Weather-proof, waterproof, and with traction to handle snow, we’ve found eight shoes that will keep you running through the winter months. The cold bite of winter is just around the corner. But that doesn’t mean you need to hit the treadmill. We’ve scoured the market to see what’s available for 2016 and found these winter-worthy kicks. Draped in a waterproof and breathable gaiter, and enhanced with nine carbide studs, Salomon’s Snowcross is a racy snow machine. In testing, the Snowcross provided superior traction over technical ground, where the aggressive studs chewed through the slop and the gaiters shed the snow. Not for tame conditions, the spiked 12-ouncer felt clunky and clattered over the hard rock and pavement, limiting the Snowcross to winter’s worst days. But if you are fighting for space with your local snowplow, these are the shoes for you. You can read our full review of the Snowcross CS here.20-mm (heel), 9-mm (forefoot) Our editor put these through an incredibly brutal test, running 30 miles through deep snow, mud and muck during the Grand Canyon 100 ultra-marathon.

These are among the best winter running shoes we’ve reviewed (click for full review). The key is the use of Polartec Neoshell on the outside of the shoes, which keeps them dry on the inside even after 30 miles of hard running through insane muck. We did use gaiters in our test to keep snow and slop out of the top of the shoes, important because the test pair did not have a waterproof tongue. The light Outdoor Research Ultra gaiter used in the test covered the lace area and ankle, and is a good addition to this shoe (it has a gaiter garage) in extremely mucky conditions.offset: Zero drop (25mm stack height) A good running gaiter is hard to pull off, as they often bunch or cut into the ankle. But Adidas’ Adizero is the best we’ve seen. The breathable “debris sock” gaiter snugs the ankle and rolls smoothly into the tongue and heel cup to hug the foot and keep the shoe free of trail debris. The Adizero has a narrow toe box, but it remains exceptionally stable underfoot due to its heel cup and plastic straps that help lock the foot in place.

All this protection runs over a Continental Race King outsole, inspiring mountain-bike-like grip on the trail. The Adizero isn’t waterproof, which in our minds limits the shoe to the shoulder seasons. But it’s still a champ at shunning mud, muck, and trail debris. Targeted at the road runner, the Aurora is the go-to shoe of choice for runners who can’t afford to skip a beat while training for the early spring season, with metal studs that chew into ice for a great grip. Don’t need full steel studs? The Icebug Zeal accomplishes much of same snow-traction with hard plastic studs. We’ve even used it to run up Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort in the winter! (Full Icebug Zeal review here). Protected with a waterproof barrier and armed with nine carbide spikes, Merrell’s All Out Terra Ice is a sturdy winter runner that shines on verglassed road and trails. The synthetic outer repels the elements and the sturdy front rand protects the digits from hidden toe bashers lurking beneath the white stuff.

Unless you are plowing through ankle-deep snow, the All Out Terra Ice is a hearty shoe for winter training.best mens tennis shoes for walking Bridging a gap between lightweight hiker and trail runner, Columbia’s waterproof Ventrailia is less expensive than the competition. running shoes functionThe waterproof membrane is bonded to the exterior fabric. top nike womens running shoes 2014The welded synthetic overlays give the Ventrailia an exoskeleton for a little extra support and protection from wear and tear. It wasn’t too long ago when Skechers conjured images of bum-toning rockers or skate shoes. Today, Sketchers has pushed heavily into performance and reaped significant street cred with its high cushion, rocker profile, and plush interior.

The 9 oz all-weather GOrun offers a maximal cushion at minimal weight. And because it’s waterproof, it won’t weigh you down as you bash through the winter slop.27-mm (Heel), 23-mm (forefoot) takes a bite of terra firma, propelling you across the trail.  The stretchy upper and overlapping tongue hug the feet snugly and are ridiculously comfortable … for the right foot (read: narrow). The shoe’s slightly askew lacing system ties each shoe off to the side, over the metatarsals, rather than squarely over the top. The  lace ends intelligently tuck into a  mesh pocket on the tongue. Bottom line: the  Mutant is a high-performing, versatile trail runner that excels navigating gnarly, middle-distance trails for those with narrow feet . Saucony’s Ride series is a neutral cushion shoe for mid-volume feet. Throw in Gore-Tex, and the Ride 8 promises happy miles in wet conditions. Light enough for tempo runs but stout enough to use as an everyday trainer, Saucony’s PowerGrid EVA provides plush cushion at a low weight penalty, ensuring a smooth and responsive run.

Designed with a new type of waterproofing called Gore FLEX, the company claims a weight savings of 20 percent over previous waterproof models. This winterized version of the popular road-running shoe is ready for urban miles in all the slop winter throws your way.It’s one of the main epic trail running events in the world with 5 big ultra-trail races travelling through 3 countries in the Mont-Blanc territory and finish in Chamonix. In 2016, "The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®” becomes “UTMB® presented by Columbia”. The four letters are known world-wide to all those passionate about trail running. The UTMB® brings together more than 7500 runners representing 87 different countries and various additional animations, as the Mini UTMB® for children, the #YCC for youth and international medical and scientific exchanges. Since the first edition in 2003, the UTMB® has always followed its core values: the attachment to the Mont-Blanc territory and its inhabitants in France, Switzerland and Italy, the human values, respect for the environment and sporting ethic.