First Impressions
Icebug hails from Sweden. And although they’ve been doing business in Europe since 2001, they’re products only recently came ashore in the U.S. We had the chance to try a couple of different Icebugs recently including the Spruce and Acceleritas3-L (more on these later).
Out of the box, the trail walking Spruce shoes have a durable but slightly chunky look. Upon closer inspection, they glean with innovation on the thicker, outermost layer and sparkle with highlighter laces and trimming — very inviting!
Features
The Spruce shoes feature a waterproof membrane on the outermost layer intended to keep your feet dry on the rainiest of days. Put to the hose test, these kicks kept even bare feet dry. The outer layer is specialty treated to not only resist and repel water but also to keep out debris. The breathable membrane layer kept me comfortable and dry from start to finish.
Specs
Upper: Oily nubuck upper bonded with waterproof membrane
Sole: Icebug Rubber 9 Extreme
Weight: 2lbs per pair (Mens size 11)
Fit
The Spruce shoes were comfortable from the start. They were surprisingly light, even when wet. The breathable membrane kept my feet refreshed. The laces were too long and needed multi-knotted ties to stay above ground. Still, there was no getting around the outstanding comfort and feel of these shoes.
Final Verdict
Icebug shoes offer a fun, healthy alternative for on and off trail walking and running. The Spruce shoes were functional and reassuring. Even for those who are clumsier than most, reducing the slippage and fall risk is the difference from getting hurt and landing sedentary to staying healthy and keeping active. These shoes are good looking and well suited to take on the trails and the elements.