Saucony, Koa ST |
The aggressive tread works well in loose snow as well as snow covered ice patches. |
The initial try-on, was just like slipping my feet into a bit of heaven!!! The inside cushioning is very similar to the Razor Ice. Soft enough to mold to your feet but firm enough to provide ample support on uneven trails. The most noticeable difference from the Razor Ice (aside from lacking the built in gauntlet) is the spacious toe box. At first, it seemed that the toe box was TOO big, (even for my wide feet) but the quick lace system easily snugs them up. The first several runs were in -35 degree celsius weather. My toes stayed very warm with the extra bit of space for movement, or for an extra pair of socks if that is your choice. And even with the extreme cold weather, the shoes stayed very flexible. The heel pocket is deep, and hugs the back portion of the foot. Even while wearing more slippery compression socks, there is no heel movement in the shoe.
The quick lace system easily closes the shoe,without causing any puckers in the toe material. |
The traction on the snow packed trails is exceptional and exceeded any other winter shoe I have run in. Even on snow covered ice, the soft lugs seem to grip very well. I would assume that the soft rubber would wear quickly (much like the Razor Ice) if used for any length of time on bare pavement.
Overall, these shoes do not disappoint!! With a local price of only $159.99, I would definitely recommend these as a cheaper substitute for the more expensive Razor Ice, especially if you are looking for a roomier shoe. I only real down side that I see so far, is they have not built in the little pouch in the top of the tongue to tuck in the laces. There are a couple other location to tuck the lace end, but they are not as out of the way as the original design.
I would rate these shoes a STRONG 4 out of 5 and highly recommend them. I am looking forward to putting more miles on them on the snowy trails.
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