Scarpa Atom S

Undoubtably the best winter specific shoe design I’ve seen. Scarpa is on a roll in the technical mountain space.

When it comes to a pure mountain winter running shoe, this is it folks!  Scarpa pulled out all the stops on the Atom S and came away with the most comfortable and functional shoe of its kind.  The upper is lined with Outdry all the way up to the top of the gaiter, thus making the shoe waterproof all the way to the top.  The gaiter seals up on the calf with no zippers and disappears after a few minutes.  The midsole is stiffened up a bit from the Atom with what I believe is slightly firmer foam and a harder strobel material.  The outsole is Vibram Icetrek and works great on everything I’ve taken it on.  While the Atom S is currently only available in Europe, I believe there will be an Atom S Evo that is coming this next winter that carries over a very similar upper while putting the new Spin midsole and outsole on it.  Should be even better!

The North Face Ultra MT Winter

A really comfortable winter shoe and probably the most well rounded of the bunch. Enough lugs for the snow and ice and yet still runs decent on regular trail.

I really hope the Ultra MT Winter is not a one off shoe (which is what I expect).  They pretty quietly put out this shoe this winter and it is fantastic.  The Ultra MT Winter has a super comfortable upper on a winter shoe and in a bit lighter, less mountain specific application (non-waterproof back half and gaiter which helps with breathability).  Vibram IceTrek outsole as well on this shoe and I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the compound.  It is the MegaGrip equivalent for winter.  The Ultra MT Winter also has the distinction of being the only shoe with speedlaces that I’ve not yet felt the need to cut off.  The ample tongue padding and thicker/softer lace cord (hint hint Salomon and others) really take care of the major issues of speedlaces and haven’t been a problem for me.  Well done The North Face and I sincerely hope this isn’t the last winter shoe they produce.  Yes, these types of shoes probably don’t sell in big numbers but for a company focused on producing mountain specific product, they give credibility to that aim.  They are on sale now and I’d highly recommend grabbing a pair for the mountains this spring or even for saving for next winter.

Nicely padded tongue and speed laces that actually work well with the top of my foot…note the thicker cord diameter.

Altra Lone Peak 3 Neoshell Mid

The best version of the Lone Peak 3 in my opinion. A stiffer midsole and harder rubber compound with a more supportive upper really dial it in.

I’m a big fan of Altra’s application of Polartec Neoshell on their Lone Peak series.  I enjoyed the original Neoshells last year and was very excited to hear of a boot version coming down the pipe for this year.  I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.  The Neoshell Mid is THE shoe I would use for long winter slogs and currently would be the option I would go with for a winter 100 miler if I was to tackle one (Susitna 100, White Mountains 100, Arrowhead 135 for ex).  Since knowing about the Iditarod Trail Invitational and running a 45 mile winter race in Alaska in 2014, I’ve always been evaluating winter shoes for their potential utility in these long and insane winter races and the Neoshell Mid tops the list for me so far.  The wide Altra toebox, stiffer midsole and harder outsole compound relative to the regular LP 3.0 is welcome and actually makes it run better than the LP 3 in my view.  The upper is super comfortable and warm and does not pick up any water weight…huge bonuses if you have to be out all day in the cold and or wet.

Salomon S-Lab XA Alpine

The most specific and technical shoe of the bunch. Salomon’s clean design aesthetic on full display.

The XA Alpine is no doubt the most niche of all the shoes I tried this winter and I love that about it.  It is at the same time a nimble trail running shoe, with gaiter, great wet-grip contragrip outsole and designed to use flexible crampons (Kahtoola KTS for example).  The fit is one of the best of any Salomons I’ve tried and the midsole, while stiff is adequately protective and runnable.  The shoe just has great design style and construction as well (a continual strong suit of Salomon).  I wouldn’t recommend them for the average runner just looking to keep snow out or stay dry on trails in the winter, but as a tool for mountain travel in the winter or even spring/summer in the high mountains it is very specifically designed and nothing else comparable exists on the market (…yet,  Scarpa has the Atom Tech releasing next winter which should be comparable). The XA Alpine adds to Salomon’s technical credibility and I respect Salomon for pushing a shoe like this out there to the general public since they could easily just make these for their high caliber athletes only.

Basically a Sense upper underneath the gaiter.

Saucony Razor ICE+

A nice and light gaitered shoe. Outsole is most unique factor and most limited as well.

I was pretty excited to see Saucony get back into the winter running shoe market with Razor ICE+.  They were one of the first to do such a shoe with the original ProGrid Razor and the ICE+ has a nice clean and light design aesthetic.  Of all the shoes in this round-up, it most reminds me of the old New Balance Winter MT110 which was and still is the lightest winter specific shoe out there.  The 110 Winter’s big drawback was the lack of winter traction and adequate cushion for frozen ground.  The Razor thankfully rectifies some of this but still comes up a bit short in the traction department.  The Razor ICE+ has decent cushion for a lightweight shoe and I’ve had no problems in this regard for runs up to 2 hrs (haven’t taken it out longer than that).  The traction scenario is a bit perplexing.  While, on one hand, the shoe delivers some superb grip on wet and smooth ice due to the implementation of Vibram Arctic Grip (something only available to Wolverine Worldwide companies currently; think Saucony and Merrell in the running space), the tread design is very light and shallow for a shoe that you will spend most of your time in mud, snow and generally nasty conditions.  It’s grip on anything but hard pack dirt and ice is subpar.  I’d recommend the shoe if you are looking for something to perform on ice without having to use metal spikes, even road runs, but if you are looking for an all around winter trail shoe, there are better options listed above in this post.  The good news is the overall design and implementation of the shoe is good and so there is some potential to be tapped into.  If Saucony can redesign with a full Everun midsole and deeper lugs and either more smartly implement Arctic Grip or ditch it all together in favor of Ice Trek or Mega Grip, they’d have a pretty slick winter trail shoe.

Pretty simple and light upper. Most reminiscent of the New Balance MT110 Winter out of the bunch. I removed the speed laces and replaced with regular laces.

My typical winter running ensemble consists of tights, windproof briefs, a tech shirt, jacket, windstopper hat, and mittens. Regarding the latter, I’ve learned that mittens are far superior to gloves on cold runs, and I typically only use gloves if it’s about 30 degrees or higher. I have a few pairs of mittens that I like, but this winter I’ve been running almost exclusively in a pair of GORE Urban Run Windstopper Gloves. They have served me incredibly well during one of the coldest winters I can remember (Disclosure: these gloves were media samples provided by the manufacturer for review purposes).

The GORE gloves are really a fingerless glove with a mitten attachment that can be folded over the fingers. I love this design as it allows me to use these gloves in a wide range of temperatures. It also allows easy access to the fingertips for times when I need to fiddle with my phone (e.g., to pause GPS recording, change music, etc.).

I’m a big fan of GORE’s Windstopper material – it does a great job of cutting down wind penetration through the relatively thin glove material. I have a similar pair of convertible gloves made by Brooks, and the fleece material that they used is bulkier and just does not work as well (not to mention they started falling apart shortly after I got them). The GORE gloves are very well made, and they exude quality. They even nail little details like the loops between the fingers to facilitate pulling them off – it took me awhile to figure out what the heck the loops were for, but once I realized it I was impressed by the design.

If I had one complaint about these gloves it’s that the material along the outer surface of the thumb is smooth and a bit slick. To put it bluntly, this is there part of the glove I use to wipe my runny nose (a necessity in the cold!), and it’s not very comfortable for that purpose. I’ve tended to opt for the softer material composing the mitten cover when a wipe is needed.

There’s really not much more to say about a pair of gloves – these are easily my favorite among those that I own (and I have like 7-8 different pairs of running gloves/mittens). They are a bit on the pricy side at an MSRP of $69.99, but there may be end-of-winter sales coming up where you can pick them up cheaper. However, if you want a high-quality pair of gloves that functions well over a broad range of temperatures these are worth the expense.

In the post mentioned above I discussed wind protection for the nether regions as an argument for wearing shorts over tights, and I asked for recommendations for wind-proof running tights to try as an alternative (at the time I had never tried them). Several people recommended windproof briefs, and other had recs for tights that incorporate windproof fabric. I initially purchased a few pairs of windproof boxers from my local Eastern Mountain Sports, and they were a big step up from what I had been using previously. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find them for sale anymore, but similar products are available from other brands. If you’re looking for the cheapest option, a pair of windproof briefs is a good place to start.

In addition to the boxers, I also bought a few pairs of windproof tights on clearance at the end of last winter. And this winter I have received a few review samples of windproof running pants that I’ll review here.

I’ll start by saying that windproof fabric does make a big difference. I find that my legs (particularly my thighs) still do get cold since the fabric is tight to the surface of the skin, but they do a very good job preventing wind from piercing the fabric and reaching “critical” areas. And wearing windproof briefs underneath windproof tights makes for an even better combo. With that said, let’s take a look at a couple of pairs of pants designed for winter running.

Sporthill 3SP Callaghan Skinny Pant

Let me say first that “skinny” is not generally a term associated with anything in my wardrobe. The Sporthill Callaghan pants are the closest thing to a pair of skinny jeans that you’ll ever see me wearing! The Callaghan pants feature Sporthill 3SP fabric, which is advertised as capable of blocking wind up to 35mph. The pants are designed for XC Skiing, but are also marketed to runners.

My first thought when trying on the Callaghan pants was that they fit quite differently than a traditional running tight. I generally wear a 34 inch waist in pants, and they sent me a size medium. The pants were a bit looser than a pair of tights, but not quite as baggy as a wind pant or something like that. After a washing they tightened up a bit and the fit now feels a bit more tight-like. I actually think I should have sized up to a large as I liked the looser fit prior to the first washing.

The 3SP fabric is fairly thick, and does a great job keeping me warm. In fact, these might be the warmest running pants that I have right now. On the down side, after washing the surface of the fabric got a bit roughed up and it now collects hair like crazy. In a house with two dogs and a cat this is a bit of a problem, though thankfully nobody gets a very close look at my pants when I’m out running.

The other downside of the Sporthill Callaghan pants is the price. You’ll generally have to pay a premium for windproof pants/tights, and these are not cheap at an MSRP of $119 (though Sporthill is currently selling them for $99, and LL Bean has them for $79.99).

GORE Mythos 2.0 Soft Shell Tights

I’ve always associated GORE apparel with quality – kind of like Salomon in that sense. And as with Salomon, you pay a premium for GORE apparel. As someone who buys most of his running apparel at Target, I generally would not shell out the dollars for their products unless they showed up in a flash sale on The Clymb or another site like that.

GORE sent me a pair of their Mythos 2.0 Windstopper tights to try out and to say that I’m impressed would be an understatement. From fit to fabric they are just a really well-made and extremely comfortable product. They sent me a medium, and they fit perfectly, even after several washings. The fabric has retained its softness, and they feel great on the run. They Mythos tights are a bit thinner than the Sporthill pants, so maybe not quite as warm, but fit and feel make them a superior product in my opinion.

Once again, the big con here is price – is any pair of pants worth the MSRP of $149.99? In this case, if I had to keep only one pair of winter running tights currently in my drawer, these would be the pair. However, I could spend a lot less for a couple pairs of windproof briefs and a decent pair of non-windproof tights and still save a bit of cash. If you have cash to burn, these GORE tights are worth it, but that is a decision each will have to make on their own.

The GORE Mythos Windstopper tights are available for purchase at Running Warehouse and Wiggle (UK).

How about you – do you have any recommendations for winter running pants (particularly cheaper options)?

For the most part, I can get by with a decent pair of lugged trail shoes for most winter running conditions. They handle crusty ice well, and deeper snow generally means I’ll opt to snowshoe rather than run unless the sidewalks have been cleared (roads near my house are too dangerous when bordered by big snow banks). However, there are times when the roads/sidewalks are covered by smooth ice and/or a thin layer of snow and adding some additional traction is helpful (e.g., such as when my street looks like the photo below taken this morning…).

The road in front of my house right now…

Over the past two winters I’ve tried out three different running traction devices: Stabilicers, Kahtoola Nanospikes, and YakTrax Run Cleats. None are perfect, but all do the job in a pinch. I thought I’d share some thoughts on the pros and cons of each to help you make a purchasing decision should you need a traction device for your winter runs.

I’ll start by saying that all 3 devices provide decent traction on light snow and ice, and so in that sense they all do the job they were built for. However, don’t expect these to be a replacement for snow shoes in deeper snow as the metal spikes/lugs on all three are short and will not reach the ground on deeper snow that is packed down by the feet.

Stabilicers Run

Stabilicers are made in Maine (USA) by a company called STABIL. I’m starting with them because I feel like they provided the best “bite” on ice of the three devices in this review. Unlike the Kahtoola and Yaktrax devices, Stabilicers utilize what look like screw type lugs with a concave center. The lugs are embedded into a flexible rubber base, which also has rubber lugs. The combo works really well on ice and snow covered asphalt.

Another plus for the Stabilicers is that they stay put well on my feet. They include a velcro strap that can be trimmed to fit your foot, and that helps secure them in place. However, I would have liked to have seen a more finished, integrated strap like on the Yaktrax product.

I expect that durability of the Stabilicers should be good – the rubber frame is made of thick bands, and the underfoot components are solid rubber.

On the down side, I found the Stabilicers to be the most difficult of the three to get on my feet, and the sizing seems to be a bit off as I really had to stretch them out to get the heel to fit over the back of my shoe. I still feel like the heel lugs were a bit too far forward. They are also a tad narrow in the forefoot and really had to wiggle them onto my Nike Wildhorse II trail shoes. Don’t try these with an Altra! I have them in a size Medium which is supposed to cover up to a 10.5 shoe size, but they did feel small on my 10.5 shoe. Being a borderline size is sometimes a challenge, and I’d suggest that you consider sizing up if you are borderline between two sizes.

Below are two photos of the Stabilicers on my feet from a recent run (shoe is Nike Wildhorse II).

MSRP for Stabilicers Run is $42.95. They can be purchased at Amazon.com for a bit less than that.

Kahtoola Nanospikes

Kahtoola, based in Flagstaff, Arizona (USA), is best known for their crampon-style traction devices. Their Microspikes might be great for trail traction and deeper snow, but they’d not work so well if you mainly run on roads. To serve this demographic, Kahtoola has produced a lower-profile traction device called the Nanospikes.

The Nanospikes feature 10 tungsten carbide lugs that do a pretty good job of digging into ice covered roads and sidewalks. The lugs are a bit shorter than those on the Stabilicers however, which might explain why the latter seemed to grip a bit better. I like the fact that the lugs are secured in a firm rubber base, and that they are integrated into wide plates. I expect this should improve durability (see comments on Yaktrax below).

Unlike the Stabilicers, the Nanospikes are quite easy to put on, little wriggling needed. On the negative side, I had issues with them staying in place on my first run. The forefoot kept slipping medially off of my shoe (see photo below) – I’d like to see some additional reinforcement bands in this area, or perhaps addition of a velcro strap would help. I did contact Kahtoola about the issue since I’m again a borderline size, and they sent me a medium to try instead. These stayed put much better, but I still think the Nanospikes would benefit from a more robust securing system around the forefoot.

One other issue I had with the Nanospikes was that one of the metal links connecting the base plate to the front of the forefoot put pressure on my big toe from above. It seemed to go away while running, but the pressure was quite noticeable when putting them on.

Make sure you get the right size…

MSRP for the Kahtoola Nanospikes is $49.95. They can be purchased at Amazon.com.

YakTrax Run

The YakTrax Run cleats combine carbide steel studs under the forefoot (similar to the studs on the Kahtoola Nanospikes) with traditional YakTrax coils under the heel. The combo provides good traction, and they are fairly easy to put on. I particularly like the fact that they have a velcro strap to help secure them on the forefoot – they stay in place quite well.

My main problem with the YakTrax Run cleats is that the metal studs are embedded in a plastic base, and after a few runs I could see some of the studs bending out of place within the base, and the plastic base even broke on one of them (see photo below). The stud plates are replaceable, but I’d expect better durability than I experienced for a product like this. My buddy Nate also had durability issues with his pair, and there are some similar complaints on Amazon about the studs shifting/bending, so my experience was not an isolated one. For this reason I’d recommend the Kahtoola or Stabilicers products over these.

MSRP for the YakTrax Run cleats is $39.99. They can be purchased for a bit less than this at Amazon.com.

Conclusion

Among the three products covered here, I can recommend the Stabilicers and Kahtoola Nanospikes, but durability issues make me hesitate to recommend the YakTrax Run cleats. Between the Stabilicers and Nanospikes, I feel like the former provide slightly better traction and they feel very secure on the foot. They also feel very well-made and I expect durability will be good. The Nanospikes are lighter, lower profile, and easier to put on, all pluses. However, you may have to experiment a bit if you are a borderline between sizes as if they are too large they may shift around under the forefoot. If you tend to wear shoes with a wide toebox, I think the Nanospikes will be a better fit.

As an alternative to all of these options, you can also save some money and make some screw shoes – directions for this can be found here.

Disclosure: All products written about in this post were provided free of charge by the manufacturers for review purposes.

Earlier today I got a message from a fellow New Englander asking about how I keep my hands warm on winter runs, so I thought another post on the topic of keeping warm on winter runs might be helpful. Here goes!

Keeping Hands Warm

I used to have a lot of problems with my hands freezing on cold winter runs. Then I discovered running mittens. Problem solved.

For the longest time I had only ever used gloves, and when it got really cold out they just weren’t cutting it. My fingers would get frigid to the point of hurting, and this discomfort added to the list of reasons my brain would confront me with in an attempt to keep me from running outside in sub-freezing temperatures. My brain never won though since my hatred of the treadmill is greater than my fear of cold fingers.

I don’t recall if it was last winter or two winters ago, but I was in the Fleet Feet store in West Hartford, CT (my hometown) and I saw a pair of Saucony Run Mitts on the wall. I’d never tried running with mittens, so I figured what the heck – they weren’t terribly expensive, why not give them a try?

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the Saucony Mitts – just a layer of windbreaker type material on the outside and a softer layer of knit material on the inside. They aren’t particularly thick either, and other brands seem to have comparable options (if you have a favorite, leave a comment). But man do they work!

If you’ve never used mittens for cold-weather running, I highly recommend that you try them. I ran seven miles earlier today, it was about 20 degrees F outside and breezy (downright balmy compared to the past few days!), and with the mittens my hands were sweating within a few miles into the run. By keeping your fingers in contact within a single, enclosed compartment, the body heat generated keeps things nice and toasty. And if your thumb starts to get cold, you can just pull it into the mitten and make a fist to warm everything right up. Mittens are so effective for me that I typically only wear them when it’s below freezing out, otherwise my hands get way too hot. If it’s above 30 degrees F or so I opt for thin gloves.

I would like to make one distinction – I also have a pair of mittens where the fingers stick out and a mitten flap can be wrapped over them when desired. I don’t find this design to be nearly as effective as a standard mitten where everything is fully enclosed in one big space. Keeping skin-skin contact between the fingers seems to be the key.

Keeping Feet Warm

I personally have never had a problem with cold feet on runs. My feet might be chilled for the first 5 minutes or so after leaving the house, but once I’m a half mile to a mile into the run they warm right up. It’s all about blood flow I think – once I start moving and blood starts circulating faster, my feet are fine. I actually don’t tend to wear thick socks on runs in the winter for this reason. I find that thick socks make for a tighter fit inside my shoes, and I think this impedes blood flow to my feet. My tactic instead is to wear thin socks and to make sure my shoes are not laced too tight. Let the blood flow as easily down through the skin of my feet as possible. This approach has never failed me.

A quick note on socks. I do like to wear thicker socks around the house and with casual shoes. I love the thicker Injinji  trail socks (all Injinji socks really), but they don’t work well for me in extreme cold for the same reason gloves don’t work for my fingers – skin to skin contact is key for warmth. I also like double-layered Wrightsocks for blister protection, and I was recently sent several pairs of DeFeet Merino wool socks that are nice. But, and I’m somewhat ashamed to admit this, the majority of the time when I run (year round) I wear Champion C9 socks from Target. They come in packs of three pairs for just over $9.00, and I have yet to wear a pair out. They’re really thin, but they seem to last forever. Wore them today for seven miles in the cold and had no issues at all.

That about covers my thoughts on keeping hands a feet warm on the run – if you have any additional tips and/or suggestions please leave a comment!

In the past I’ve used YakTrax Pro cleats in cases where a bit of extra traction is needed. These are the standard YakTrax with the metal coils underfoot. They’ve always worked well, but the consistent complaint I hear about them is that the rubber bands inside the coils are prone to snapping, which renders them useless. I don’t use mine except when there is a layer of snow on the ground, so they don’t come out often, and never on bare asphalt. As such, I have never broken a pair, but I can see how durability would be a concern.

A few weeks ago YakTrax contacted me about trying their YakTrax Run cleats (Disclosure: Yaktrax provided the product reviewed here free of charge as a media sample). We’ve had a few decent storms so far this winter, so I’ve now taken them out a few times and feel comfortable commenting on their performance.

The big difference between the YakTrax Pro and YakTrax Run is that on the latter the coils under the forefoot are replaced by two studded rubber and plastic plates. The studs are made of carbide steel and the plates they are attached to are removable – apparently the stud plates can be purchased independently for replacement if needed (they seem to be hard to find, Amazon is out of stock). The studs are short enough that they don’t feel uncomfortable when you hit a patch of bare asphalt (feels kind of like running in a Newton shoe), and long enough that they dig in well on bare ice. I tend to load more under my midfoot to forefoot, and I found traction on ice and plowed (yet still snow covered) road to be very good.

The heel of the YakTrax Run retains the familiar coils from other models, and I find these do a better job in deeper snow. A good portion of my run today was on sidewalks covered by about 4-5 inches of light, fresh powder. Once packed down the forefoot studs aren’t deep enough to help much, so I found myself aiming more for my heel to provide traction. It’s tough to get good traction on fresh powder over ice, and I managed to not fall over the course of 3.5 miles. I did slip a few times, and if deep, fresh powder is a regular condition for you there might be better options out there (have not tried them myself, but I’ve heard good things about the Kahtoola Microspikes for when more extreme traction is needed).

It’s hard to comment on durability as I’ve only used these twice so far (I typically only use Yaktrax a handful of times each winter when storms hit), but in a quick perusal of reviews on Amazon I did not see a large number of complaints about them breaking (there were a few, maybe 2-3 out of 24 reviews). My tactic when encountering a short stretch of bare asphalt is to focus on a forefoot landing and avoid direct contact on the coils, hopefully this will keep them in good shape (the ability to do this is an advantage of the Run model over the YakTrax Pro). I would assume that if you have a pair and they break, YakTrax will replace them under warranty if you contact them within 90 days (should cover a winter of use – they are clear to say that these are not to be used on bare asphalt or concrete). I’d guess most retailers would also exchange a pair that breaks prematurely (Zappos carries them and they are typically great with returns).

Overall I found that the YakTrax Run did a pretty good job for the conditions I encounter on roads and sidewalks during or after a snowstorm. They are great on icy surfaces and snow-covered, plowed road, and decent in fresh snow as long as it’s not too deep. My runs are not suited to a spikier traction device so the Kahtoola Microspikes are not something I’d really need, but for occasional traction needs encountered by a road runner in winter they function well.

For do-it-your-selfers, you could also try screwing your shoes (get your head out of the gutter!) – my buddy Sam recently did this with a pair of Hokas and some Ice Spikes, and I’ve done it with La Sportiva Hobnails. It’s also possible to just use some sheet metal screws from a hardware store – minimallyshoddy recently wrote about screwing his Skoras, that’s a risky proposition!

Where to buy – YakTrax Run cleats are available for purchase at Amazon.com and at Zappos.

On Tuesday I went for a run in a snowstorm. The flakes were coming down pretty steadily, the roads and sidewalks were completely snow-covered, and the temperature when I left was 13 degrees Fahrenheit (my wife had run early in the morning when it was -11F!). Aside from having an incredibly fun run, I spent some time (as I often do while running) contemplating post topics related to running in winter. This is the first post in what may or not be a series on the topic, we’ll see (and if you have any winter running topics you’d like covered, leave a comment!).

I’m a huge fan of running tights, and I’m not afraid to admit that. I’m also very picky about my tights. I find that some irritate my ankles due to the material use to prevent them from riding up, others don’t fit quite right and tend to ride down from the waist (what’s the running equivalent of a plumbers crack?). A comfortable, good fitting pair of tights is like gold. My favorite is an old pair of Nike tights I bought at Dick’s Sporting Goods a few years ago (don’t even know the model – they look kind of like the one’s in the photo above but have no zipper at the ankle) – the material is soft, they don’t ride up or down, and the fit is perfect.

One issue I have though is that when it’s cold and windy, none of the tights I own do a good job of, how do I say this, shielding the man parts. Guys, you know what I’m talking about if you live in the northern part of the world.

An ongoing debate when it comes to running tights is whether or not to wear shorts over the tights. Probably the most common reason for wanting to do this is modesty. Let’s face it, tights can be a bit revealing, and I’ll admit that there are times when I have opted for the shorts on top route for this reason (like when I used to run on the college campus in winter). But, I’m also not averse to going sans shorts in other situations.

Putting the modesty rationale aside, I will point out a situation when I feel shorts over tights is warranted, and that has to do with the problem mentioned above. Wearing only tights when it’s really cold and windy can lead to some major discomfort down there. The post-run bladder empty is much like pouring hot tea through a popsicle. Not fun.

Putting on a pair of running shorts with the liner removed over my tights usually does enough to block the wind and keep things nice and toasty. Problem solved! This is only really necessary when it’s about 20F or below, but it seems to work pretty well.

I’d love to try a pair of tights where the fabric over the peecicle is reinforced with GORE Windstopper fabric (I’d like to emphasize that this post is not sponsored by GORE or any other company). I’m wondering if this would solve the shorts or no shorts over tights dilemma in the cold. I didn’t realize such things existed until I was about to hit publish on the post and I thought it might be worth doing a quick Google search. Anybody tried something like this, are they worth the price?

Stay warm men! (and women, do you have this problem? I honestly don’t know!)

I’ve wanted to give the MT110 another try, and I have heard that the lateral buildup is reduced in the update that was recently released. But, instead of the update, I asked New Balance if I could review the MT110 winter shoe for them since I’ve been dealing with some nasty running conditions here in NH this winter (disclosure: the shoes reviewed here were provided free of charge by the manufacturer for review purposes).

The MT110 has been around for awhile now so I’m going to cover the sole very superficially here – as far as I can tell, the MT110WR sole is identical to that on the MT110. The sole is 4mm drop (18mm heel, 14mm forefoot), and feels pretty firm underfoot. The outsole is studded with diamond-shaped lugs that provide decent traction, and protection is good due to the presence of a rock-plate in the forefoot. The most important thing to me is that the lateral buildup in this shoe is considerably less prominent than in my original pair of MT110s – I’ve run up to 8 miles in them with no problems. This gives me great hope that the MT110 update has indeed fixed this problem for good.

Fit is the same as the standard MT110 – snug through the heel and midfoot, with a very roomy toebox. Weight is listed at just under 9oz in size 9.

The major selling point for the MT110WR is the waterproof bootie that wraps the upper of the shoe. Internally, the shoe is basically a yellow upper similar to that on the regular MT110. The bootie consists of waterproof fabric that wraps outside the upper and zips up above the laces to the ankle. The fit around the ankle is fairly tight, but I have not found it to be constricting or uncomfortable. It’s actually a pretty impressive design (Nate posted some great pictures of the bootie construction in his review of the MT110WR).

The bootie is non-removable, which means that this is a shoe that will probably only get taken out when conditions warrant its use. Those conditions would include wet trail runs, snow, slush, and perhaps as an alternative to a traditional gaiter on a run where trail debris might be an issue. I have used the MT110WR mostly on slushy, wet winter runs here in NH.

So the big question is how well does this shoe protect you from the elements? My verdict is that it does a pretty good job. One of the problems with waterproof running shoes is that if you waterlog them, water tends to stay inside creating a sloshy mess. The beauty of the bootie design is that it creates a tight seal around the ankle to prevent waterlogging. The MT110WR will not keep you completely dry if you submerge your foot (I intentionally tested this) – water does leak in through the zipper, but it does not gush in quickly (more of a slow leak). But, because of the bootie, water that gets in warms up quickly and I barely noticed my socks were damp until I took the shoes off. If you aren’t planning on submerging your feet, these shoes will likely keep you dry in all but the worst conditions.

I’m going to keep this review short since my real goal here was to put the shoe to the test in wet conditions – it exceeded my expectations. It’s not fully waterproof, but if you’re looking for a shoe that will keep you dry when it’s nasty out, these will do the trick quite nicely. And, they provide sufficient traction for running on snowy, icy surfaces. This combo makes the MT110 a great choice if you are looking for a dedicated winter running shoe.

Given that winter is coming to a close, you will likely be able to find these on sale soon. Indeed, The Clymb has just added them to a New Balance flash sale that started today – you can get a pair for $74.98 ($50 below MSRP).

For another take on the New Balance MT110WR, check out Nate Sanel’s review.

Merrell Mix Master Mid

In addition to the Mix Master trail runner, Merrell was kind enough to also send me a pair of the Mix Master Mid waterproof multi-sport shoe (see photo above; disclosure – the shoe was a media sample provided free of charge by Merrell).

The Mix Master Mid multisport takes the Mix Master 2 sole and roomy last and adds a waterproof, mid-ankle upper. The result is basically a a light hiking boot that I have already grown to love. I haven’t gone on any long hikes in them yet, but I did spend a good number of hours bushwhacking through the woods in search of my lost beagle a few weeks ago, and the shoes were great. I was able to fully submerge my foot in streams without any water leaking through, and they kept my feet nice and dry.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve worn a hiking boot since the pair of Garmont boots that I have tore apart the skin over my Achilles the last time I wore them and I’ve found minimal trail shoes to be fine for the low-intensity hiking that I do these days (though more often than not I have a 30 pound toddler on my back when I hike). However, there are certain times that a waterproof shoe with a high ankle cuff comes in handy, and I expect these will see a great deal of use this winter once the snow starts to fall (one major drawback of ultraminimal shoes in winter is the lack of a thick sole makes it hard to walk through slush puddles without getting your feet, or at least your pant legs soaked).

Now, I’ve never tried running in the Mix Master Mid (except for chasing my dog), and I’m not sure whether I’d like the potential restrictions caused by a mid-ankle height boot on a long run. I was poking around on the Merrell website the other day and noticed that Merrell has now added a waterproof version of the Merrell Mix Master 2. It appears to share the same sole and last of the Mix Master 2 and Mid, and has a low-top version of the Mix Master Mid waterproof upper.

I’ve only ever owned one other truly waterproof running shoe, the La Sportiva Wildcat GTX. For most conditions, even light snow, I’ve found a simple non-waterproof trail shoe to be fine, but the Wildcats are the shoes I have used when things are really nasty (think cold, standing water and slush). However, they have a traditional heel-toe drop and fit a bit narrow, so they don’t make it out except on those rare occasions when absolutely necessary. The Mix Master 2 waterproof would be a great alternative with a thinner sole and only a 4mm drop from heel to toe.

A number of people have asked me in the past few weeks for recommendations for a waterproof winter running shoe, and I’d have to say that the Merrell Mix Master 2 waterproof would be my top choice were I looking to buy one myself (for now, I’ll probably just give the Mids a try on those rare occasions when I feel the need for a waterproof shoe).

If you have any other suggestions for winter running shoes, go ahead and add a comment!

The Merrell Mix Master 2 waterproof trail shoe is available for purchase at Running Warehouse and Merrell.com.

The Merrell Mix Master Mid multisport shoe is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Road Runner Sports, and Zappos.

You can read my original Merrell Mix Master 2 review here.

 Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp

Now that it’s getting dark by about 5:00 here in New Hampshire, my evening runs most definitely require some illumination. I reviewed the Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp last year, and it is still my go-to headlamp for night runs. It’s bright, the rechargeable battery seems to last forever, and the red LED blinker in the back is nice for added safety on the roads. For a great all-around headlamp, you need look no further than this one.

Hat – Mountain Hardware Dome Perignon Hat

I have a number of hats that I rotate regularly depending on weather conditions. My go-to hat for really cold runs is a Mountain Hardware Dome Perignon hat. Constructed with Gore Windstopper fabric, it does a fantastic job of keeping cold air at bay, and is breathable enough to not cause my head to get too hot. The only drawback is that the Windstopper fabric can make it hard to hear, so you have to be extra vigilant about cars if you are a road runner.

Balaclava – Under Armor Coldgear Hood

For really cold days it’s critical to be able cover up as much skin as possible. In the dead of winter I frequently run burglar-style with a balaclava covering my face. The one I have is an Under Armor Coldgear balaclava that I bought at a local sporting goods store, and I like it because the portion that covers the nose and mouth can be pulled down off the face if it’s not too cold. The one issue I sometimes run into with the balaclava is that if I cover my nose with it, condensation from my breathing will tend to pass up under my sunglasses and cause them to fog up. This can be a pain, so I rarely go full coverage on the face.

Neck Gaiter – Columbia Fleece Neck Gaiter

Neck gaiters are handy little accessories since they can be raised up or down off the face to act as an additional barrier layer from the cold wind. I tend to skip the balaclava unless it’s really frigid, and the Columbia fleece neck gaiter is a perfect alternative since it is more versatile. Neck gaiters also help keep cold air from passing down the collar of your jacket.

Windbreaker – Saucony Epic Run Jacket

I tend to prefer layering to wearing any type of heavy coat on really cold runs, so my top layer is usually just a simple windbreaker. Lately I have been testing out a Saucony Epic Run jacket made from their blindingly bright Vizi-Pro orange fabric (disclosure: this jacket was provided to me by Saucony), and it works great as both a top layer and as a high-visibility layer for night runs and hunter alert on trails.

Tights – Most Any Will Do

Yes, I fought it for a long time, but I’m now a true believer in the value of winter running tights. They can be pricey, but are well worth it on those very cold days in the dead of winter. I have tights from Brooks, Nike, Under Armor, Target, and Saucony. Of these, the Nike are the most comfortable, and the Saucony Omni LX II Vizi-Pro tights (see left) are cool because they have a zipper at the bottom of the leg that makes them far easier to put on and take off. Interestingly, some of my fastest races have occurred while wearing tights, not sure what the correlation there might be…

Gloves – Brooks Vapor Dry 2

Similar to hats, I also have a variety of gloves that vary in thickness so I can choose the appropriate pair depending on the weather. My personal favorite are my Brooks Vapor Dry gloves. They are medium weight and work well in the coldest conditions I have run in. I like that the thumb folds off to allow for easy iPod adjustment, and there is a nice, terrycloth nose-wipe strip along the thumb and index finger – gross, but necessary when running in winter.

Traction Device – YakTrax Pro

Several people have asked me about winter running shoes, and to be honest, my answer is basically to wear what you usually do and add in a pair of YakTrax if it’s messy out. I do have a pair of La Sportiva Wildcat GTX Gore-Tex trail shoes that I will sometimes wear if it’s wet and cold, but the high heel on those is not to my liking these days. I have heard that the YakTrax can have durability issues, but haven’t run into that yet myself, and they’re pretty affordable. This winter I’ll be testing out a pair of Stabilicers traction devices which are supposedly more rugged, so stay tuned for a review on those – they were sent to me last winter just after the last snow melted, so I never got the chance to use them.

Where to Buy

If you like buying on-line, my advertising partner Running Warehouse has a great selection of winter running gear, and you get 10% off all purchases with the Runblogger discount coupon (click here for coupon – discount appears in shopping cart). Many of these products are also available at your local running store or via various other on-line retailers.

Disclosure Statement

The Black Diamond Sprinter Headlamp, Saucony Epic Run Jacket and Omni LX II Vizi Pro tights, and YakTrax were provide to me free-of-charge as test products by the manufacturers. All remaining products were personal purchases.

Recently, a marketing representative for La Sportiva sent me a set of Hobnails, which are like little screws that you drill into the sole of a shoe for traction on snow and ice (Disclaimer: I should point out that I received no payment for this review other than the sample of the product). What I like about the Hobnails is that they seem less obtrusive than YakTrax, and there’s less a chance that they might puncture your shoe and hit your foot like the “Screw Shoes” (I have no idea if this could actually happen).  The Hobnails are designed with a relatively flat, wide top, so they screw in without any kind of point aiming at your foot (see pictures below the video clip). This design also ensures that they’ll stay put while embedded in your shoe. They are made from a “wear resistant, corrosion resistant high temper widia tungsten alloy,” and the design was apparently taken from studs used on rally car tires – that might explain their relatively high price of $45.00 (for me, this is the only real drawback if I was looking to buy a traction device). I decided to embed the Hobnails into an old pair of Brooks Adrenaline 8’s (my shoes from my first marathon! – here’s a link to the newest Brooks Adrenaline model) and take them for a spin to see if they might help me with my winter running woes. To find out how they worked for me, check out the video below:

Runblogger Runcast #3 – Running on Snow and Ice with La Sportiva Hobnails from Pete Larson on Vimeo.
I outfitted an old pair of Brooks Adrenaline 8’s with a set of La Sportiva Hobnails and took them for 4+ miles on crusty snow and ice. Take a look to see how it went!

Video of the second run of the day that I refer to in this video (the Vibram Fivefingers portion) can be viewed here: https://runblogger.com/2009/12/runblogger-runcast-2-winter-running-in.html.

I was overall very impressed with how the Hobnails performed on this run. No slippage at all on any of the types of terrain I ran on (road, icy sidewalk, crusty trail), and contrary to my expectations, they didn’t feel uncomfortable when running on dry asphalt. At most, it felt like I was running on a gravel road, so a mixed terrain run (road/trail) would work fine in these. There was also no noticeable wear on the Hobnail tips after the run, which suggests that they won’t wear down on the roads (which makes sense if the design and material are derived from car tire studs). I forsee myself using these frequently this winter, and will update later on if I have any additional thoughts.

For more information, visit the Hobnail product page on the La Sportiva website.