If there was ever such a thing as the perfect hiking boot that's not really a hiking boot but is an awesome boot... well, whatever. These minimalist, zero-drop, super-light, flexible, and comfy-AF boots are a must-have for daily wear and light hiking. Oh, we also review the Primal 2 which is equally as awesome...
Finding the right shoes can surely be complicated and Brett is here to make it even more difficult. Seriously, it'd be a helluva lot easier if we well wore the same size & style, were the same height, weight, and all ran exactly the same. How hard is that?
The 2017 Icebug Orbi are quite easy to write off on first glance; they just don't look like trail shoes, much less a high-tech racer. The shiny bright blue upper is contrasted by a cute little bug in eye-catching orange with each shoe cinched up with thin, seemingly simple laces - so one could be forgiven if dismissed these as pretty walkers or everyday kicks. Of course, you'd be wrong.
The upper materials have been updated to a super soft and airy textile, so light and smooth it feels like being barefoot. The water pickup is minimal, the drainage is excellent and hence the wet weight is almost as low as when it’s dry. The midsole is very flexible and keeps the weight down. The height of the heel cup is slightly reduced in order to reduce pressure at the Achilles tendon. Terrain feel is remarkable thanks to the low profile of the sole.
Brett tests out the new insoles from ShoeCue, featuring a textured heel to restore important sensory feedback from your feet to your brain. If anyone could use a better foot-brain connection, it's Brett.
Brett provides his in-depth review of the Icebug product line fit for OCR's and Mud Runs: Mist, Acceleritas, and Zeal - and provide you with the info where & when you should use each one for racing or training.
