AutoSock Direct - www.autosockdirect.co.uk

Having previously had chains, I did my homework and based on the Which review bought these. A mistake that put me, my family and my car in serious danger.

Heavy snow fell last Saturday on our journey back from the Alps, and we like thousands of other motorists were in trouble. Thankfully we managed to get off the A40 in France as we were near a junction. No trouble I thought, on with the "Autosocks" that were indeed easier than chains, and were fine on flat terrain. But once we started to climb a hill, the traction soon went and we were stranded like many others. What was particularly frightening were the motorist coming down the hill towards us, even with chains on who could not control their vehicles and slid off the road, into barriers and each other. It was literally carnage, and at one point we grabbed our 5 year old out of his seat as we were sure we were going to be hit on that side of the car (we weren't thankfully - but it was close).

The learnings for us:

1. Autosocks / snow socks are useless.

2. Chains are better - but you need them on all 4 wheels, even on 4x4s. This is particularly important for going down hill, as if you just have two wheels with grip, the other two will skid and probably "fish tail" if the front wheels have the chains (or socks) on, and you apply the brakes. Or you won't be able to steer if you have chains on the rear two wheels, and you brake and skid - i.e. total under steer. If the road has a camber on it, as most do - you are doomed, as the side of my S-Max pays testament to, but definitely worse in a rear wheel drive car like a Merc or BMW.

3. Avoid driving in snow at all costs. The risks are just not worth it.

4. Take a spade and blankets. We thought we were going to be there all night, before managing to turn the car around and getting down the hill.

5. 4x4's are just as useless unless they have chains on too, or winter tyres all round. We saw two BMW X5's skid off the road, and one Nissan Patrol.

6. Clearly the Autosock PR team have been very busy on this site.

Take care out there.

I've only used the product once, so can't really comment on their effectiveness over a long period of time, but on that one occasion, these sock things really came in for me.

It was the bad winter of 2010, December, and I was due to leave work early to get to my home in Chipping Norton for a dinner with my wife. We'd been having some problems recently and this was a last ditch attempt to fix things before we resorted to counselling, a step which I just know would have driven us even further apart - it's not her fault, it's mine, I'm just like that. I wouldn't have played ball with some know-it-all psychologist.

Anyway, the roads didn't look too bad on that occasion so I thought I would stay a bit later to help my receptionist put up the Christmas decorations. I reckoned I could still do that and get back in time for the whole "straightening things out" with my good lady wife. She was doing a roast, so timing was pretty critical too.

Well, I was ok for time until I realised I couldn't get out of the works car park. The cheapskates hadn't even bothered to throw a bit of grit down between my car and the public highway (which was clear). I could see plenty of other people had tried to get out and already given up and gotten the bus, there were cars slewed all over the place. our car park is on a bit of a slope which didn't help.

I realised quickly that I had these sock things in my boot, a present from the last Christmas, and to be honest I'd never bothered with them because they looked so flimsy (and it doesn't snow badly often where we live).

Anyway, to cut a long story short the socks got me out the car park with absolutely no trouble at all, and I got home at ten o clock. Ok I was still a bit late for the roast but if I hadn't got home when I did, I would never have caught her at all, she was packing her stuff to stay with her sister!

I managed to talk her round, and things seemed to improve since then all on their own. But it could easily have gone the other way, if I hadn't had auto sock!

There's a moral in this story somewhere. Be prepared? Don't know.

Buy some auto socks.

I travel out to lots of river sites with work which involves driving on lots of smaller poorly gritted roads. I keep a set of AutoSocks in the boot over the winter and they enable me to get out and do my work without having to either abandon it or have a several mile hike in too site with heavy kit.

The AutoSocks are small and light so don't take up much space, and are incredibly quick and easy to fit onto my Audi when I need them. So far they have lasted well and I have nothing but positives for them as a product.

When I brought them, service was good and delivery quick. If you drive in the winter on small roads, then it is a winter no-brainer!

Yeah these are really nice. They stop me slipping about on the road in my motor car.

I meant to write a review for AutoSock last year after they got me out of trouble several times (although it was often my driving bravado which often saw me get into the sticky situations!).

This product is fantastic. I was skeptical at first, but my BMW had real issues with conventional snow chains (something to do with the wheel arch or clearance or something like that) and since it was a rear wheel drive wasn't very good on ice or snow. Although dubious at first they worked a treat and got me up and down my drive no problem. They were also brilliant getting me in and out of the car park at work after heavy snow during the day!

I've just changed my car and alas it has much thinner tyres so the old size are bit baggy. but it was easy decision to get more AutoSocks!

I'd recommend anybody who gets them has a watch of the fitting video online first. It wasn't fun trying to suss it out in the dark in the morning when I first needed them! Although it's easy once you've got the knack it wasn't before my knees were frozen!

It was one of those winter mornings when I woke up shocked to see a thick layer of snow and the roads looked unusable, thanks to my recently purchased snow socks I made it to work on time and could drive safely, it was a shame my work was closed as no one else could get it.

Simple to fit and would only need to stop you sliding out once and scratching your car to pay for themselves 10x over.

I highly recommend, a great gift for a loved one, or staff you want to make it to work in bad weather :-p

Without this superb piece of equipment I would have been snowed in for a week. The Autosock does exactly what it claims to do. I wish I had known about it during previous hard winters. It should be included as standard in the cars breakdown kit. My only criticism is that it might be awkward to fit for somebody who is elderly.

I have now purchased two Autosocks (I had a change of car) - This product needs to be seen in action to be believed, it does exactly what it says, and more!!

My old Aotosocks were "passed" on to my wife who would NEVER drive in adverse conditions, never mind snow. Last winter she was a changed woman, dropping the kids off to school, shopping and visiting her "stranded" elderly perants. Offers real confidance in that it WILL get you going, safely in all conditions.

Living in South Wales, the last two years we have experienced unprecidented snow fall, the only people getting out of the estate were 4x4s and those walking. As a self employed person, attendance to call outs is crutial - I can honestly say that I was able to meet ALL my customer appointments. Unfortunatly cant say the same for my boiler servicing provider,they got stuck in the snow 500 yards from my home, I actually put the Autosocks on their transit van - slichtly oversized but got them to my home, them got them back out of the estate - driver was really impressed.

I would definitely recommend these to friends and family (& already have). I feel much safer and less nervous driving in the winter months and really noticed a huge difference!

I would definitely recommend these to friends and family (& already have). I feel much safer and less nervous driving in the winter months and really noticed a huge difference!