32North STABILicers SPORT - 2006 BCS

I tend to wear shoes with a wide toe box. Even after I tied these on with velcro straps, they kept migrating off my boots. Other than that, the cleats are fabulous!

I picked these up while working out in Colorado...the guy at the outdoor store said these are by far the best for running and for around-toown in winter. He was right.

I gave them a few test runs on packed snow and windcrust. Amazing traction, easy to use, and lightweight.

Now that we're having "the year of sheet ice" in Boston, I've been wearing these babies just to get around on the sidewalks, and they have literally been saving my ass. Great product, no question!

These are perfect for those icy days when you're afraid of slipping and falling. Slip easily over normal running shoes and provide a secure fit that gives you confidence during a run. Haven't had them long enough to rate the durability of the spikes, but they seem like they would last a while if you avoid excessive running on bare pavement.

I needed something to improve my traction on snowy trails. After they've been packed down, wearing snowshoes is definitely overkill. However, on the steeper sections, or where the trail slopes off to one side, it can get icy, and you need something to give you a little more grip. These are just the ticket. You pop them on your running shoes and you're good to go. They're light, flexible, and thin: you don't really notice you've got them on at all. (Except you don't slide around!)

I'd also like to mention how good the 32north service is. My five month old puppy got hold of one and chewed it into oblivion. I emailed 32north, and they sent me a replacement for free.

My only gripe? I'm not convinced about the sizing. I'm a size 10, and ordered the 'M' version (size "8-10"). This is very snug on my running shoes, and doesn't fit over the toes of my hiking boots. Maybe I should have ordered the 'L' size ("10.5-12.5"), but I was worried that the larger version might be loose and slide around on my shoes.

If you find yourself addicted to running, and have to get out there even when the roads and sidewalks are covered in ice and snow, then these are the ideal accessory for you normal running shoes. The studs grip the ice and snow, making it very difficult to slip. However I have two complaints: 1) They are difficult to attach to your shoes, especially if you are between sizes. 2) The cleats seem to wear out very easily. Overall, they perform very well and will make any run enjoyable even in the worst winter conditions.