Icebug Getting OutDry In 2013

Out next year, the Icebug Spruce-L trail shoe complete with OutDry seamless 3D laminated waterproofing.

And the higher-cut Icebug Pine-L, again with OutDry technology.

A quick curiosity really with two of our favourite gear things getting together for next year, which is, erm, 2013. Turns out Icebug, the Swedish company best known for making ace trail footwear with little carbide studs embedded in the sole units - ideal for ice - is going to be using OutDry to waterproof some of its models.

We've mostly used OutDry in gloves and it's a briliantly simple idea. A waterproof PU-based liner is actually bonded to the inside of the glove, right next to the outer layer, so it effective becomes a single, waterproof item - no seams, no tape and the waterproofing as close to the outside of the glove as possible.

The big advantage over the classic solution of having a separate waterproof sock liner, is that there's no gap between the waterproof layer and the outer of the glove where water can simply pool and suck heat from your hands.

The Mountain Hardwear OutDry gloves we've used - we liked them so much we even bought a pair - have been outstanding. Reliably waterproof, impressively breathable and just all-round impressive, and we don't see why the same technology shouldn't work just as well with footwear.

Right now, as far as we know, Icebug doesn't have a UK importer, which is a shame, as the Icebug shoes we've used have been really impressive and kept us running over the recent frozen winters when normal shoes exhibited Bambi-like tendencies. Plus the new trail range - see images right - looks kind of cool with it. Please someone, bring 'em in...

There's more about OutDry at www.outdry.com and more about Icebug at www.icebug.se.