ice bugs

I recently purchased some MR4’s for winter running. But, I’m returning them. The studs aren’t really retractable. There are just two different kinds on the shoe. The carbide ones (which don’t retract), and rubber ones (which squish down).

I thought they’d be ideal for mixed conditions. But, as the carbide studs don’t retract, they’re really just useful for ice/snow.

For packed snow/ice, I prefer just to screw a dozen or so 5/8″ hex-head machine screws into the sole of an old pair of running shoes. (You screw them in from the outside — the hex heads provide the traction.)

Cheers,

-Mike

Thank you, this is exactly why I post here, real answers from people using this stuff, you just saved me $110.00.

In my ranger job I used my icebugs today to run up a mountain to get an oxygen tank to a man having a heart attack. For hardpack snow, while not as sure-footed as crampons, they are so light that you don’t mind that much if you don’t get the kind of purchase that you would ideally like. I got there a lot faster than I would have with sneakers and Katoolas, or with running shoes alone (too much backsliding) or with lightweight boots and regular crampons. They were a lifesaver, literally.

i’m always looking for traction on wet terrain- especially wet schist or granite. The icebugs don’t really work that great, in that the spikes don’t retract, but they do work if you don’t mind the racket the spikes make- but they are not an ideal solution for mixed terrain.

The Inov8 brand has some trail runners with what they claim to be superior grip on wet rock. Since my job involves running very fast over wet rock I too am looking for shoes that have good traction on those surfaces.