IceBug Zeal RB9X Running Shoe Review
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IceBug Zeal RB9X – Capture interest right out of the box
Design and Comfort
The IceBug Zeal RB9X running shoe caught my interest and wonder right out of the box. When I reached in to take it out of the box, the material and ultra light weight of the shoe made me want to put them on my feet right away. My first impression was that the sole was a little, shall I say topographical, as it did not give that immediate comfort factor. After wearing them around the house and in the yard a while they became more comfortable especially on dirt and softer ground. They were certainly designed for off road, soft earth running. My runs typically contain some road to get to the trail of choice for the day and I must say I do not enjoy these shoes on the road, however they provide great traction and the lightweight comfort for the trails.
Although it was a little late in the season I was able to go for several runs at Copper Mountain where there was still a bit of packed snow and consequently quite a bit of mud and the IceBug Zeal RB9X runnings shoes turned out to be a load of fun, again sticking with the super light weight of the shoe and how quickly the material repels and drys water as you romp through mud, snow and water. The quick drying property is important with the IceBug Zeal RB9X’s because they have a low cut design around the ankle and make it easy for water to find its way into the shoe.
Technical Goodness
You may be thinking, what is “RB9X” all about? Well IceBug has developed some great technologies around creating a great running shoe and one of those technologies is the rubber compound used on the IceBug Zeal RB9X. The “Rubber 9 Extreme” is their latest compound that they say “sets a new standard in providing friction”. One thing I noticed about the sole after several runs that included several miles of pavement was that the sole did show some wear from the pavement. IceBug puts some time and money into their technology and if you are looking for a minimalist trail running shoe for the winter and spring seasons this is definitely one I would recommend. Check it out for sure!
Key Attributes
- Upper: Nylon Textile / PU
- Lining: Half lined with QuickDry Mesh
- Midsole Lightweight EVA with HGMS2® technology
- Outsole: Rubber 9 Extreme
- Torsion: Medium Flex
- Weight: 250 gr (US9)
Final Thoughts on The IceBug Zeal RB9X
Overall the The IceBug Zeal RB9X running shoe is certainly one of the most unique shoes I have worn on my feet. This is certainly a shoe designed for off road terrain that is smooth, damp and even a bit of snow/ice. The funny part about this shoe is that I started to wear it around more than just running. I found myself throwing them when running around the yard and messing around the neighborhood. Would I buy this shoe… the price is a bit high for what I typically look for in a price range, however now that I have worn them for several weeks I would certainly recommend them to anyone. For more info on the Zeal RB9X or other IceBug footwear, visit www.icebug.com or www.amazon.com/icebug.
