Icebug Sala BUGrip

Review by Erin Trail

The Icebug Sala BUGrip are winter shoes that are both fun and functional, with steel studs imbedded into the soles for impeccable traction on icy surfaces.

Details

• Upper: RipStop textile 100% recycled polyester, solution dyed and bluesign® certified with recycled PET quilt insulation
• Lining: 45% recycled wool, 55% recycled polyester
• Comfort range: 41 to -4 degrees F
• Outsole: Rubber with BUGrip® carbide steel tip studs
• Mudguard at the lower part of the boot
• Water resistant upper fabric

Detailed Review

The Icebug Sala BUGrip is a high moccasin style winter bootie that is easy to wear while offering excellent winter traction.

I typically wear a size 8.5 women’s street shoe and I found that the Icebug Sala BUGrip fits a little big, mainly in the upper of the shoe. Without laces to tighten things down, they did feel a little big with the stock insoles.  Once I put in my thicker running insoles (to accommodate my foot issues), the fit of the boot is nearly perfect.

The Icebug Sala BUGrip is a moccasin style winter boot with light insulation.  The boot hits above my ankle and can accommodate pants over the boot or tights tucked into the boot. The zipper and generous pulls make for easy on/off with gloves.  The opening of the boot, when zipped, is tight enough where it holds your foot in place.  This means you need to unzip the boot to remove your foot.

For testing, I took the Icebug Sala BUGrip boots on several neighborhood winter walks, through early morning gym parking lots, with me for a snowy weekend in the Colorado mountains, and even to a tubing hill (likely an Engearment testing first).

These are my first boots with studs.  I asked for studs because I really, really hate slipping on hard packed snow and ice. The tradeoff is that I cannot wear the boots inside my home – my hardwood floors would never survive. The studs are excellent on snow and ice but do take some getting used to on hard, non-snow surfaces.  The studs do create a little extra movement (almost spring-like) with a slight scraping feel + noise as you walk.  This does take some getting used to.  My hotel room in the mountains had carpet, and I didn’t notice that the boots snagged on the carpet loops or area rugs.

The upper fabric waterproofing is impressive.  On on of my test walks, I found a deep puddle and was impressed with how the water rolled right off of the RipStop polyester fabric. The zipper is NOT waterproof, so use caution in deep water or splashing water on top of your boots.

I found the Icebug Sala BUGrip insulation to be plenty warm. I received the shoes just before a storm and was able to use them in temperatures as low as single digits. They were warm and comfortable, even on the tubing hill in with temperatures in the teens.  They transition to the car or indoors well, never feeling too hot or restrictive.  The styling is also such that they look more like a stylish boot instead of a traditional winter item.

The Icebug Sala BUGrip provides excellent secure traction. I was able to confidently navigate a variety of surfaces in dark parking lots (pavement, ice, packed snow).  My neighborhood walks were comfortable and warm while navigating a variety of sidewalk conditions. And they handled the tubing hill perfectly.  All of the staff at the tubing hill were wearing winter boots + microspikes and I felt really lucky to have a boot option that combined both of those features.  I never had a mis-step and the tread didn’t pack in with snow or slush. And thankfully, I didn’t even come close to puncturing a tube.

The Icebug Sala BUGrip boots allowed me, in all of these scenarios, to take in the scenery and the fun, instead of looking down to maintain my footing.

Closing Thoughts

The Icebug Sala BUGrip boots are best for casual wear, running errands, going on walks, or for light recreational uses.  I don’t have a dog, but I imagine these would be PERFECT for those late night snowy dog walks before bed.

The Icebug Sala BUGrip are available for both men and women, with studded soles and non-studded sole options. Women’s sizing is in half-size, ranging from 5.5 to 10.5.  Men’s sizing is also in half-sizes, ranging from 6.5 to 13.

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