Karhu Ikoni ATR WR Review | Water Resistant
The Karhu Ikoni ATR WR is a versatile road-to-trail running shoe. It’s grippy enough for hard-packed trails in wet UK conditions while also riding smoothly on tarmac. The water-resistant upper adds an element of protection from the elements without making the shoes too warm and therefore unsuitable for use in the warmer summer months.
The shoe is based on the Karhu Ikoni, as the name suggests. This is a popular Karhu road running shoe that offers a mild level of pronation support, but in a way that a neutral runner could also enjoy without any issues. The Karhu point of difference is their stability and propulsion system, called the Karhu Fulcrum. When running shoes began to include cushioning units other than a simple EVA midsole, Karhu was at the forefront of running shoe technology and developed an air cushioning system in the 1970s that pre-dated similar developments used by other brands. Karhu eventually moved on from this approach and developed the Karhu Fulcrum because they noticed that the air cushioning unit made runners move up and down rather than forward. The Fulcrum was designed to take that upward motion and turn it into forward propulsion. Fifty years later, Karhu running shoes are still using the Fulcrum system to provide stability and propulsion.
The Karhu Fulcrum is essentially a pivot point within the midsole of the running shoe. It helps to transform any bounce into forward motion and guide the foot through the gait cycle to toe-off. Where the pivot point or Fulcrum is placed in the midsole dictates how much stability or pronation support the shoe provides. The pivot point in the Karhu Ikoni is under the midfoot. This helps guide the runner’s foot through the early stages of the gait cycle, supplying enough pronation support for those who need a mild level of it.
The ride of Karhu shoes is firm and responsive compared to the current trend of very softly cushioned running shoes. As the midsole doesn’t collapse at impact, it has a natural level of stability. It’s like running over a soft grass field compared to running across a bouncy castle. You get enough cushioning, but you can still make forward progress without being bounced up and down. In our Newcastle store, we have a concrete corridor that customers can use to test run the shoes. It’s noticeable that the more stable brands like Karhu sell better in the shop than the more heavily marketed brands offering softer midsoles. This is because the runner can feel the smooth ride that firmer, more responsive running shoes provide compared to softer shoes where they sink into the midsole on impact and are then bounced down the corridor.
The heel cup is made from a firm plastic designed to hold the heel onto the midsole and reduce the chance of rolling inward upon heel strike. The inside of the heel is well padded, as are the cuff and the tongue. These are running shoes designed to be used daily for the bulk of your mileage, so comfort is high on the design spec. The tongue is gusseted to help prevent grit or dirt from getting into the shoes and to help hold the tongue in place when running.
The upper is water-resistant. This doesn’t make the shoes waterproof, but it does help water bead off the upper rather than being absorbed. The weave is much tighter to reduce the chance of water or air entering the shoe. This makes the Karhu Ikoni ATR WR a good choice for your winter miles. The upper is warmer, and even in temperatures down to minus five, I haven’t felt cold air enter the shoes. Water, mud, and grit don’t get absorbed into the upper, so they don’t get soggy in a downpour and require less drying time, making them snug and comfortable for the next day’s run. Unlike running shoes with a waterproof upper, the Ikoni ATR WR doesn’t get too warm. The upper still breathes, so they’re comfortable to wear on mild days too.
The outsole has 2.5 mm lugs suitable for hard-packed trails. These are not hardcore trail running shoes; they are road-to-trail shoes. The surfaces they ride best on include disused railway lines, hard-packed forest trails, hard-packed bridleways, and tarmac. The lugs have a large surface area to provide good traction on smooth surfaces and to ensure a comfortable ride on the road. The rubber used for the outsole is a sticky rubber that is durable enough for tarmac use but offers extra traction compared to other road running shoe outsoles, particularly on wet surfaces.
The heel-to-forefoot drop is 8 mm, which makes the Karhu Ikoni ATR more of a heel-striker’s shoe. As a midfoot striker I am aware of the heel, but the forefoot becomes nicely flexible after about 50 miles of running, and then the heel becomes less noticeable. The responsiveness of the ride makes the Ikoni a very versatile running shoe. They are comfortable at slow, easy paces used for longer or recovery runs, but they also feel smooth at quicker paces. This makes the Ikoni versatile enough for fartleks, pick-ups in longer runs, steady runs, and tempo runs. They weigh 305 grams in a men’s UK 8, which is a good weight for an everyday training shoe, but due to the smooth transition from heel to toe-off they feel lighter on your feet when running.
Although the toe box isn’t a broad rounded design like Altra, Topo, Inov-8, or VJ trail shoes, it isn’t pointed either. The big-toe line is straight, which allows for a positive push-off, and there is room in the toe box for toe movement. I have narrow feet but have worn shoes and running shoes with a broad rounded toe box for years, and I find a more pointed toe box restrictive. I found the Karhu Ikoni ATR WR to have a nicely comfortable toe box.
Karhu running shoes are similar in length to Hoka, New Balance, Inov-8, and La Sportiva. If you use Brooks, Saucony, Altra, or Topo, then we suggest trying half a UK size larger in Karhu. For example, a Brooks UK 11 is a similar length to a Karhu UK 11.5.
In summary, the Karhu Ikoni ATR WR is a versatile road-to-trail running shoe that can be comfortably used for easy runs and long runs as well as some quicker efforts. The ride is smooth, and the water-resistant upper and sticky rubber outsole help to winterise the shoe, making it a good choice for a wet, cold UK winter.
Alternatives to Karhu Ikoni ATR WR
Brooks Ghost Trail: The Brooks Ghost Trail offers a bit more traction on the outsole which makes the shoes usable on slightly softer ground. The upper hasn’t been winterised and so doesn’t offer the same protection from the elements. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-ghost-trail-review/
Inov-8 Trailfly Max: A trail running shoe that is durable enough and cushioned enough for some road use. These don’t ride as well or as smoothly on the tarmac but, the traction is better on softer trails. The broad rounded toe box gives the feet room to function inside the shoes. Available in two width Women’s and Men’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailfly-max-review/
Hoka Challenger 8: A much softer feel to the ride. The toe box is more pointed but, the Challenger 8 is available in two width Men’s and Women’s. Traction is of a similar level although the rubber isn’t as sticky and doesn’t feel as secure on wet tarmac. The upper isn’t winterised so doesn’t provide the same level of protection from the elements. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-challenger-8-review/
New Balance Hierro v9: The Hierro v9 is available in a goretex version. The toe box is more pointed and the stack height a lot higher. This gives the Hierro a very different ride that is more cushioned and less connected to the ground. Although the midsole is of a similar level of softness. Available in three width Men’s and two width Women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fresh-foam-x-hierro-v9-review/
361 Futura 2: A narrow, pointed toe box. Available in two width Me’s and Women’s. The lugging on the outsole is much deeper offering better traction on softer ground. The cushioning is very soft which helps the midsole be flexible enough for more broken ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-futura-2-review/
Topo Ultraventure 4: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the space to function inside the shoes. The flat lugged outsole rides nicely on tarmac. The midsole is firm but, cushioned to a similar level as the Karhu Ikoni. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-ultraventure-4-review/
Altra Timp 5: A broad rounded toe box gives the feet the space to spread and function inside the shoes. The outsole lugging is suitable for hard packed trails and rides nicely on tarmac. The cushioning isn’t too soft. The Altra Timp 5 is a zero drop shoes designed to promote a more midfoot landing. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-timp-5-review/
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