If you’re looking to keep running outdoors this winter, one of the best running purchases you can make is a pair of winter running shoes.
As Brainsport store manager Lisette Schermann explains, you get winter tires for your vehicle so it can better handle difficult outdoor conditions so why not extend the same courtesy to your feet? “It really is a better experience for running,” she says.
Winter running shoes differ from other models by providing more warmth and many offer enhanced grip. They also tend to be a bit more expensive than the all-weather models.
Some of the language used by shoe companies to denote winter-appropriate shoes include winterized, weatherized, waterproof and GTX (which refers to an upper made of the waterproof and windproof GORE-TEX material).
“There really aren’t insulated running shoes. Those don’t really exist because we make lots of heat when we’re running. The issue is hanging on to the heat,” Schermann explains. “As soon as it gets chilly outside, I switch to a waterproof shoe. Because if something’s waterproof or water resistant, it’s typically windproof and wind resistant as well and it tends to stay a lot warmer and be more comfortable, even if it’s not wet outside but just well below zero.”
It wasn’t that long ago that pickings were slim when it came to selecting a winter shoe. But these days, most shoe companies offer at least one winterized model.
With so many options to pick from, this week Schermann and shoe fit specialist Harvey Weber break down the most popular options in store.
Puma Deviate NITRO 3 Winterized ($235)
“I think this is the best all-round value in a winter shoe,” says Schermann. “People can have a thick slab of nitrogen-infused foam and a carbon fibre plate in a weatherproof package. You’re getting a genuine super shoe for a really approachable price.”
Brooks Ghost and Adrenaline Weatherized ($190
“Brooks has had GORE-TEX versions of those two shoes before, but this is the first time they’ve had enhanced traction,” Schermann says. “People aren’t necessarily looking to just stay dry, they also want to stay upright, and these shoes are super grippy.”
Hoka Clifton GTX ($200)
“The Clifton is a really good shoe for running — volume running, speed running, interval running — and adding in a GORE-TEX upper makes it so much warmer,” Weber says. “I have a fairly narrow foot and the Clifton is a bit wide for me, so I throw a pair of extra insoles in on top of the existing insoles and the shoe fits me like a glove now.”
Salomon Thundercross GTX ($200)
“I like running on gravel roads and so I’m often in the Salomon Thurdercross GTX, which is a waterproof and windproof trail shoe,” Schermann says.
New Balance Hierro GTX ($220)
“The Hierro is pretty popular. The nice thing about the Hierro is that it’s a trail shoe with quite good grip and then it comes with a GORE-TEX upper for warmth,” Weber says. “And it’s wide. If someone has a wide foot, this will be their go-to shoe.”
On Cloudrunner Waterproof ($210)
“A lot of people like it because it’s completely black so if people want a day-to-day shoe and want to wear it with anything, the black-on-black is quite popular with a lot of people,” Weber says.
