Gear Closet: Icebug Spirit 4 OLX Running Shoes

Yesterday, I posted a review of a pair of minimalist running shoes that I liked very much. They were lightweight and comfortable, and very affordable priced. Today I have a very different running shoe, that was built for a very different type of runner. A shoe that is built to get dirty. One that is meant to get off the civilized confines of the street, and on to a nasty trail. But in doing so, it will give the runner all the tools they need to conquer that trail, and then some.

Awhile back, I tested and reviewed a pair of running shoes from a company called Icebug that were specifically designed for trail running in the winter. Those shoes were built to keep your feet warm and dry, while also providing excellent traction – thanks to built-in carbide-tipped cleats – on snow and ice. Now, Icebug has brought that same approach to their trail running shoes that are designed for use in the summer as well. Their new Spirit 4 OLX model has been designed to give trail runners a pair of shoes that will allow them to be very aggressive in their approach, without compromising speed, comfort, and agility in anyway.

When Icebug was creating this shoe, they were actually building it for the specific needs of world class orienteering competitors. But their needs actually align quite nicely with those of serious trail runners as well. The Spirit 4 takes some cues from Icebug's previous model, the Spirit 3, but make some slight modifications to improve overall comfort. Those adjustments include a softer, more comfortable heel cup, and a slight lowering of that cup to reduce the pressure on the Achilles tendon.


It is important to point out that the Spirit 4 is water resistant, which means it will take on some water when they get wet, although Icebug says it won't add more than 20% to the weight. While there are obviously other running shoes on the market that are completely water proof, those tend to not breathe as well, which can lead to hot feet during the summer months, and worse yet, blisters.

These shoes include Icebugs trademark carbide-tipped spikes to offer extra traction for runners tackling demanding terrain. Those studs actually do help, allowing the runner to dig in on a variety of terrains in order to get traction. When running a tough trail with these shoes on, I certainly felt more confident that I wasn't going to slip and slide all over the place, even when things got a bit muddy or greasy.

Icebug built these shoes to be incredibly durable, which is why it has a sole that can shrug off punishment with the best of them. These shoes are meant for getting dirty, but that doesn't mean that they'll also start to fall apart once you get a little mud or water on them. While I still want to put more milage on them before I say for sure, the Spirit 4 does seem to be built like a tank, not showing signs of wear or tear in any sense of the word.

This shoe is so good at taking on tough terrain, that I almost hesitate to call it a trail shoe at all. If anything, I'd describe it at an "off road" shoe, since it doesn't even need a trail per se to allow you to keep running. The design is incredibly rugged, the steel cleats offer great traction, and it comfortable on the foot. The result is footwear that should fit the needs of just about anyone who enjoys an active outdoor sport.

These shoes are fairly lightweight considering the fact that they have 14-fixed carbide studs on the sole. They tip the scales at 290 grams (10.2 ounces), which doesn't put them in the same category of truly lightweight shoes on the market. But considering everything that they bring to the table, that's a remarkable weight for sure.

Make no mistake, these shoes are not for everyone. Your average trail runner or outdoor athlete will like find them to be a bit of overkill. But if you fall into the category of runners who demands a lot out yourself, and your gear, these are excellent shoes to have at your disposal. Whether you're competing in an orienteering competition, doing your favorite trail run, dipping your toe in the adventure racing market, or trying an obstacle course race, this is the shoe for you. It would probably even serve as a comfortable approach shoe as well, given that its design is meant to be versatile.

Priced at $144.95, these shoes aren't a minor investment. But they are definitely worth it for the right athlete.

2014 Rogaining World Championships Announce Entry Criteria

In August of 2014 the World Rogaining Championships will take place in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The event will attract some of the best backcountry navigators in the world as teams of two or three compete with one another over a 24-hour period to see who can locate the most hidden flags out on the course. Orienteering skills are crucial for success, which makes this an excellent race for adventure racers, ultra-runners and other outdoor athletes.

The orienteering course that will be used in this event has been designed by my friend Rick Emerson, who I worked with when Primal Quest Badlands took place in South Dakota in the summer of 2009. Rick knows the region very well and he has no doubt built another excellent course for the WRC. I heard from him earlier today with word that International Rogaining Federation has released it's entry criteria for the event and as we get close to registration opening in mid-October, there are a few things that he wanted interested participants to know.

The Event Preface and Entry Criteria are available for review on the website for the race. Those instructions indicate the process for which teams will be selected to compete in the WRC next year with preferences being given to past champions. That said, anyone who wants to compete in the event should register during Phase 1 of the process, which is where past winners receive their preferential ranking. Applicants who aren't accepted during Phase 1 will automatically be moved onto a wait list for consideration into Phase 2. That wait list will operate on a "first come, first served" basis, so the earlier you enter the better chance you have of making the cut to compete. With a field limited to 1000 racers from across globe, there is the potential for the event to fill up very quickly. Of those 1000 entrants, 20% will be set aside for non-pre-qualifying athletes, ensuring that there are some fresh faces getting the opportunity to compete each year. Additionally, another 10% will be reserved for wildcard entrants as well.

These rules may seem a bit restrictive compared to adventure races and other outdoor sports but they are there to encourage past winners and other participants to return and compete in subsequent races. The fact that they have reserved entries means that they have a saved slot for those past champs to return and take on the course, not to mention the other teams.

You can find out more about the World Rogaining Champions in South Dakota by visiting PeakAssurance.net. Phase 1 of registration will open soon, so stand by to get your entry in. If you don't do it in then you may find yourself on the outside looking in.

3rd Annual Dakota Rogaining Championship Coming August 18-19

Looking to sharpen your navigational skills? Want to participate in a very cool competition this summer? Then consider adding the 3rd Annual Dakota Rogaining Championship to your list of activities. The event is scheduled to take place on August 18-19 in the amazing Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park in South Dakota and is guaranteed to be a great time for all who participate.

The event is being organized by my friend Rick Emerson, who designed the awesome course for Primal Quest Badlands a few years back. Rick knows the Badlands better than anyone and I have no doubt that his course for this event will be no less challenging and spectacular. It will feature 50 navigational checkpoints do discover, spread out over new terrain and with revised maps. Additionally, the competition will feature electronic controls this year which will more closely track the teams as they make their way across the course.

For those who aren't familiar with rogaining, or orienteering as it is sometimes called, the competitions involve teams of between two and five members who use maps and compasses to locate as many checkpoints on a course over a given amount of time. In the case of the Dakota Rogaining Championship there is a 24-hour competition, a 12-in-24 hour intermediate race, and a 6-hour short course for those who are looking to try the sport for the first time. Think of it as a bit like adventure racing stripped down to just the trekking and navigational activities, which are often some of the hardest elements of the race.

This event will be perfect for adventure racing teams who are looking to learn how to navigate more efficiently in future events. It allows athletes to concentrate simply on honing their navigational skills without worrying about some of the other demands that come along with an adventure race. But make no mistake, rogaining competitions are tough and demanding as well, and there will no doubt be some excellent teams in taking part in this event.

The field this year is being limited to just 40 teams, so if you're interested in joining in on the fun, you'll want to register soon. For  more information about the competition and to learn more about the fantastic setting in which it will take place, visit PeakAssurance.net.

And for those who are already fans of orienteering competitions, this will be your chance to scope out the territory in which the 2014 World Rogaining Championships will be held. That event will take place in August of that year as well and plans are already in motion to prepare an even more challenging and beautiful course for the international competitors who will descend on South Dakota for that competition.