Charmion, I got myself a pair of these things which allow me to walk on even the smoothest ice. They are pricey compared to what's readily available in cheaper stores, but those ones fell apart during the 3rd use. Plus, I learned in the first 10 minutes that slip-on cleats also slip off. My Icers are now headed into their 3rd winter of daily use. I haven't needed the kit of replacement cleats yet, maybe this winter. I have needed to trim a few stray fibres from the straps. My winter boots are such a different sized footprint than my wellies that I bought a 2nd smaller pair to fit them, for use on spring days when there is still plenty of ice & snow on the trails yet the air is too warm for true-winter boots.

My Icers get tossed into my car around Hallowe'en (though that was kind of early with this year's weather!), so I always have them when I get to the dog park--it's just enough higher elevation and a couple of miles inland from Lake Ontario so that the weather is colder & snowier than home, so I'm never sure when I'll need to start using them.

With only the least bit of attention I can confidently walk on pure sheet ice even made super-slippery with melt water or friction. Even on slopes. Just TRY skidding with them on, they simply don't slip. Ahhh, I imagine it would feel smugly good to smile and tramp past people on all-fours trying to get back up a hill they were foolish enough to go down. However I stop and lend an arm, get them up one at a time (or sometimes they hitch their dog to assist against gravity). It's a thrill that even with my incredibly bad back I can get me AND them up the main hill on the trail no problem. Though it's even more amazing how many of those people have a pair of icers they left in their car.

Icers also help grip fresh snow, definitely it's easier walking with them than without. But they do add a bit of weight to the foot so, with my bad back, I shorten my walks for the first week of use to build up strength, and work back up to the usual time. Far cheaper than gym membership and I actually use them daily.