OK, for years people have been telling me to buy something for the bottom of my shoes so I can walk on snow and ice without the gripping fear I always feel. Finally, someone told me about Yaktrax, and I love them. They are stretchy plastic things that pull on over any shoe or boot, with metal coils around the plastic strips. The metal digs into the ice and prevents slipping and falling. They aren't spikes, and even though you aren't supposed to, you can wear them into the house or building, because they aren't sharp. You can get a little carrying bag for them so when you get to work or the store, you can put them somewhere safe. They come in lots of colors-I got neon green for me and black for my husband.