Olang Boots
Anyone who’s spent 5 minutes in Calgary understands how unpredictable the weather is and how quickly conditions can change. Hard packed snow on trails and icy sidewalks are hazards faced multiple times daily by dog owners. One cheeky squirrel can cause a dog to lunge and potentially cause injury to a guardian if a Chinook is melting snow on the sidewalk and you lose foot grip.
I used to carry slip-on ice cleats in my pockets for such situations. But I found I was uncomfortable with the frequency of times I left my neighbourhood with dry bare pavement unprepared for the hockey rink-like terrain at the dog park 1 km away. Plus, slip-on cleats are hard to put on. It’s tricky to do it stork fashion, struggling to get the rubber straps over your winter boots, bent over with one leg on your knee while gripping the leash in the other hand trying to convince your dog to pause the walk. I can’t put them on without sitting down, and I found myself all too often in treacherous conditions with no bench or boulder nearby.
Olang boots are a game changer. They have built-in spikes that flip over whenever you need them. It takes just seconds to flip them over, and it can be done stork-style no problem. I won’t even consider a winter walk anymore without them. The boots are pricey, but they have doubtless saved me injury and possibly my life. I’ve worn mine daily through 3 seasons, and they still have plenty of walks left in them. So if I average the cost of the boots over 3+ years, this peace of mind seems like a bargain.
Olangs are sold at:
Sole to Soul (3 locations in Calgary)
Naot
Luna Blue
Ginger Laurier
Step Ahead Footwear
Sporting Life Market Mall
A video of the cleats: