YakTrax Lets Your Dress Shoes Get a Grip in Winter

Twenty-dollar slip-ons provide stability during a slippery season.

The only thing that stings worse than the winter wind? Your pride when you go sprawling on an icy patch of sidewalk. A failsafe: fit your finest dress shoes or winter boots with the YakTrax Walk. A wire wrapped bungie cord that criss crosses the sole of your shoe and attaches to a rubber rand, the system attaches to any footwear, from Ferragamos to North Face boots. The wire bites into the ground, the rubber rand supplies stability, letting you cruise over everything from ice-crusted sidewalks to snow-covered trails with ease. (There are additional styles for different activities, including the new PRO for winter running) Slipping them on is as simple as stretching them over your shoes. Now go walk those sidewalks with confidence. Just remember to detach them before entering any buildings: The wires wreak havoc on wooden floors. [$20; yaktrax.com]