Why I rely on shoes by a Swedish brand for trail running

If you enjoy travelling to Sweden or going on winter hikes, you’ve probably come across Swedish shoe brand Icebug. The one with the small beetle logo. The brand’s also known for its non-slip soles, which are fitted with spikes on many models.

As Icebug also has trail running shoes without spikes for temperatures above zero, I couldn’t resist. I wanted to find out if shoes by my favourite winter brand are also suitable for spring and summer trails.

First impression: light and airy

At 225 grammes, the shoes aren’t super light, but still in the right weight range. In general, shoes that weigh just under 300 grammes are considered lightweight. As the midsole accounts for a large amount of the weight, the number of grammes is always linked to the amount of cushioning to a certain extent. To me, the combination of relatively little padding and weight works well in the Phyto 6. I tested a size 40 women’s model of the shoes. The Pytho6 is also available for men.

The Putek mesh upper material is thin and slightly transparent. Nevertheless, it seems to be very tear-resistant. Overall, the shoes make a robust impression. I like this much better than some other sports shoes, which are great for queuing at a coffee shop, but tear at the first contact with rough terrain outside.

The upper material makes Icebug shoes water-permeable. But the mesh doesn’t soak up water, so the shoes also dry very quickly. This makes them suitable for swim-run training and competitions or obstacle courses involving stream crossings.

The fit has a roomy toe box that offers good support, which suits my wide feet very well. Another plus is the generous dip below the ankle, which makes chafing in this area impossible.

The lacing is classic and stayed in place during my runs. What I’m missing, and this is really just a detail, is a shoelace garage to park the loose ends of the laces in.

The midsole has relatively little cushioning and is therefore particularly suitable for forefoot and midfoot runners. If you’re a heel runner, stronger cushioning is often more comfortable. I happen to like minimalist shoes that allow me to feel the ground beneath my feet. So the shoes get extra points from me in this regard. Thanks to the relatively high torsional stiffness, which means the resistance to twisting, they also feel good on rocky terrain.

But the centrepiece is, of course, the outsole. It has deep grooves, which makes it suitable for muddy trails. The sole’s made from a newly developed rubber compound called Rubber 9 Extreme, or RB9X for short. I’m curious to see whether it will give me the support I’m hoping for.

Good grip in snow and mud

My first runs with the Icebug Phyto 6 were in winter in the mud and snow. At first I was reluctant to wear the shoes in temperatures around the freezing point, as I was intimidated by the thin upper. When I did finally take the plunge, I was pleasantly surprised at how warm my feet stayed because there was no moisture accumulating.

The grip was also really good on wet surfaces. As the temperatures rose, the shoe also mastered slippery, damp leaves. Even on concrete, the Phyto 6 delivers because it’s surprisingly quiet for a trail running shoe. Although the shoes aren’t made for paved surfaces, you’ll be fine wearing them down a stretch of road that leads to your trail.

Longer distances on rocky trails

I was so impressed by how the shoes fared in the damp Swiss spring, I took them to Mallorca with me to run some trails. The paths I ran meandered along dry hills and were peppered with roots, stones and boulders. Ideal conditions to find out if the shoe does its job under these conditions.

And sure enough, it displayed good grip and took sharp bends and stony stretches in its stride. The low cushioning makes it agile and responsive. This makes running on winding trails fun. I could feel the ground under my feet and, thanks to the relatively thin midsole, there was never that spongy feeling you get with heavily cushioned shoes.

My feet and joints were also happy with the Phyto 6. The longest run I took in these shoes so far covered 30 kilometres. For longer runs, a little more cushioning is definitely a good idea. But for runs up to 30 kilometres these shoes should do the trick. Generally speaking, of course, this also depends on the runner’s anatomy, height and weight.. In any case, I’m glad I packed the shoes for my trip to Mallorca. They allowed me to enjoy the fantastic landscape while I was out running trails.