...For every runner who has fallen during winter training (or, like me, h...
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For every runner who has fallen during winter training (or, like me, had the grace to slip while jaywalking in front of a cop), a trail running shoe that gives us a grip is ideal.
Now there may be a solution for runners who detest the idea of strapping cleats over their regular shoes.
Imported from Sweden, a place with plenty of its own freeze-thaw-freeze cycles, Icebugs are more than light, dry running shoes. They offer peace of mind too.
My days of strapping cleats over my regular shoes are over. The slip-ons, which can shift and clank uncomfortably on roads, now seem like rubber bands with short spikes.
Icebugs have 17 carbide-tipped studs in each shoe, like a snow tire. The patented BuGrip technology allows runners to cross from snow to ice to pavement without changing their pace. On hard surfaces, such as asphalt or concrete, the studs are pushed into the rubber sole, like a retracting cat claw.
A Web site recommends the shoe for all off-road terrain, including mud, wet grass and rocky surfaces. There are lighter shoes for everyday runners and sturdier shoes for people who walk.
Mine are the Multi-Run Dry Icebugs, which are stiffer than I'd like. But my feet stay dry and warm no matter how many snowdrifts I plow through.
The silver shoe with blue trim looks good to me. Of course, I care about running fashion as much as I care about football, which is to say not at all. Snazzier designs may exist elsewhere, and some people might prefer to drive screws into the bottom of fancily decorated apparel, but no other shoe can match the science behind these studs.
Icebug's sales pitch claimed, "You can run across a lake in these." I tested the claim by running across cleared areas of Cheney and Goose lakes. They gripped the ice well and handled sharp turns and tight corners without problems.
I felt more secure on the packed snow and wouldn't do sprint workouts on the lakes, but I never had to put out my arms for balance.
On asphalt and concrete I can still hear the studs scrape and feel the tips hit the pavement, but touchdown is considerably better than with slip-ons.
It's common to lose a couple of studs during normal activity without losing any traction. I haven't lost any after three weeks of near-daily use.
Icebugs don't have as much cushion or support as I prefer. I bought insoles, making the already-expensive purchase ($135) spendier, but Skinny Raven employees told me that Icebugs can last two to three winters, which is a lot more than the four to five months my shoes usually survive.
These are outdoors-only shoes, so don't even think about using them to tear up a treadmill or the track at the Subway Sports Centre ice rink.
And remember to take them off before striding across a hardwood floor.
If you are a serious or casual runner, consider making an investment in Icebugs; your wrists and behind will thank you.
Now if only we can get the municipality to consistently clear the sidewalks, roads and trails.
Currently the only local source for Icebugs is Skinny Raven. Prices range from $110 to $135, from lighter shoes to the waterproof style. There is also a $155 high-top shoe with snow cuffs and a $135 walking boot for women. All shoes have the same tread.
