UKC

My trusty Innov8 Arctic Talons are feeling their age, with the heel studs having partially come loose and moved, loosing their grip on ice. I’ve looked at the options available locally to me, and it seems to be a choice between Salomon Spike Cross and IceBug shoes. I’ve owned the Spike Cross and due to the low number of studs, they were marginal at best. Icebug shoes have a lot more studs and get good reviews. Does anyone have any personal experience?

I had a pair for a few years - they were good whilst they lasted. They only saw occasional use and spent most time in my loft but the glue deteriorated after about 10 years so they fell apart. They are common in the Nordic countries and are frequently heavily discounted from about February onwards

I’ve had a pair of Icebugs for over ten years. I just checked and they are still in very good condition. Unfortunately I’ve only ever used them for walking up the lane and once for a night out drinking when there was a bad cold snap with ice everywhere. However, they are clearly better than my Inov8 Orocs were - the metal studs started ripping out of those right from the start.

I’ll give the other side to the coin then… they are utter shite in my experience. Current owner of a pair of Arctic Claws in last legs, and another pair of NVii F1 dobs.

bought for orienteering, replacing a set of Orocs at the time. The Icebug Sprint (Tove Anderson ones??) IIRC lasted approx 90km until they had a massive tear where they separated from the footbed. 

The dobs dug into my feet from day 1. Fine in soft forest, brutal on Lakeland or Dales territory. The rubber was inflexible, didn’t have a patter than held latterly in mud, and balled up in snow.

Honestly wish I’d never wasted my money on them. Was happy to bin them when the were utterly unsuitable for training 90km or so later again.

As an aside, why not just look at VJ? 

Thanks for the info.

What do you mean by VJ?

VJ make some good fell running and orienteering shoes. They have one called the Ice Hero but I’ve just had a Quick Look and can’t find a uk supplier. 
 

Why has IoS capitalised Quick Look?

VJ are a Scandi orienteering company, make dobbed shoes that work very well. 
 

I've got a set of Icebug's Pytho6 which I quite like, haven't had any issues from slightly snowy paths to sheet ice. My one caveat is that they are the only spiked shoes I've ever owned so can't directly compare to others. 

https://vjshoes.com/pages/store-locator

Classic UKC reply!  Love it 😀 (not having a go at anyone - it simply made me LOL)

I aim to please