Consumer Reports

The Yaktrax Walk was one of the first snow grips on the market, and its design has changed very little over the years. It features zinc-plated steel coils wrapped around rubber under the foot, and the coils dig into snow, ice, and even dirt and rock. These work very well on shallow snow or thin ice over firm surfaces like pavement. They are also easy to put on, lightweight, and pack down to a very small size. The icing on the cake? They are very reasonably priced.  
However, the coil design doesn't work so well in deep snow, where crampon-style spikes with larger points are more appropriate. The coils also aren't very comfortable when running because they protrude from the bottom of the shoe, creating an uneven landing surface. But aside from these niche uses, the Walk are great for most everyday winter uses on slippery urban surfaces. And for the price, these are the best option out there for users expecting mostly light-duty winter walking. 

Switchback Travel

The MICROspikes above are an excellent performance option for intrepid winter hikers, but the aggressive spikes are overkill for more casual activities like running errands around town or shoveling the driveway. Enter the Yaktrax’s flagship Walk snow grips, which trade spikes for low-profile steel coils that stretch across the bottom of your shoe or boot. The design is very light at just 4 ounces per pair, easy to get on and off with a stretchy polyelastometer harness, and affordably priced at just $20. Added up, the Walk is a great all-around value, even if you only wear them once or twice a season.

The biggest tradeoffs to the Walk’s budget-friendly design are lack of versatility and durability. The coils bite decently well into harder surfaces like ice and packed snow and are less prone to clogging up than the MICROspikes above, but they’re not built for covering technical terrain or navigating steep slopes. A number of hikers have also reported premature deterioration—particularly along the rubber netting underfoot (most designs use metal)—which gives us pause in recommending them for anything more than light around-town and daily use. But even buying a few pairs of Yaktrax will still cost you less than one pair of MICROspikes, which is appealing for casual and occasional users.See the Yaktrax Walk

Ice Traction Device Comparison