8 replies to this topic

[weary]

I'm off to Trento in the Italian Alps for a couple of months in November/December this year where the average daytime temperature is -2 degrees, and nighttime -7.

Reasonable to assume then that there will be extensive ice and snow.

Any tips for footwear in these conditions? Will my standard Brooks Adrenalines cut it, or would something more specific to the conditions be more appropriate? If so, what should I be looking for?

thanks

adw

[Fats]

You lucky git - I've always wanted an excuse to buy some snow/ice specific shoes. You'd be suprised at the possibilities. Inov-8 and Garmont both have shoes with embedded metal studs in the sole for grip on ice or hard packed snow. The main problem is what is good for muddy slushy conditions or slippery grass (very agressive tread), may not be great for sheet ice (metal studs) or wet slippery rock (flat sticky rubber sole), and you might encounter all of these in a single run.

I say get your credit card ready and have some fun. Maybe start with a pair of these babies:

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[weary]

Thanks Fats. Any tips for a shoe that would also perform reasonably well in warmish, dry conditions? A shoe that is only good for icy conditions is a bit limiting, and I'd prefer not to be travelling with multiple pairs of shoes.

adw

[Fats]

I'm a big fan of the Inov-8 shoes, and I heard a rumour that they had a distributor in Australia now - if not it's possible to mail order direct from the factory with a credit card although you can't try them on of course.

A good all-rounder is the Mudroc 290 or the slightly lighter Mudroc 280 (the number is the weight per shoe in grams). The outsole on these is quite agressive, but still OK on road for short periods and performs very well on dry rocky trails.

My favourite shoes at the moment is the Roclite 285 (well it is red after all!) but that's more of a racing shoe and has less support than the Mudrocs especially around the ankle.

[Will]

When I was hiking/running in the French Alps/Pyrenees, I would use my normal trail running shoes (I am a huge fan of the Brooks Cascadia). My opinion is that there no trail shoes that will have grip on hard snow/ice (except for the ones with metal studs, but I don't like them when not on snow/ice).

And if I had to go over snow or ice, I have those (http://www.yaktrax.c...roductspro.aspx) which I think are just perfect, very easy to put on/off and very efficient.

And if you want to keep your feet dry a bit longer, buy yourself a pair of good gaiters.

[azza]

Ever tried snowshoeing? Similar muscles to running, but a very different experience. I always wanted to try it, but never had enough snow at home...but there would be in the Alps!

http://www.orssnowshoesdirect.com/atlas_ra...g_snowshoes.htm

edit: I'm sure there are other brands, this was just the first I found on the web.

Edited by azza, 20 June 2007 - 11:34 AM.

[FreeDickland]

Yaktrax are very useful - (their website is helpfull - the ones with strap over forefoot are best.

Asics and NB also make shoes with replaceable screw in spikes for winter - snow & ice etc. Available in North America in winter months - but have no idea on European availability - in Tirol (North Italy, Austria and parts of Switzerland) a company Sportler has good range of running and winter sprt gear and may be source of advic eonwhat is available locally.

Not sure about snowshoes - certainly great fun and there are running/racing versions but it is my impression that it is largely confined to North America and not widely done inEurope - certainly not in more mountainous areas such as Tirol.

Slushy snow (half melted from sun and passing runners and walkers is OK for normal running shoes as long as you have wool socks - the shoes can get wet and cold - some runners use Gladwrap between shoes and socks (cheaper than Goretex lined shoes).

Ice can get slippery - the YakTrax or spiked shoes are useful there - do not prevent all falls especially on hills or tracks which slope to the sides..

The final bit is that most runners give up trying to do fast sessions outdoors - you lose so much traction that it invites injury irrespective of risk of falls - - every step takes a fair bit more effort - run with wider thanusual based gait & without full push off and all should be OK - as an example in local winter event here in Ontario - the Refriger8er - (8 miles or 8k) the runners averaged slower per k times in the 8 k than they would over 10k on hard surfaces and the 8 mile runners were at around their 15k pace.

[Fats]

Spotted this page - screw shoes - could be a cheaper alternative and it looks like fun.

[weary]

Love the screw shoes. Great concept.

For as much as I love the idea of ice-specific shoes, I can't justify taking two pairs of running shoes to Europe.

The consensus seems to be that a pair of trail running shoes with an agressive tread pattern (eg Brooks Cascadia) would be a good compromise.

And then some screws once I get to Trento....