In this product guide:
- 1. Waterproof boot with metal spikes: Salomon Winter Cross Spike
- 2. Waterproof boot with metal spikes: Adak Wool BUGrip GTX
- 3. Waterproof shoe with metal spikes: Salomon Spikecross 6 GTX
- 4. Waterproof shoe with metal spikes: Icebug Rover BUGrip GTX
- 5. Waterproof boot with retractable metal spike: Pajar Icegripper boot
- 6. Waterproof shoe with metal spikes: Icebug Arcus BUgrip GTX
- What makes a shoe good on ice?
The Winter Cross Spike is the unofficial follow-up to the Salomon Snowspike CSWP – an excellent ice-friendly shoe we reviewed a few years ago.
There are several changes, two of which concern the upper and the midsole. The midsole is no longer double-lasted (like the Speedcross) and instead uses a running shoe design. On the road (and trail), the Winter Cross’s cushioning is softer than the Snowspike or Speedcross.
Now, here’s the real reason why the Winter Cross is recommended here. The outsole design is purposely designed for use on ice and frozen surfaces.
The Contagrip outsole is fitted with a colony of Carbide-tipped lugs for confidence-inspiring traction on icy patches. Along with the metal spikes, the soft rubber lug bites deep into the icy slush.
A zipped water-resistant gaiter keeps the snow and debris out; the foot is secured inside an inner shoe that’s based on the Speedcross silhouette. Do note that the upper is merely water-resistant, and not waterproof like the Snowspike CSWP.
- Salomon’s marketing pitch:Designed for adverse and unpredictable conditions.
- Upper: Water resistant and wind-blocking zipped gaiter over an inner shoe.
- Midsole: EVA foam, 4 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: 5 mm Contagrip rubber lugs with 11 Carbide metal spikes.
- Weight: 340 gms/ 12 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Available widths: Single, D (regular).
- Country of origin: China.
- Recommended use: Running on icy roads, slush and snow. NOT for indoors or bare concrete.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 400 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -10° C/14° F.
Pros
- Metal spikes grip well on frozen surfaces
- Weather resistant upper
- Secure upper
- Supportive comfort
- Optional wide, extra-wide sizes
Cons
- Cannot be used in normal weather conditions
- Lack of widths
- Absence of reflective elements
- Heel pull loop too small to be effective
There aren’t many winter hiking boot-style models with studded outsoles, so the Icebug Adak Wool BUGrip makes a very strong case for itself.
First, let’s talk about the reason why the Adak wool features here. The 17 steel spikes on the outsole make walking on ice much safer than conventional rubber soles. The low-profile foam midsole adds just enough comfort without diluting proprioception.
The winter-ready upper is another reason to get the Adak. Four features help with cold-weather protection – the Nubuck leather upper, waterproof membrane, felted Merino Wool lining, and the Primaloft insulation inside the lining.
The metal lacing rings and hiker-style laces make cinching the upper easy.
The Salomon Spikecross 6 GTX is the cleated version of the Speedcross 6, so it’s the same shoe but minus the metal spikes. Like the regular Speedcross 6 GTX, the upper uses a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane to keep the feet dry.
The Spikecross 6’s dozen Tungsten Carbide spikes over the grippy Contagrip rubber outsole make it ideal even for severe winter surface conditions.
The upper is borrowed from the Speedcross trail running shoe line-up, so it offers similar benefits. The cord lacing is easy to use even with gloved hands, and the layered upper keeps the slush out. The Speedcross upper uses a ‘double-lasted’ design for an extremely secure fit experience.
Runners who are familiar with the road-based Speedcross 6 will find little to no difference in how the Spikecross rides. The midsole is as firm as it gets, and that makes the Spikecross very stable on uneven terrain.
Nothing beats the convenience of a BOA dial lacing system when trying to tighten the shoe with gloved hands. Turning the dial to tighten the upper means that you don’t have to deal with laces or toggles.
That’s not the only reason why the Rover BUGrip is a great winter running shoe. An outsole with 19 Carbide-tipped spikes makes it a safe choice for use on frozen surfaces. A supportive midsole and Ortholite insole add stability and comfort to walks and runs.
The upper may be nearly all-mesh for comfort, but it’s also reinforced with fused layers for protection. The Rover BUGrip also has a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane to keep the feet dry.
On paper, the Pajar Icepack boot is rated up to -30 C (-22F). Realistically, we think it will survive -15 C (5F) even when stationary. And if you’ve ever lived in a cold country, you’d know that there is a huge difference between walking and standing in freezing temperatures.
The Pajar boot has a waterproof nylon upper with an insulated lining, so the insides are warm and comfortable. The side zip entry makes it easier to enter and exit the shoe, while also being tactile enough for gloved hands.
The fit is large and sloppy, so we highly recommend trying them before buying, if that’s possible.
This pocket tool is supplied with every Pajar product that has an OC system outsole. The curved loop helps flip the outsole hinge to activate the spikes or retract them.
The rubber outsole has OC System’s patented ice-gripping system. Admittedly, finding the ’slot’ for the provided metal key takes a while to get used to. Other than that, the changeovers are way easier than retrofitting a traction device.
The cleats aren’t mounted on the rubber lugs, so their short length is a limiting factor on slush or snow-covered surfaces.
Just remember to flip the outsole back to the non-cleated position when going indoors. On the ‘flip’ side, the outsole traction is poor on softer surfaces like slush and snow due to the flat outsole geometry.
While not the exact model, our detailed review of the Pajar Carson boot explains the Ice-gripper’s benefits and shortcomings.
The Arcus BUGrip is somewhat similar to the Icebug Rover, except for two major differences. The upper uses a conventional lace closure rather than the BOA dial used on the NewRun.
Secondly, the thicker midsole provides a higher level of cushioning. There are other minor differences like the wider toe-box and fewer studs on the outsole.
The Arcus’s outsole has 13 Carbide-tipped studs for confidence-inspired traction on icy roads and trails. Over the cushioned midsole is an Ortholite insole, so the ride comfort is comparable to a performance running shoe.
The upper is non-insulated, but uses a closed mesh upper that’s also waterproof due to the Gore-Tex membrane. When used with wool running socks, the Arcus will work as a winter running shoe for up to -5 C ( 23F) temperatures.
How we selected: What makes a shoe good on ice?
Metal spikes, cleats, studs – call them what you will. Only cleats, not rubber, provide safe and non-slip traction on ice. We’ll spend some time discussing the newer rubber outsoles that claim to grip on ice, and why those are (mostly) useless in real-world conditions.
When we say ‘ice’, we refer to hardened ice (black ice included) that often forms either after a period of freezing rain or other circumstances. It’s important to make this distinction clear, because soft and slushy ice is nowhere as dangerous.
It’s very common during winters for a heavy snowfall to be followed by warmer temperatures, and then back to freezing.
When that happens, all the puddles from the snow melt turn into solid ice, sometimes overnight. The following morning, commuters in the city or walkers on a trail find their shoes to offer no traction at all. Even shoes that are supposed to be ‘non-slip’ are ineffective on slippery ice.
Many studies show that slipping and falling over frozen surfaces lead to an increased incidence of injuries during winter. This makes choosing the right shoe very important.
The basic science behind how shoe outsoles grip
A good grip depends on the friction coefficient. Pictured here is an adidas Continental outsole over a rubber treadmill belt; that results in excellent grip due to the high friction coefficient.
The level of friction (also known as the friction coefficient) between the two opposing surfaces is what determines how well (or not) the shoe will grip.
In short, if more force is required to push a certain object over a surface, that means that the object grips better.
The opposite is also true; something that’s easy to slide over a surface has a lower grip. The overall friction depends on the material, contact area, and the force (weight) applied from the top.
Ever played Air Hockey at the local arcade? The flat puck slides effortlessly over the glossy surface when struck; a slab of Tofu or Steak will not. As you can see, the friction coefficient makes all the difference.
Winter car tires work on a similar principle. The softer winter compound doesn’t harden in the cold, thus providing the necessary levels of traction and contact area.
However, shoes don’t have the advantage that winter tires do. When walking or running on ice, there’s only a small patch of the outsole that’s in contact with the ground. And unlike a car, both feet are never in contact with the surface at the same time. And if we were to walk on all fours, that would improve the grip by a significant margin.
And that’s why it becomes necessary to ‘brute force’ the grip on ice through spikes and cleats. That’s the only reliable method of latching on to the frozen ground. While some aftermarket traction devices like the Yaktrax use coiled metal, the shoes on this guide only use spikes.
Now let’s look at some examples of surface ice.
A few examples of icy surfaces
It’s a cold winter day, but the sidewalk is salted and safe for walking.
Believe it or not, on a relative scale of ‘safe to hazardous’, the picture above is an example of a ‘safe’ surface. This pavement has been salted to lower the freezing point of water, thus preventing the formation of slippery ice. That’s why you’ll see small puddles on a salted sidewalk, even on a very cold day. Most outsoles grip well on wet sidewalks, even foam ones.
Crushed ice isn’t bad either. Here, most rubber outsoles provide adequate traction.
A dry slush of snow and ice also lets the outsole lugs dig in for grip.
A snow-ice slush isn’t particularly dangerous if you know how to walk on it. The semi-solid surface crumbles when the weight is applied, thus providing adequate surface area for outsoles.
Here, most rubber soles (like the ones on Blundstone boots) grip well, as long as the outsole isn’t completely smooth.
This is not good – there are patches of hard ice on the surface.
Icy lumps are as hazardous as they get. They’re hard to spot and easy to slip on.
Now, we’re getting into slip-and-fall territories. Flat, hardened road ice is akin to a bumpy skating rink, but with smoother ice. It gets worse on frozen slopes like icy driveways.
Here, most rubber outsoles effectively lose traction. Walking like a penguin – which is taking short steps with a fully-planted stride and lowering the center of gravity – minimizes the chances of falling.
Lastly, if we’re talking about hikes and treks on ice, then it’s crampons or nothing. For day hikes on iced-over trails that do not involve alpine climbing, short crampons with six points will do. A more aggressive crampon geometry with 8-10 points is needed for activities that involve climbing. This buyer’s guide does not address those use cases.
A brief commentary on Vibram Arctic Grip rubber and similar technologies that claim to grip well on ice
Please stay away from Vibram Arctic Grip outsoles. They will NOT provide sufficient traction on hard ice.
Here’s the lowdown. Please do not buy shoes with a Vibram Arctic Grip outsole (or similar tech) if you intend to use them on hard ice.
We’re no strangers to shoes with an Arctic Grip outsole. On this site, we have reviewed a few shoes with an Arctic Grip outsole, and our opinion hasn’t changed.
Vibram advertises its outsole as suitable for ‘wet ice’. The rough sandpaper-like texture of the rubber lugs is supposed to increase the friction between the outsole and ice to improve the grip.
In theory, the rough texture of Vibram Arctic rubber is supposed to grip better on ‘Wet Ice’ – a surface condition that freezing winters do not have.
Now, ‘wet ice’ is not what most walkers and runners need to be worried about. They’re more likely to slip and fall on hardened ice, like the kind that we showed you.
And unlike Vibram’s marketing campaign that had people testing the outsole on a slope of wet ice with supporting handrails, there are no handrails on the slippery roads and pavements.
On these hazardous surfaces, the Vibram Arctic Ice rubber and its kind are ineffective. Brands like Keen and Dr. Martens market similar outsoles, and all of them are equally bad. They do not offer any slip resistance on black ice.
That being said, the grip of Vibram Arctic Ice on wet pavements is superlative.
Two kinds of studded outsoles for ice
Yes, these are Carbide-tipped metal spikes. Pictured here is the Salomon Wintercross Spike.
Fully cleated outsoles are relatively easier to find. Salomon does an excellent job with the Spikecross, and the Swedish brand Icebug has built a vast collection of spike-tipped shoes.
Carbide-tipped steel spikes are embedded into the rubber outsole and placed under the forefoot and heel areas for traction. Our top pick here would be the Salomon WinterCross Spike.
Fully cleated shoes are the safest for walking on ice, and generally deliver decent levels of versatile traction on softer surfaces like slush and snow.
The biggest drawback with fixed studs is that they cannot be used indoors. Metal cleats grip very well over ice, but will slip on smooth surfaces as well as damage them.
The second group of shoes is somewhat hard to find. The outsole has retractable spikes for dual-purpose use – which means the shoes can be used on ice and indoors.
Pajar boots use retractable cleats made by OC Systems, Italy.
Based on our experience, only the ‘OC system’ outsole has a functional ‘on-off’ design that works as advertised.
The metal spikes are mounted on a hinged section made of TPU, and flipping the said hinge exposes them. When not needed, the spikes can be retracted into the rubber outsole. It’s an interesting design that requires a ‘key’ to switch on the spike.
The OC system isn’t without its share of drawbacks. The hinge mechanism takes up a lot of outsole real estate and makes the outsole ‘flat’ when the spikes are in a retracted position. The lack of deep lugs makes the outsole slippery on slush.
Pajar, the Canadian boot brand sells a wide assortment of boots with OC System. Naot – an Israeli shoe company – offers a couple of models as well, but Pajar does a much better job with the upper design.
Korkers also sells a few boots with an optional cleating system. However, unlike the OC system, the Korkers spike system is a separate component. So you’re better off buying standalone traction devices so that they can be used with other shoes as well. We recommend the Kahtoola Exospike – a traction system that we use regularly.