Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe

Review by Erin Trail

The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe is the solution to avoiding the treadmill on snowy and icy long run days.

Specifications

• BUGrip® outsole with 18 dynamic steel studs
• Waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane (GORE-TEX® Invisible Fit, with Oeko-Tex 100 lining, PFC free)
• Upper: Woven Jaquard upper, 50% recycled Polyester, 50% Polyester
• Ankle high gaiter for protection from cold and snow
• Midsole is made from 66% Susterra®, bio-based content made from corn
• 4 mm drop
• Medium flex, full cushioning

  

Detailed Review

The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe are a pretty niche, narrow use case shoe, but when you need something like this, you REALLY need it.

Every winter runner has had this dilemma.  It’s snowing hard outside (or snowed overnight and the plows haven’t made it through).  Paths are treacherous and wet, with snow, ice, and slush.  And you procrastinate, debating risking running outside or heading to the treadmill to get your miles in.

Last Sunday – maybe for the first time ever – I was excited to go out and get my long run done in these conditions.  All because of the Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe.

Fit

I typically wear a women’s size 9 in most running shoes and also have to wear special insoles with a met pad to accommodate a torn plantar plate. I found the Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe to be a smidge big.  This, fortunately, left plenty of room for my insole and the fit was not an issue.  If you don’t wear insoles, you might want to size down a half size.

Function

The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe was easy to get “run-ready” out of the box.  The ankle gaiter is on the looser, but insulated end of spectrum for gaiters, allowing for layering with socks or tights.

I typically like to run in shoes 3-5 times for gear testing, but Colorado winter hasn’t been very wintery.  Therefore, I only got one hour long run in for testing, but it was plenty to give me a good idea on how this shoe handles.

My test run was in 20 degree temperatures after an overnight temperature drop and snow storm.  As a result, there was a plethora of variable conditions for testing: crunchy windblown ice, slush, deep snow, hardpack snow, and wet pavement.

I was immediately impressed with how the Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe handled any surface I ran on. Each foot fall was confident and stable, with zero slipping or instability.  The only time I had to slow to a walk for safety was as I crossed a wooden bridge with deep (4-5 inch) snow that was loose.  There was a little too much snow, plus awkward boot tracks, for me to confidently run in this section of my run path.

Other than deep, post-holed snow, the Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe were very impressive. (and to be fair, no shoe will feel great in loose post-holed snow) I never had to stutter, alter stride, or adjust pace due to road surface conditions.  The shoes easily crunched through windblown ice. I didn’t have to fear untracked snow, worrying about ice hiding just beneath the fluff.

I also didn’t have to worry about avoiding hidden slush puddles.  The waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane is fantastic.  The first puddle I hit (completely by accident) made me reflexively cringe, waiting for a quick hit of cold water to soak my socks.  But to my surprise, the cold never hit my feet.  For the remainder of my run, I dashed through puddles, instead of having to sidestep them.  Towards the end of the run, I even submerged the shoes (mid-way up the laces) in snowmelt water and the water beaded right off, never hitting my feet.

Run Feel

Icebug rates the Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe as “full cushioning” with medium flex. I only had one run in them, but I thought that the midsole felt firmer than my collection of Hokas (I typically road run in the Bondis or Skyflows).

I thought the fit of the shoe was really good, feeling evenly fit throughout the shoe.  The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe is intentionally designed with a narrow heel, to promote stability and to minimize foot movement.  I loved how this shoe fit my foot and I didn’t notice any heel slippage or hot spots from the upper.

The upper GORE-TEX® membrane fits and feels like a traditional running shoe upper.  They didn’t feel overly padded or bulky.  And post run, my socks weren’t overly sweaty, indicating that the membrane breathed well.

The underfoot feel of the Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe is dependent upon the surface that you’re running on.  While running through snow and ice, I didn’t notice the carbide steel tipped studs, other than noting the excellent traction.  While running on bare pavement, the studs are noticeable, adding a slight bouncy feeling and an audible noise.  I wouldn’t recommend wearing the studded version of these shoes on runs where conditions are mostly bare pavement (get the non-studded version of the shoe for those conditions).  I have run in the Icebug Myr Bugrip studded shoes on dirt trails, and the studs are less noticeable on dirt than they are on pavement.

Closing Thoughts

The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe is a fantastic shoe to have in your shoe quiver for those cold, snowy, icy, and wet run days, offering secure traction and excellent waterproofing.

The Icebug Järv Gaiter BUGrip GTX Running Shoe is available with with and without studs (but note that the studs are NOT removable).  The shoe is available for both men and women.  Men’s sizing ranges from 7 to 13.  Women’s sizing ranges from 5.5 to 10.5.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke

Erin Trail on her mountain bike at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race

Erin Trail on her running at the World Tri Cross Triathlon World Championship race