 Poster: A snowHead
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I bought Halfords Ice Blok chains just under a year ago to cover the last two snow-covered and very hilly miles to Weardale ski area in the north Pennines.
Just back from a great afternoon there today (decent snow cover, if a little thin in places) and, having been there twice in the last 3 days, the chains have now gone from bad to total nightmare.
I've used them 4 times so far - never without incident. From day one they have come apart in use - the metal used for construction is so soft that bits that should be nipped together just undo themselves and have had to be fixed using pliers. Over the last two uses, one of the b******* will now not stay together. Despite more plier nippings, the push-together bit on the plastic hoop keeps undoing itself and the whole chain falls off - great fun on a steep section of snowpacked, singletrack road 
And finally.....the one that keeps falling off has gone and snapped - together with my patience. My plan is to go back to Halfords and ask for my money back. (I know, I know, I should have gone back straight away.....!!) They have covered a total of about 8 miles and are completely useless  ! To get back from the skiing today I had to bodge the snapped one using a bungee - effective for the first mile, then it all fell off again leaving us to struggle down the hill on one chain. Imagine if we'd been relying on them to climb a 20 mile alpine road  !!
In case anyone is wondering, yes they are the right size and yes they are fitted correctly. Can someone recommend some decent chains please? Having had the experience from Hell with the Ice Bloks, I can only dream of a trouble free, reliable set..... 
The chains were £50-odd - have I just got what I paid for?? Do I just need to spend more?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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mountainaddict, maybe chose something from near the top of this list? I've got the second ones down (bought at a time when the exchange rate was much more favourable ). Although i've only used them for short periods they seem ok. Can't imagine bits bending etc
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Tue 22-12-09 23:31; edited 1 time in total
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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A couple of years ago I paid ~£100 for some RUD Power ones from http://www.roofbox.co.uk - a bit fiddly to fit the first time around but easy once you've done one. Worked on the vague principal that RUD seem to be a good make and although these were relatively cheap within their range they still seem to be quality. Worked well so far for the few times I've used them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Another vote for RUD chains, straightforward to put on, well made and do what they are supposed too. I have been using them for 15 years and havent had a failure yet.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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mountainaddict, I too have a few sets of chains sitting in the garage - what size are your tyres?
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BernardC, you don't mean......
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I bought a Halfords set last year but they were much more expensive than the OP's even with my mate's staff discount. They have done about 20 miles and seem to have survived OK.
They don't fit my new car (A6) so I'm letting my friend have them for his New Year trip to Scotland.
I hope they work ok for him.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Another vote for Rud, I've had the basic Rud Compact grip for many years. (Not had to use them over the last few years as now snow tyred up  )
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Another vote for Klack'n'Go 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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The cains should be welded throughout, they aren't fit for purpose if the links open. I did look at Halfords last year, but then checked with a real snowchain supplier* and found out what I needed, then I bought a pair, used once, on eBay.
I've got RUD Starmatic, which I think are now RUD Classic. As others say, a bit fiddly to fit, it looks easy on the video on the website. Konig look easier to fit,
These new mesh things look promising. Easy to fit, I think. Someone put a link to some eaby sellers in one of the Snowchains threads.
*Actually the big supplier said there were no chains for a Citroen Berlingo and I had to have the expensive stuff, then I phoned back with a disguised voice and asked for chains for a Peugeot Partner, no problem!
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Just spotted this thread on my return from NE England, also for a coupleof days at Weardale. I bought my Ice Blok chains thru Halfords Cambridge about two years ago (for Vauxhall Zafira, about £70), took them to the Alps 2 or 3 times but with the far superior snow clearance services there, never needed to use them, though fitted them a couple of times in the underground car park before being told the snow had stopped! My experiences with them for Weardale over the last two days were almost identical to mountainaddict's. The torpedo coupler on one pulled through in the same way on the second ascent. After fixing this it still came off twice, the second time getting crushed beyond repair, leaving us with just one chain for the descent on a snowy Saturday. The other is showing significant wear, again after only about 8 miles use on snow-covered roads. They are scrap as far as I'm concerned.
Does anyone have any good experiences of Maggi Trak chains? These are technically quite complicated, but claim to self-adjust automatically once put on - seen at http://www.roofbox.co.uk/snow-chains/ .
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yet another vote for Clack n Go. Fitted em 3 times no problems -self adjusting so you don't have to get them on perfectly aligned. Getting them off is harder than putting them on with my v.limited wheel arch clearance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cheap chains are not worth it.
My cheap set are sitting in a bin somewhere in the Tarantaise valley. They got me out of the resort, but are not durable. Started snapping all over the place.
Will spend the money next time and probably never use them again.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Picked up a set of Ottinger chains off E-bay a couple of seasons back. Used a couple of days last week.  They seem a quality item . Well put together and fairly easy to fit.
ps, just googled them. good/recommended in loads of german tests. www.ottinger.de
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Wifey can do Klack and go in under a minute per wheel,they are that easy and also have a good demo on Youtube.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Cheap chains are not worth it.
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+1 I think mine cost around 90 euros. 5 years, and quite a few uses ago.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Original Poster reporting back!!
After taking into account all the responses I decided that I would Klack n Go.....However I was unable to find any UK online supplier with any in stock. In fact I struggled to find any online chains - ended up phoning just about all the main ones who come up when you Google "snowchains" to find they were all just about cleared out of all chains for the next 2 weeks until new stock arrived.
Anyway, a ski kit specialist firm called Edge2Edge came up trumps - I ended up with Thule TG 12 chains which arrived within 2 days. Tried them out at the weekend - easy to fit and brilliant results. I got up to the Weardale ski area easily in my trusty old Laguna + chains while 2 or 3 4x4s didn't (including a shiny new BMW X5 thingy  ).
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I ve got Thuile. Very good mid price and clears Subaru wheel arch.
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FAQ
If you drive over anything, they buckle and you can't get the doors open. 
They're the first things we rip off. Decent set of rock sliders with jacking points in them next time. 
