In winter in the city we rarely deal with just one type of surface. In the morning the pavement is icy, at noon it turns into slush, and in the park there is packed snow. That is why, instead of asking “which shoes for winter?”, it is better to ask: what will I run on most often? The answer decides whether you need spikes, a membrane, or whether your current shoes will do.
Wet, slush and melting snow
This is the most common winter situation in Polish cities. Ordinary road running shoes will cope if you wear warm, higher socks with them and accept that your feet will be damp. If that is a problem for you, reach for a shoe with a membrane.
Gore-Tex, or the GTX membrane, keeps water out and holds warmth well. It does have two sides, though: the shoe breathes less, and if water gets in over the top, for example when you run into a deep puddle, it stays inside longer. A membrane therefore works best in cold and damp conditions, and less well on warmer, intense sessions.
Packed snow, mud and forest trails
Here the outsole is what counts. Trail shoes have deeper, more widely spaced lugs that bite into soft ground and do not clog with mud as quickly. If in winter you run mainly in parks and forests, such a shoe will be much more secure than a road shoe.
- Saucony Peregrine 13 ST: a version with a higher-built upper that protects better against snow and mud.
- Icebug Horizon RB9X: for forest trails and less technical cross-country routes, with a slightly wider forefoot.
- Asics Gel-Sonoma 6 GTX: a trail outsole combined with a Gore-Tex membrane.
Ice and icy pavements
On smooth ice no outsole can replace spikes. In soles with the BUGrip system, Icebug fits small studs that work together with the rubber and grip ice, packed snow and frozen surfaces.
- Icebug NewRun BUGrip: a studded shoe for the most slippery days.
Remember that studs are made for ice and snow. On dry tarmac they are noisy and wear faster, and on smooth paving or tiles they can slip. If your route is mostly a cleared pavement, a shoe without studs will work better.
A bit of everything
When your route runs over tarmac one moment and frozen gravel the next, a good compromise is rubber that grips better than standard rubber but has no studs. Icebug calls its compound RB9X and uses it in several models:
- Icebug Aura RB9X: a light shoe for tarmac and gravel, with a wide, comfortable forefoot.
- Icebug Arcus 2 RB9X GTX: the same rubber plus a GTX membrane and a reinforced toe cap, for wet and cold days.
- Icebug Järv RB9X: a very durable construction for demanding terrain.
How to run on slippery ground
- Shorten your stride and place your foot more underneath you, not far in front.
- Slow down on corners and do not push off hard when stepping down from a kerb.
- Save faster sessions for days when the route is clear.
- After the run, take out the insoles and dry your shoes at room temperature, not on a radiator, which damages the foam and the glue.
What to wear yourself is covered in the guide How to dress for running in autumn and winter.
You can try on Icebug winter shoes and trail models with a membrane at Azyl Biegacza at Gdyńska 4 in Poznań. Tell us where you run, and we will suggest whether studs, a membrane or a regular shoe with a good outsole will be best.