. I was just left with broken butterfiles and a bruised ego
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My cousin lives in the woods up in MT and I would love to win this for her
Back when I lived in MT I was walking home from high school and hit some black ice and fell right in front of a boy I liked =( #1
Back when I lived in MT I was walking home from high school and hit some black ice and fell right in front of a boy I liked =( #2
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Oklahoma is notorious for having ice storms–in fact there is one forecast for tomorrow–so this could literally be a life-saver, or at least a hip saver. It would make it much safer for me to be outside after such a storm.
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One time, although I was being very careful, I slipped while opening the car door and ended up flat on my back half under the car. I wasn’t hurt, but it was definitely awkward trying to extricate myself #1
I live in a very snowy icy area and have a 13 month old baby girl. I have lived here for 13 years and each and every one of those years I have fallen on the ice at least once usually more. Now that I have a baby that I carry everywhere I’m so afraid of falling that these would really help me.
One time, although I was being very careful, I slipped while opening the car door and ended up flat on my back half under the car. I wasn’t hurt, but it was definitely awkward trying to extricate myself #2
I would like to win this as icy driveway makes it hard to get to the mail box without slipping
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I’d like to win this for my dad because he has avascular necrosis of his hips and has had one hip surgery already and he needs to take all precautions so he doesn’t have a fall on ice.
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These would be nice to have when I have to tote my girls and from the car. I have fallen w/ them a few times while carrying them.
why would i like to have a pair of these? well i’m disabled and have trouble with my adbomenal area, lots of pain, take alot of medicine to help with the pain but a fall would do my in, i dont go outside when its bad because of the fear of falling, my mail had stacked up to 5 or 6 days because in this weather i cant get out of the house to pick it up. so i would love to have a pair of these to keep my from falling. sometimes i feel like a prisioner in my home because of the fear of falling on the snow and ice.
when i was younger about 16 i was carring 2 gallon jugs of milk into the house and their was ice on the step and i didnt see it. well my feet hit the ice the milk went up in the air, and i was laying on my back praying the milk would not come down on me. lucky i guess but the milk missed me and exploded on the ground.
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i walk alot year round- living in maine these would come in handy during the winter
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Hubby farms. Has to be outside to do chores no matter how much ice is on the ground. These would be great to make sure he stays upright, as a nasty fall could be catastrophic for our livestock care!
I’d love to see someone in heals wearing these! I just slipped the other day in my sneakers – winters have been pretty icy here the last few years. These would be great to use while shoveling the snow!
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We only get a few inches of snow/ice once or twice a winter (I live in the high desert of Central California), so we are not loaded with snow gear. The morning after it snowed, my children were out sledding on the ice covered driveway, and I carefully walked down the driveway to get a picture and BAM! went right down!! All body parts were ok, just a sore back and a screaming headache for the day… I kept feeling around the back of my head to see if I had hit it, but nothing was sore – I guess just the force of my head snapping as I tried to catch myself was giving me the headache. My worst fear is being out of commission because how would this house and the people in it survive!! I would really love to win these!!!
#1 My embarassing slip story tags onto my main entry of why I want to win… as I wrote, I fell in the driveway… my kids were sledding and making all kinds of noise with their hopping and hollering and I knew the neighbors would be at their windows checking it out(all of our neighbors are retired… and I do mean ALL. 3 of the 4 that surround us are retired, plus the 4 that are caddy-cornered). So when I fell, I knew they all saw it and thought what a dope I was to be out with only tennies on.
#2 My embarassing slip story … see #1.
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I live in upstate NY. Probably all I need to say- We typically get alot of snow and some of the terrain around here is rather hilly, so they would come in handy!!
The most recent slip story occurred right outside my house. The kids were sledding down the side hill and i slipped right down the hill hoping no one was looking. Well except the kids and they think I am pretty entertaining anyway.
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I would love this!! Thanks for the chance.
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Spare Spikes would help me survive this winter since I have both knees needing replaced, lower back problems, etc. Plus, I live in the Northern states and the snow removal money was gone a long time ago, so the city just leaves it to melt and turn to ice. It is Nasty.
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I would love these. It would make walking in the winter months so much easier.
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we get pretty icy here in UT and these would be awesome!!! I hate worrying about slipping when I am out and about!
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I was pregnant this winter and actually slipped on the ice and fell–this would have saved my rear end!
This product would help me so much!
I live in MN & winter walking is difficult because of the ice.
Embarrassing story – I had been bragging that I never fall on the ice.
Wouldn’t you know it.
I hit an icy patch & down I went!
Embarrassing story – I had been bragging that I never fall on the ice.
Wouldn’t you know it.
I hit an icy patch & down I went!
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I live in Maine and I can tell ya from experience, I have fallen a few times in the driveway this year — I have never seen these types of products, but we definitely have a need here in the Northeast as well-the weather has been crazy lately, warm and then cold, resulting in lots of refreezes, making things even more treacherous.
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last year I was getting out of the car in the work parking lot. I noticed it was icy, so took my time. The parking lot was full of other people as well, and they were all taking their time to get to the door since our lot had not yet been sanded. I thought I was doing great and smiled and waved to another coworker. No sooner than I did that, I was down and out for the count. I was mortified because so many people saw me. The worst thing was that I twisted my knee pretty good and had to go to workplace health for a couple of months afterwards to make sure it was healing ok. To this day, my awesome wipe out in the back lot becomes the subject of conversation when it’s icy…NOT something I want to remember, lol!
embarrassing story above entry #2
I’d love to try these cause i’m a klutz !
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would love this product as my hubby does snow removal for a 600+ apt and townhouse complex here on the east coast which includes plowing, shoveling and snow blowing & he often falls on ice.
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I’ve already fallen twice this winter and nearly ate it a few dozen other times. Thanks to my husband… he catches me usually. I’d love these. They’d make my life so much easier on ice!
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Embarrassing story:
I was walking in Europe with my family and was helping my mom would I was afraid might fall… and in front of everyone (including tour groups), I fell. Not my mom. Me.
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It would be nice to have these while walking downtown!
I’d like to win so I could walk more safely on ice.
I fell on a friend’s driveway back in high school and split open my forehead by my left brow – still have tiny scar.
I could use these walking to our mailbox in our complex. The parking lot is always iced over in bad weather.
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My hubby could use these a lot! He’s always out tinkerin’ on something.
With New York winters it gets mighty slippery out there– especially if you get a good sunny day and our driveway (150 ft) becomes an ice rink.
I also live in MN, and I’d love to have these so I don’t have to worry that I’m going to fall while I’m carrying my 3 month old daughter.
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If this prize saves one fall on the rump next winter, it’s great. Please accept my entry. Thank you.
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I want to win because I live in area that gets ice and snow, and I enjoy going for walks in the winter.
This is such a cool idea! I really need this because at my apartment in the winter, the porch freezes over completely and it is so scary to walk!
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I would love these!! We have a fish house up on Mille Lacs so I am always out walking on the ice chasing the kids around.
i would like to win bc i slipped on an icepatch and never want it to happen again!
My embarrassing moment was when I was walking from our fish house to our friends which was about a hundred yards away. Just outside their door I slipped and feel and to make matters worse I was carrying a drink and spilled it all over myself. Entry #1
My embarrassing moment was when I was walking from our fish house to our friends which was about a hundred yards away. Just outside their door I slipped and feel and to make matters worse I was carrying a drink and spilled it all over myself. Entry #2
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I’d love to have this so I don’t slip and fall when it snows – I have brittle bones so I have to be careful. Plus, this is awesome from an emergency preparedness standpoint – you never know when you might have to hike from a car in the winter!
I would love to win a pair of these! I seem to slip and fall in winter weather every single year–it would be so great to have a pair of these to help my clumsiness! Thank you for the giveaway!
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This would help me walking in the snow . I would have traction on my shoes with these.
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i would like to win so i dont fall on the ice where i live!
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I have to walk down stairs and during the winter these would help going down the stair ,these would be a big help in the snow
Thanks
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I’d like to give this to my friend laura who is always walking somewhere.
These would be perfect for the kind of weather we’re having right now – 2 ft of snow on the ground & 4-8 more inches coming! As we are digging out, the snow that is left is turning into ice & it is very difficult to maneuver around.
Thanks!
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I’d like to win because I have to wear high heels to work and I see more ground time than I would like to because I haven’t purchased any nice dress boots.
When I first moved to MI., after 18 yrs. in sunny S. Florida, I didn’t know mini skirts and high heels were tabu. Now I do, and I know why. Upon visiting a friend who lived across the street from a busy ice cream parlor (yes, it’s swamped all winter long), I fell in her driveway getting in my car. More people knew the color of my underwear that day than I did. Very embarrassing.
Oh wow. This giveaway has perfect timing.
We had a ice storm last week, and it snowed two days ago.
Ive slipped several times trying to get to my car or going into work this past week, thankfully Ive caught myself and haven’t fallen. I would love to try these!
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This may sound crazy, but I truly need these for when I am walking our 2 dogs! Our winters are so harsh, and here on the lake we get so much wind, that the conditions on our sidewalks are like a sheet of ice. I have to walk the dogs at least 4 times a day and these Spare Spikes would be wonderful to wear!! I have to say I have fallen on my butt more times than I would like to admit!
Thanks so much for the chance to enter.
#1 – An embarrassing story about when I slipped on the ice was really quite humorous at the time! I was standing at the bus stop with my kids on a cold windy snowy day and when the bus finally came I watched my 2 children get on the bus. As the bus door closed and I was waving to my kids I all of a sudden slipped on the ice and fell to the ground. I looked up in shock and saw all the kids on the bus laughing at me, can you believe it! They are kids, they don’t know any better, and did I feel like a dufus or what, LOL! Who would have thought that a bus full of kids would make me feel like an idiot, I am smiling just thinking about it right now, too funny. Thanks for listening!
#2 – An embarrassing story about when I slipped on the ice was really quite humorous at the time! I was standing at the bus stop with my kids on a cold windy snowy day and when the bus finally came I watched my 2 children get on the bus. As the bus door closed and I was waving to my kids I all of a sudden slipped on the ice and fell to the ground. I looked up in shock and saw all the kids on the bus laughing at me, can you believe it! They are kids, they don’t know any better, and did I feel like a dufus or what, LOL! Who would have thought that a bus full of kids would make me feel like an idiot, I am smiling just thinking about it right now, too funny. Thanks for listening
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I am pregnant and clumsy I think these would be great to have in slick conditions. thanks for the chance
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I also live in Minnesota and this would come in handy MANY months of the year!
It would help me survive the winter months by making it possble for me to walk in all the snow and ice when i have to go to work.
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Since we have had a bad winter here in VA,the Spare Spike would help
clumsy me from slipping on the ice
This would be great since we’re always covered in snow!
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I fell on ice a few years back right before going in to pick up one
of the kids from school.There were some kids standing outside and they
saw me and started laughing,I was so embarrased.
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#1
I fell on ice a few years back right before going in to pick up one
of the kids from school.There were some kids standing outside and they
saw me and started laughing,I was so embarrased.
CharlieGurl57@aol.com
#2
This would be perfect for my Mom in Canada. Thanks
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[...] The medium fit both of us quite nicely. HOWEVER, I noticed another reviewer whose husband – a younger runner – needs them to fit extra tight for running and he thought they ran a bit big. So if you are [...]