Backpacker Magazine – Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010

Gear Review: Icebug Attla BUGrip Trail Runners

These runners have such good traction, you'll love running in the snow.

by: Berne Broudy

Tags:
• Trail runners
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• Gear
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• Boots
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When the snow flies, do you ditch the trail for the treadmill because you’re afraid of slipping on ice? Don’t. Each Attla has 15 carbide spikes (made with the same material as trekking-pole tips) scattered across the widely spaced, snow-shedding rubber lugs. “I ran all winter, and the spikes bit into every wind-frozen, iced-over trail from Mt. Philo to Camels Hump,” reports one Vermont tester. “They clacked on hard surfaces, but I could barely feel the carbide grips because they depressed like a shock absorber into the rubber sole instead of sending me skidding.” But this shoe is not just about grip.

An impact-absorbing semicircle of high-rebound polymer in the heel and an EVA midsole, combined with a stiff resin plate to protect the arch, provide the cushion and stability of a high-quality running shoe. The leather-reinforced mesh upper has abrasion-resistant polyurethane toe and heel guards, as well as a waterproof/breathable liner that kept feet dry through rain and snow. Just leave the Attlas at the door: They tear up floors. Fit is medium width, with a wide toebox. $159; 2 lbs.; m’s 7- 13, w’s 5.5-10.5; icebug.se




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