Icebug Horizon Review

Icebug Horizon is a light and flexible trail shoe. They have a broad rounded toe box that provides enough space for your feet to function inside the shoes. Similar to Topo and Altra in that respect. The heel to forefoot drop is 7mm. I am used to shoes with as lower drop than this and was aware of the heel height of the shoes when standing. However the shoes are nice and flexible through the midfoot. So, once running I didn’t feel the heel at all. It also didn’t feel like it was causing a heavy heel strike on steep descents.

The upper is a single piece mesh that makes the shoes very breathable. They also don’t hold much moisture and dry quickly. There is a TPU protective overlay that run around the base of the shoe and provides toe protection. This improves the uppers resistance to abrasion from grit etc. I found the fit at the heel to be snug. The heel cup is lightly padded and there is no plastic heel cup. So, the heel pulls into your heel shape and will be less likely to rub.

The midsole is made from a light EVA with 20% Bloom foam. Bloom is a foam made from algae. Mixing it with EVA reduces the amount of oil based EVA required to make the midsoles. The midsole has an initial soft feel. Although you still have some feel for the ground. The flexibility of the midsole allows it to curve to the shape of the ground. This means that you can run over rough ground in the Horizon without getting thrown around by the ground too much.

The outsole is the same rubber and pattern as on the Icebug Outrun. The RBX9 Rubber is designed to give outstanding traction in the wet yet still be durable enough for use on tarmac. As mentioned in my Outrun and Acceleritas8 reviews the traction and durability of this rubber is impressive. It does make a bit of a clip clop sound when running on the tarmac but it seems to grip well on all surfaces and the outsole is showing no sign of wear after a few hundred miles of running and a lot of walking around in the shoes.

The outsole pattern provides good grip on all surfaces. The lugs are 4mm deep. Which is in line with shoes designed for use on hard packed trails. However, the firm rubber and flexibility of the sole allows the lugs to bite effectively into softer ground. They aren’t a deep mud cross country shoe but, they do perform a lot better on muddy trails than you would expect from looking at the lugs.

The broad base to the shoe gives them a stable ride but they don’t feel clumpy due to the flexibility in the midsole. The rounded toe box always feels comfortable and the lightweight upper adds to this feel. They are easy to slip on for a walk round the woods or nipping down to pick the kids up from School. The grippiness of the outsole in the wet gives you more confidence when walking on wet or icy roads too. Especially as the outsole is durable too. So, you don’t feel like you are wearing your running shoes out.

I would happy use the Icebug Horizon as a road to trail shoe. There is enough cushioning to protect your feet etc and the outsole is durable enough. However the Icebug Horizon is happier on the trails. The flexibility of the sole makes it great on a variety of trail terrain but, it does mean that they don’t have the smooth plush ride you expect to get from a road shoe. So, if you have to run a few miles to get to your trail then the Horizon is worth considering. If you want a shoe that you could run the odd 10km road race in and glide over tarmac during mixed runs then the Horizon might not be the shoe that would best meet your needs. The Icebug Outrun offers more cushioning and a rockplate in the forefoot that gives more underfoot protection. These would be a better option for those covering long distances on the trails. Although I have run up to 3 hours in the Horizon without issue if you like cushioning and the feeling of protection then the Outrun would be a better choice.

In summary the Horizon is a very comfortable trail shoe. Lovely and flexible with exceptional grip. They will be better suited to shorter as opposed to Ultra distances for most runners.

Other Considerations

Topo Terraventure 3: These have a similar broad rounded toe box. 3mm from heel to forefoot. Not as flexible which gives a little better ride on the tarmac but makes them less good on broken ground. Here is our Terraventure review:
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-terraventure-3-review/

La Sportiva Karacal: Similar shoe although much narrower fit. Here is our review:
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-karacal-review/

Hoka Torrent: Similar shoe but narrower fit. Here is our review:
https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-torrent-trail-shoe-review/

Altra Lone Peak 6: Altra’s are zero drop with a similar broad rounded toe box. Not quite as flexible and a bit more cushioned. What is very similar is the comfort feel. These also have feel like popping on a pair of slippers. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-lone-peak-5-vs-lone-peak-6-lone-peak-6-review-part-1/