The New York Times

The jagged metal teeth protruding from the bottom provided "very sure traction on inclines and traverses."

January 11, 2007 - Let the Iceman Come

Gear Test with Ellen Miller, Mountain Running Team Manager

Runners intending to enter spring marathons need to start training this month, regardless of the weather. Treadmills suffice, but for adventurous runners nothing beats getting outside even if it's the morning after a snowfall.

Cleated running shoes that work like studded snow tires and shoe strap-ons that work like tire chains give runners traction on snowy and icy roads. And there are more traction products than ever to lure skittish runners outdoors.

"It's important to run on the surface you are going to race on, and these shoes allow runners to take what Mother Nature throws at them," said John Schweizer, president of Garmont.

To see how well these products keep runners from slipping, Ellen Miller, manager of the Teva U.S. Women's Mountain Running Team, wore them on the roads and slopes of Vail, Colorado.

Kahtoola FLIGHTboot $149, www.kahtoola.com

Ms. Miller said it took "some wrestling" to get these "very warm" neoprene boots over her running shoes. The jagged metal teeth protruding from the bottom provided "very sure traction on inclines and traverses." She said that although these 22-ounce slip-ons were "too heavy" for running, they were "an ideal set-up for hiking on snow-packed trails."

—Sarah Bowen Shea

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