Snow Socks -Anyone used them? Comments please

[ss64ii]

Hi
I'm off to Loch Lomond next Friday for Christmas and other half is concerned about the roads etc and wants to get some snow socks, just needed any comments really. For a 55 plate Focus estate, thanks.

[V6Paul]

A bought some for a trip to the Peak District last year. Didn't snow though so didn't get to use them. Living in Cambridgeshire there aren't any hills anyway so never need them.

I am no help. Sorry.

[redstu]

Buy some snow chains from lidl for £20.
Socks are ghey!

[Matt UK]

Bought some autosocks for when we head off to the Alps after Christmas. Probably won't need them but they look like less hassle than chains and the video reviews suggest they so the job of getting you through to slippy bits.

[SWH]

I acquired some cheap ones off eBay for the shed of an Avensis I had last winter, so I didn't get stuck commuting, and I was too tight to buy a proper set of snow chains for it!

Do you know what, they just worked... worth keeping a set of ski gloves in the car (cold fingers best avoided), a bin liner to put them in once covered in ice and brake dust, and try and get some which come with long sleeved plastic gloves, you will get flithy taking them off (think gloves suitable for bovine internal examination and you're there).

Driving on them was a quiet experience, coped fine with a stretch of just tarmac (yes, I know they'll wear fast), excellent on ice, and good on 4" fresh snow and jumping in and out of frozen ruts climbing up a steep hill.

Something worth having in the boot I'd say


For the Saab I have proper snow chains, self tightening super-duper ones, although noisy, it'll go anywhere with them on, until you end up beached on frozen snow in the middle of the road that is

[bennyboydurham]

If you have very big wheels and can't get your fingers round to the back of the tyres then you'll struggle to get them on. The only way I could get them onto my 730d was to jack it up. Bear in mind that you can't run them on Tarmac as they just shred so taking them on and off a wheel at a time, in the snow, in the dark, by the side of a road without getting stuck would be quite a task. I sent mine back for a refund.

[loafer123]

Worked OK on snow, still got stuck on an icy hill, then one fell off (probably my own fault for driving over 30mph or on Tarmac or ).

Good for emergencies, but that's it IMO.

[Donboy]

Is it the top of Ben lomond your planning driving up ,
If not , I would take the chance ,
I'm only a few miles from the loch and its certainly not as bad as people make out ,
We're not closed in for the winter ..

[ryanjohnstott]

Just put two nice long strips of carpet in the boot. They will come in very handy if you get stuck. This will usually suffice for most situations in the UK, we rarely get to drive any distance in deep snow so winter tyres work fine without chains/socks.

[ss64ii]

Donboy said:

Is it the top of Ben lomond your planning driving up ,
If not , I would take the chance ,
I'm only a few miles from the loch and its certainly not as bad as people make out ,
We're not closed in for the winter ..

Hi
Not quite, we have a place at Loch Katrine for the week

[Stelvio1]

Snow socks are absolutely brilliant in the snow - not so good on ice though - best £60 I spent last winter for the BM - went past many a stuck 4x4

[Noger]

They are amazing in thick snow. Even in the south, when we get a "rare' big dump and no grit, they have helped me out a couple of times in the past 2 winters.

Driving a silly little Fiat 500 up a hill, past stuck 4x4s, would be fun if it wasn't so scary

[ss64ii]

Thansk for the replys, got some off ebay last night.

[Mr MXT]

Winnit said:

Being a FWD car I wouldn't bother, maybe get a can of this for emergency use: http://www.sprayontyrechain.co.uk/

Have you used this?

[r1ch]

Always keep a set in the boot, never used them. Certainly get good write ups so i'm confident someday they will get me out of a jam.

[Bill]

Matt UK said:

Bought some autosocks for when we head off to the Alps after Christmas. Probably won't need them but they look like less hassle than chains and the video reviews suggest they so the job of getting you through to slippy bits.

Make sure (and I don't know either way but thought it'd be worth mentioning) that the Gendarmerie see them as a viable alternative. When it's snowed they will stop you and insist on chains/winter tyres or turn you back and socks might not cut it.

[RedAlfa]

Bought mine two years ago (Autosock). They work great on snow covered surfaces. I have used them three times ... never let me down! The feeling you get when you drive up a snow covered hill is fantastic!

Always remove them when you don't absolutely need them ... otherwise they will wear out!

[Matt UK]

Bill said:

Matt UK said:

Bought some autosocks for when we head off to the Alps after Christmas. Probably won't need them but they look like less hassle than chains and the video reviews suggest they so the job of getting you through to slippy bits.

Make sure (and I don't know either way but thought it'd be worth mentioning) that the Gendarmerie see them as a viable alternative. When it's snowed they will stop you and insist on chains/winter tyres or turn you back and socks might not cut it.

Yeah, that is a good call.

The missus pointed out that all of the Renault hatchbacks seems to mosey up and down the hill on snowsocks. However, driving RHD car on UK plates in France means you can't quite expect to be treated in the same way.

I've got a set of 9mm chains as well (which we have never used..)
Plus the family wagon is fitted with winter tyres.
And I have a tow rope ready to hitch up to the mate in front with an L200.

One way or another, I'm getting to that resort!

[Bill]

Just a little prepared then.