If you drive a car, you know what studded snow tires are. They are common in the northwest during the winter and provide excellent traction in both snow and ice. Those of us that have used them know they are nice to have. But how about studded running shoes?
For years I lived in Central Oregon, where snow and ice were completely normal occurrences every winter. So much so that local running stores offered to “screw your shoes” in November. I ran several winter seasons with screwed shoes and was thankful for the traction. However, those were not dedicated studded shoes, they were merely a pair that I had screws added to.
Alternatively, you might be thinking about having added things like YakTrax, or Micro Spikes to your shoes, which are strap on attachments for running in the snow and ice. I too have worn these (and still have them). Still, these options are no different than adding chains to your regular tires on your car. They work, but they can be a hassle.
Enter Icebug. A Swedish shoe company that has been making studded shoes and boots since 2001. Their entire mission is to get people out more, and to provide them with good traction to do it. I first heard about this company while researching the best way to add screws to my shoes, myself. They seemed nitchy, and perhaps a little too far removed from the mainstream of running in the winter.
I say this as someone who had tried the attachments, had screwed my own shoes, and simply figured it out. But here’s the thing…the attachments and the screws are not dedicated studded shoes. This means that you are making a sacrifice somewhere, whether it be having to adjust an attachment, or dealing with the eventual discomfort of the screws (they weren’t meant to be there!!). Icebug has taken all of that and given the world a studded snow shoe that is dedicated to its purpose. To get you outdoors and give you traction.
Recently I was asked to test a pair of Arcus 2 BUGrip GTX shoes. The Arcus 2 have 13 studs built into the tread, which is designed for mixed trail, road, and off trail use. The sole looks chunky but only has a 6mm drop. The Gore Tex add is a nice one when considering winter running. And the color way is neutral/earthy in the Olive/Terracotta mix.
The first impression out of the box was that this looks like a long run kind of shoe, with good support, a cushy ride, and a surprisingly lighter feel than expected. At 12 ounces these are probably not your race shoes, but given the addition of studs, they are not a pair of hiking boots either. Another quick impression was the toe box width, which is far wider than I might have guessed, and for this runner, a massive bonus.
Testing a pair of shoes like this requires some snow and ice. Fortunately for me, 3 days after receiving these the snow fell, it got a little colder, the ice came, and away I went.
Having some history with running in snow and ice with different options to do so helped a lot in this case, as I immediately began comparing what I knew to what I was experiencing. Attachments are the least favored option by any runner, as compensation must always be made. Adding screws is much closer to normal, but even then the heads are sizable enough to always notice them, and feel them, especially if you are out for long.
The Arcus shoes quickly remind you that you have studs if you find yourself on bare pavement for a second, but if you’re on snow/ice, the traction is nice, especially when considering the comfort of the shoe.
I ran a couple of miles of road first, with most of it being on compact snow/ice. I was so fixated on the level of traction that I almost negated the feel of the shoe itself, at least at first. By the time I got to the trail I was really enjoying the ride. These shoes are warm, fit well, feel very secure on my feet, and just a solid pair.
As I hit the trails I expected to lose a lot of traction, as there really isn’t a great shoe for tackling snowy trails. This is where attachments can have a little greater benefit. The Arcus surprised me though, as I climbed my first hill, navigated some tight, off-camber single track, and then got to a gravel road with about 2″ of fresh snow.
In the miles of trails I ran that day, the only place the Icebugs struggled was the steep downhill, but to be fair, there is nothing out there that can tame a steep, icy, snowy descent. And yet, the Arcus managed most everything on the trails quite well.
The final few miles were back on the road and now I really noticed the ride. I had just been hammering the ups and downs of the trails and typically at this point my feet would be soaked and cold. But here I was with warm and dry feet and recognizing how comfortable these shoes were. I sought out some downhill and uphill road sections with snow and ice and was pleased with how well they did on both, allowing me to run.
Ultimately, the Icebugs are not a shoe you will wear year-round, but when the weather calls for it, shoes like the Arcus 2 are truly in their own class. If you live in an area where snow and ice keep you from running outside, check out Icebug, there really is no comparison.
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