Icebug Speed Bugrip Redux
My new ‘Bugs have arrived from Sweden and there has been much rejoicing within these walls.
My old ones are still servicable, but they’re on the cusp of being gripless horrors which will cause me slip downhill waving my arms like a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man and spinning my legs like Billy Whiz up to his weekly hi-jinks in the Beano of my childhood.
So what’s new? The sole is good bit stiffer, but nor disturbingly so (maybe it’ll wear in to match the oldies?), the reinforcing band around the ankle on the outside seems a bit stiffer, the shape of the section is the same but the material used on the new version feels tougher. I didn’t have any issues before, but maybe somebody somewhere did have. The woven fabric used on the upper is different, both the weave and the colour.
That’s about it. The biggest difference is seeing how worn the soles of my old pair are, including loose and missing studs. Crivvens. That damage was all done walking on the road from Shiel Bridge to the Cluanie Inn. These ones aren’t going anywhere near tarmac.
These were my winter footwear choice in February’s Trail gear shootout with GT, but unfortunately there’s only about two pairs left in the UK now and Icebug are all out of stock too.
As has been said, these patchy winters mean finding solutions outside of big boots and Grivel G12s. The fact that so many folk are using Kahtoola KTS’s of both flavours and the Microspikes is just brilliant. It’s forward thinking, it’s thinking outside the box and not just believing the standard issue bollocks.
I hope that next winter more folk will get the opportunity to get Icebug spikes onto UK ice and snow and enjoy the simple pleasure of walking on ice (without adding anything to your feet) and not going on your tits.
http://www.sport-conrad.com/index.asp?disp=suchergebnis&suchanfrage=icebug
Lovely boots, they take a wee bit of getting used to with the Kahtoolas.
Shame I don’t get the opportunity to wear them every week. Soon though.
They are the comfiest winter boots I’ve ever had, along with the Keen Growlers, and tomorrow I’m thinking about going out with “proper” winter boots. That might be interesting.
I ordered myself a pair of these for sticking on my Saucony road runners. They look as if they have a much lower profile so wearing them on iced tarmac should be more comfortble(hopefully)
I’m looking for kahtoola microspikes for my hill runners as I’m just not prepared to fork out £80 on a pair of icebugs that I cant try on first. When are the likes of Tiso and Cotswolds etc going to stock Ice bugs so I can try them on then order them from F&L?
Will the big retailers ever go for Icebug? Who knows, the good kit is always stuck in the independants. They break the brands into the market, then the chains takes the sale once the name is established.
Bastards.
Still, try them all on and take thick socks when you go (you lucky bugger).
The flex point at the toe and on the sole lines up normally for my foot.
They’re not all the same though, the GGFly’s (Extremes I think they are now) are lower volume, even fell shoe-esque.
I seem to be quite lucky with lightweight footear, a change of sock usually sees me with a decent fit. It’s stiff boots that carve my feet up if they’re not perfect.
It’s a great shoe if it fits!
But they’re not only quite high volume, they seem very long…. they look long lined up against my other shoes, and my toes only seem to reach to the stitch line where the fabric meets the rubberised toe! Not that that caused any problem first time out.
(Are they the wrong size? Well I bought them blind from F&L, but I’ve not taken less than a 43 / 8.5 since teen years, and the heel and the width feels right, so I doubt if I’d have wanted the 8.)
I hope you get on alright tomorrow. I shall be out in sympathy with you, I’m taking a voyage into the past, there’s a pair of Scarpa’s sitting at the door…
They way the weather is going the next few days it looks like a good buy :o)
Was surprised to see the full Icebug range, in a pet shop!
A whole shelf of spiky soled footwear, from big insulated boots to trail runners.
The Swedes must take their dog walking seriously.
Perhaps a Husky would suit you better.
Dog sledding? ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGXd0pmpDbM&feature=channel_page (don’t know how to clicky links sorry)
footnote :)got them from outdoor warehouse in windermere,fell into conversation with dave,presumably the owner,top bloke and great independant shop, much recommended.
Looked bloody cold on the summit.
OW is one of the rare shops that has folk in there who do it as well as sell it. To be trusted for sure.
(I’ve almost got the Bugrips fit sorted now – a volume adjuster has made them much snugger around the forefoot)
It’s interesting to observe other folk too sometimes…. we saw a handful of ice-axes strapped to packs but not a single slope where you’d realistically perform an axe-arrest, and one guy stomping over Kinder Scout plateau in B2 boots and full crampons. Trekking poles were by far the most common ‘winter aid’. Didn’t see anyone else with spikey lightweight feet and yet conditions were ideal for them.
Also saw people hurtling down the slopes of Shutlingsloe on sledges – towards a barbed-wire-topped dry stone wall. The idea of a safe run-out seemed to have totally escaped them! ;O)
Glad the ‘bugs are working out Matt. Like you say it’s good having something that fits the bill on the middle ground and on the steeper stuff without having to resort to extras.
B2 boots and crampons…ah, them were the days…
In saying that, I’ve got a super bendy set of Grivel AirTech Lite’s here to try and break. They don’t fit many of my boots though.
I haven’t been cold in the ‘bugs, I think they’re lined with something. But I wear Thorlo “Mountaineering” socks as well, so it could just be the combination that works well.
Keen are poorly represented in the UK, the technical models at any rate. I was snow-shoeing today in their Oregon PCT’s and they were perfect for the job, but try and find a pair in the UK.
I had my Sigg bottle out today as well, I’m smitten with it.
I got mine on ebay :o)
That wee clip lasted one trip. I’ve replaced it with a round mini karabiner from Handy Heroes (used to be Od-ities). I reach back and wheech it oot with one finger now.
Customs will leave it unmolested I think, if they put the value on the outside it’s not worth their while messing with it.
You wonder how they get away with it.