Wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice. Wear flat-soled shoes. Avoid shoes with heels. Products are available with abrasive soles or cleats that provide special traction for walking on snow and ice, such as Yaktrax. [Remember to remove when entering buildings.]

You can technically walk on snow without boots, but it is highly discouraged due to safety risks and physical discomfort. Standard sneakers or flat-soled shoes lack the necessary traction (treads) to grip slippery surfaces, significantly increasing your risk of a fall. Furthermore, porous materials like canvas will quickly soak up moisture, leading to wet, freezing feet which can cause frostnip or even trench foot in prolonged cold. If you must walk in snow without boots, the "Penguin Walk" is the best technique: keep your center of gravity over your front leg, take short, shuffling steps, and keep your hands out of your pockets to maintain balance. Ideally, you should stick to cleared, gritted sidewalks. However, for anything more than a short dash to a car, proper insulated, waterproof footwear with rubber soles is essential for health and safety in 2026 winter conditions.