Shoes for running on icy surfaces

Yeah, they're called skates. Sheesh.

Petri Aukia said:

The weather here in southern Finland makes running challenging in the
winter. There is enough snow to make running on trails impossible,

Snowshoe running solves the deep snow issue unless you've got ice on top
the snow. Here's a link with more info and more links.
http://tinyurl.com/4vo6g

but

Quoted message said:

not enough to keep the roadsides nice and snowy.

<thanks for the review of ice shoes>

Quoted message said:

Are there any icebug users in rr? Have you had bad experiences with the
studs falling off when running on mixed surfaces including some
pavement?

I haven't but I know someone here (Alaska) who has, and the "local" (50
mi away) shoe store carries them, but I haven't tried them on. I believe
she did complain about loosing studs, but don't remember how much of an
issue she said it was. We were snowshoe running that day.

Quoted message said:

Am I right in assuming that in the northern areas, Alaska and Lappland,
perhaps even central Finland and Sweden, the studs are not as important
as in the areas where the temperatures tend to stay close to 0 degrees C
for a longer period of time?

Where I am in southcentral Alaska, we don't usually stay near freezing
for very long. For example, it's been in the 0-20F (-17C to -7C) range
for about a week - just perfect - then warmed to high 40s (+5C) and
rained *hard* for parts of 2 days and is now down to +22F/-6C. No one is
happy).

I usally snowshoe run on trails, if I can, or run (sometimes with
yaktrax) on hardpacked trails (either groomed or snowmachine, if
desparate). If on roads with some types of snow, I'll use yaktrax. If on
some types of ice, I might use ice joggers (points stick into ice that
yaktrax can't penetrate), but I usually avoid running on this stuff.

Here's an assortment of traction devices (NFI)
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/traccleatans.html

Other people use screw shoes if they have old shoes with a sole that's
suitable for this:
http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

Another option that I've used reasonably successfully sometimes when
really desperate is running through fields with short grass. (I work at
a research farm so I know what fields this is ok on. I wouldn't do it on
someone else's private property.) The grass sticks up enough above the
ice and is dense enough, that it provides some traction and a little bit
of softening of the surface.

Dot

--
"After 26 hours 38 minutes, we accomplished our mission, and the next
day were fortunate to read about our adventure in the sports section of
the local papers rather than the obituaries."
-Dean Karnazes recounting their running of the WS100 trail in winter.

I live in northern Vermont and have had a pair of Icebugs for about a year. I
have put about 400 miles on them and only recently lost 3 studs (from the right
shoe). I run mostly on trails and dirt roads. I occasionally have to run on
snow covered pavement.

The shoes seem to still function fine with the missing studs. I think I read
that they designed to lose up to 6 studs from one shoe and still function.

Mike

I live in northern Vermont and have had a pair of Icebugs for about a year. I
have put about 400 miles on them and only recently lost 3 studs (from the right
shoe). I run mostly on trails and dirt roads. I occasionally have to run on
snow covered pavement.

The shoes seem to still function fine with the missing studs. I think I read
that they designed to lose up to 6 studs from one shoe and still function.

Mike

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dot dot.h@#duh?att.net said:

Petri Aukia said:

The weather here in southern Finland makes running challenging in the
winter. There is enough snow to make running on trails impossible,

Snowshoe running solves the deep snow issue unless you've got ice on top
the snow. Here's a link with more info and more links.
http://tinyurl.com/4vo6g

Thank you for the link. As is, I barely find the time to do some
x-country skiing in addition to my runs, but I have to try the
snowshoe running as well.

Quoted message said:

Other people use screw shoes if they have old shoes with a sole that's
suitable for this:
http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm

This is the primary reason I had not bought dedicated pre-studded
running shoes the last two years. Having read about a diy-shoe,
I figured that all I would need would be a 'half used' running shoe
by the time the snow falls. Both years my primary shoes were barely
worn in and the secondary pair was staring to cause some joint troubles
making it less than suitable for further use beyond lawn-mowing.

This approach was reccomended by others as well both in email and
one-on-one. The obvious benefit is that even if teh srews fall off,
they are easy to replace.

Quoted message said:

Another option that I've used reasonably successfully sometimes when
really desperate is running through fields with short grass. (I work at
a research farm so I know what fields this is ok on.

By the time the roads are icy, we tend to have too much snow for this
approach, but I guess the key take-me-home here is that with a bit of
determination and ingenuity running can be accomplished and enjoyed
in almost any weather.

In Finland the bike-paths tend to be plowed and covered with some
sand. The bike paths are thus my preferred routes on icy days.

Petri

It's not an original idea by any means, but you might make the Sarva
shoes work with carefully selected insoles. With the right insoles you
can dial in cushioning, arch support, degree of forefoot and rearfoot
pronation, medial posting, forefoot support, amount of heel lift, etc.
You could start with off-the-shelf orthotics as well, if you know your
needs.

I have often considered buying some indoor soccer shoes with minimal
soles and minimal heel lift and "building" my own shoe using inserts,
though I do not run in snow that often.

What about golf shoes? Some of them are extremely well made and I
assume the spikes could be replaced and customized in length.

Bill said:

It's not an original idea by any means, but you might make the Sarva
shoes work with carefully selected insoles. With the right insoles you
can dial in cushioning, arch support, degree of forefoot and rearfoot
pronation, medial posting, forefoot support, amount of heel lift, etc.
You could start with off-the-shelf orthotics as well, if you know your
needs.

I have often considered buying some indoor soccer shoes with minimal
soles and minimal heel lift and "building" my own shoe using inserts,
though I do not run in snow that often.

What about golf shoes? Some of them are extremely well made and I
assume the spikes could be replaced and customized in length.

If you want shoes with spikes, why not just use a pair of XC spikes ? The
spikes are usually replaceable, and you can get different types/lengths of
spikes for them. They're also ideal if you like shoes with a low heel (was
it you who made an ill-fated attempt to cut the heel off a shoe ?) Of course
they're probably not ideal if you like a well cushioned shoe -- but for people
who do a lot of training in flats, it seems like an obvious thing to try (I'm
thinking of trying it myself, I'm curious if anyone else has)

I've raced XC in them, and the larger spikes are a little awkward on concrete,
but bearable. But these things have huge spikes -- one could replace them
with a much smaller spike. Or one could just pull the pikes off -- I think
the rubber outsole would provide good traction even without the spikes.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

what about those get-a-grip devices? do they work in the context of
feeling as "one" and part of the shoe? i've aways wondered about
that. i'm sure they provide great traction, no idea of if they have
any "slippage" or "play" while banded on your shoe though...anyone
know?

problem w/those XC shoes w/spikes is most are very well ventilated &
meshed. i've been running in nyc in a pair of adidas trail shoes for
the added traction while running on snow and compressed snow and
mush/muck. the extra traction is there....but the shoe is damn cold
(very meshed and snow collects in the mesh). my gore-tex running
shoes? i used them for my walkaround shoes in this weather....too damn
clunky for the running I'm trying to do.

Quoted message said:

problem w/those XC shoes w/spikes is most are very well ventilated &
meshed.

They vary a lot. Some have a light mesh upper like flats. I think the
kennedy XC is like this.

But the ones I've got (the old orange-black Asics 15-50 that they sell for $20
on eastbay) have a heavy trainer-like upper. BTW, if you get a pair of these,
buy half a size up. They run really small (half a size up should still be a
snug fit)

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

As far as mesh goes.
I use a gortex sock keeps out wind, and water, they are expensive, but well
worth the cost, and quite thin.
Then a lite sock under that.
I use my Asics gel creed, not the best traction on ice, but they work.
You could also try sipping the soles, it's the technology they use on winter
tires. Google "sipping tires"
It's -26C with windchill today here in ottawa, canada.

"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

problem w/those XC shoes w/spikes is most are very well ventilated &
meshed.

They vary a lot. Some have a light mesh upper like flats. I think the
kennedy XC is like this.

But the ones I've got (the old orange-black Asics 15-50 that they sell for
$20
on eastbay) have a heavy trainer-like upper. BTW, if you get a pair of
these,
buy half a size up. They run really small (half a size up should still be
a
snug fit)

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/