Article by Jen Schmidt and Mike Postaski
Icebug Järv ($180)
Introduction
With the Järv RB9X, the Swedish company Icebug delivers an all season trail runner that augments their lineup of studded and non-studded winter-ready shoes. The Järv also boasts impressive sustainability credentials with over half recycled and bio-based materials.
Pros:
Excellent grip in wet, muddy conditions, on rock, and in slush - Jen, Mike P
Feels well-made and durable, no signs of wear after initial testing - Jen, Mike P
Moderate cushioning and deep lugs make it versatile - Jen
I’d call it more than moderate cushioning - lots of TPU stack here - Mike P
Great insulation from the cold ground in winter - Mike P
Cons:
Toebox narrower than expected and took a couple runs to break in - Jen
Holds water, particularly around the heel - Jen
A bit heavy and not the fastest-feeling shoe out there - Jen, Mike P
Upper a bit non-secure, need a bit more security riding that high - Mike P
Outsole a bit much given somewhat insecure upper - Mike P
Most comparable shoes
Salomon Speedcross 5 - Jen
La Sportiva Karacal - Jen
Nnormal Tomir - Jen
Asics Trabuco Max - Mike P
Topo Ultraventure - Mike P
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 11.8 oz / 334g
Sample Weight: men’s 12.3 oz / 348g US 10, oz / g US
Midsole Stack Height: men’s 29 mm heel / 25 mm forefoot (4 mm drop)
Full Stack Height: approx. 40mm heel (measured)
Platform Width: 97mm heel / 81mm midfoot / 118mm forefoot
Materials and Sustainability
Upper
Woven engineered upper made of 50% recycled and GRS certified polyester, 17% PET and 33% TPU. Laminated TPU mudguard.
Midsole
66% Bio-based expanded TPU foam
Outsole
22% Natural rubber content (FSC® certified*). 15% Recycled rubber.
*Icebug is FSC certified with license code: FSC-C173562
Lining
100% Ocean recycled polyester – GRS certified, Solution dyed, Bluesigned
Insole
SuperC - Supercritical insole for extra rebound and comfort
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Jen - Picking up the Järv, it’s immediately clear that the sustainability credentials extend beyond the materials to its intended life: it feels solidly constructed and durable. That sturdiness is a good thing, but also meant that it took a couple runs for the Järv to relax into a better fit.
The laminated TPU mudguard initially felt a bit stiff and constricting on my outer toes. Within a few days, however, it felt more comfortable and there was no longer any rubbing, though the forefoot still seems narrower to me than the catalog description suggests.
The upper is a woven polyester mesh that is reinforced by the laminated mudguard. Lightweight in the forefoot, that upper thickens towards the heel, where a well-cushioned heel collar makes for a narrow but comfortable fit. The gusseted tongue is also lightweight, though slightly heavier than the rest of the upper, and does a good job keeping out debris.
Mike P: Have to note sizing here - having never worn or even heard about Icebug before, I was concerned about snug “Euro fit” sizing, so I opted for a sized up US 10.0 as opposed to my typical true-to-size 9.5. The toebox does have a slim look to it - but I find plenty of space and roominess up front, especially given my half size up. After a few test runs, the upper did seem to relax a bit, making me wish I had gone for a US 9.5.
I’ve got a full thumbs width in front of the toes, even a touch more, so I would recommend going true to size in these.
Luckily it was mostly snowy and/or cold throughout my testing, so I was able to wear thicker socks without a problem. As Jen notes, the materials and construction seem high quality and give off a durable feel. The speckled, camo-type design with purple accents also looks really slick, especially on the snow.
I found no rough spots or irritation anywhere throughout the upper. The tongue is padded and comfortable, as is the heel collar.
There’s a slight outward sculpting at the Achilles which is well done and comfortable.
The engineered mesh upper has quite a bit of recycled components (see specs above), but it does lack any type of overlays or underlays for security. I did find it to be a bit loose and lacking in foothold, especially laterally.
Midsole & Platform
Jen - Sustainability-focused shoes have their work cut out for them in finding alternative materials that perform as well as standard oil-based foams and are weight competitive.
The midsole seems to pose a particular challenge, especially as conventional midsole foams get softer and lighter. The Järv is the best I’ve tried in that department: the expanded TPU midsole with 66% biobased materials isn’t pillowy, but it’s equivalent to what you’d find in other deep-lugged trail shoes like the Salomon Speedcross or La Sportiva Karacal. With a moderate to high midsole/outsole 29 mm stack height and the heel and 4 mm drop, the Järv is similar to other trail trainers such as the Salomon Sense Ride 5 or Saucony Peregrine 15.
Mike P: The Expanded TPU offers quite a bit between your foot and the ground. I didn’t receive the official specs right away, but it was quite noticeable and obvious that this was a high/max stack shoe.I measure 40mm at the heel - which is really how it feels!
The expanded TPU doesn’t give the same bouncy feel as other TPU midsoles. I think they’re going more with a volume and rocker approach here as opposed to bouncy and responsive. I happen to have the new Salomon Aero Glide GRVL in for a test concurrently. That one also has a TPU midsole, but a supercritical processed one, and t it has a completely different (highly bouncy) feel.
This 66% bio-based TPU variety just feels denser with less of that typical beaded TPU bounce or “wobble.”
Outsole
Jen: As we might expect from a brand known for superior traction in slippery conditions, these lugs deliver.
The outsole features Icebug’s proprietary RB9X compound, which promises durability as well as fantastic grip, and I could trust my foot placement on muddy trails, wet rock, and even some slush.
A combination of 15% recycled rubber and 22% FSC-certified natural rubber boosts the Järv’s sustainability credentials here as well.
Mike P: Full coverage rubber and 5mm lugs certainly add to the weight factor of the shoe. In my US 10 - 12.3 oz, 348g is quite high. The full coverage outsole also offers a bit of protection on top of the deep TPU midsole, so without a plate in the mix you don’t have to worry about a lack of protection.
I was able to run this shoe in mostly snowy conditions and a bit of wet dirt and sand, where I didn’t notice any lack of grip or traction.
I’d be reluctant to take them into wet/rocky terrain more due to the high stack and kind of loose upper hold, as opposed to outsole performance.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Jen: The Järv would be a great daily trainer for the muddy winter trails where I live, as well as colder climates. The sustainability credentials are a bonus, as well as the durability: I expect it to last much longer than some of the other trail trainers with comparable specs that I mentioned.
While versatile, I think it’s best suited to cold conditions and more aggressive terrain, as the sturdy construction may be a bit heavy for hot weather and the lugs are overkill on smooth, runnable trail.
Jen’s score: 9.12/10
Ride: 9.3 (higher in sloppy conditions, lower on dry singletrack)
Fit: 9.3 (slightly narrower toebox than expected, took a bit of breaking in)
Value: 8.5/10 (the sustainability credentials are definitely worth something, but otherwise this is a bit more expensive than comparable shoes)
Style: 8/10, but the aesthetic may be perfect for someone else
😊😊😊😊
Mike P: The high weight, deep and insulating TPU insole, and rugged outsole positions this shoe as a solid winter cruiser. On very cold winter days the TPU midsole seemed to maintain a consistent feel as opposed to firming up as some midsoles can tend to do in extreme cold. Again, it doesn’t have a bouncy feel, but it has a smooth, even rocker from the ball of the foot forward which allows the ride to roll forward smoothly.
12.3 oz in my size US 10 is definitely a lot of weight to carry around, so it doesn’t feel particularly quick on the run. But with the smooth front rocker, I can imagine the ideal scenario - a cold Swedish morning on a hard-packed snowy road or trail. Of something like one of my test runs HERE !
Outside of that, I think the upper does hold it back a bit from getting into more rugged terrain. I felt like it wrapped my foot adequately and comfortably, but didn’t really strap down as much as I’d like for more rugged trail running. There was just too much lateral movement - on top of a very high stack (measured 40mm at the heel). This really limits them to primarily cruising along in a straight ahead direction.
I know Icebug makes very technical winter trail shoes - with lower stacks and that are primarily studded. Perhaps this shoe is just meant to be positioned as a sustainably-oriented cruiser option in their lineup. If that’s the case, it does the job. The price point of $180 does seem high, but given the high level of sustainability materials involved here, it could actually be a reasonable price considering the component costs.
Mike P’s Score: 8.3 / 10
Ride: 8 - Smooth, but not dynamic or energetic
Fit: 8 - Solid and comfortable, but not as secure for more rugged trails
Value: 8 - Sustainability specs are part of the Jarv’s value proposition
Style: 9 - Cool looking winter shoe
Traction: 9 - Full rubber + 5mm lugs - solid all around for winter cruising
Rock Protection: 9 - Deep outsole + full outsole protects from mostly everything
Smiles 😊😊😊😊😊
5 Comparisons
Salomon Speedcross 5 (RTR Review)
Jen: The Speedcross is another great mud shoe with comparable lugs. The grip of the Järv’s RB9X outsole might even be superior, and its lighter-weight upper helps it drain better and shaves off a bit of weight. Despite similar lugs, the Järv also provides a smoother ride underfoot on harder surfaces, whereas the Speedcross can occasionally feel clunky except on muddy or soft surfaces.
La Sportiva Karacal (RTR Review)
Jen: These shoes are both sturdy and ready to play in the mountains. The Karacal’s extra padding adds 4 mm of stack height and makes for a softer, more cushioned ride, and its 7 mm drop is significantly more than the 4 mm of the Järv.
Nnormal Tomir (RTR Review)
Jen: The Tomir feels lighter and runs long in comparison, whereas the narrower heel of the Järv provides better lockdown there. Both have excellent grip and similar cushioning, withthe Järv having less flexibility through the forefoot.
Mike P (US 9.5): The Tomir is a bit closer to the ground, probably a bit firmer and a little stiffer. I tested V1 with the rigid upper, and only had one test run in V2 which seemed to be improved in terms of feeling more flexible. Of course weight is a difference with the Tomir being much more runnable and at a respectable weight. The Tomir also has a much more secure fit, well suited for more technical running, and is way more stable and secure. The Tomir is overall a better shoe, but I could see the case for going with the Jarv for cold winter running on snowy roads.
Topo Ultraventure (RTR Review)
Mike P (9.5): The Ultraventure is similar in the sense that it’s a high stacked trail shoe, designed for light trails. It has a much wider platform and of course has a much wider toebox. I also find the Topo’s very good midfoot hold allows it a bit more range in trail terrain - probably more than its outsole is set up for. In that sense it’s a bit opposite that the Jarv has a much more rugged outsole, yet does not have the upper and/or foothold to take advantage of it.
Asics Trabuco Max (RTR Review)
Mike P (10.0): This is probably the closest comp - it shares the attributes of being high stacked on top of a pretty rugged outsole. The Asics relies on a stiffer rocker setup though, while the Icebug really just rolls at the forefoot. The Asics upper is not the best, but it still holds the foot a bit better than the Jarv. I have more confidence with the Trubuco Max in limited sections of more moderate terrain. The Asics also beats the Jarv on weight, coming in over 1 full ounce lighter at 11.1 oz in my size. As with other comps, the sustainability factor of the Jarv should be considered as a factor in your purchase if that is important to you.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
Tester Profiles
Jennifer Schmidt found trail running in her mid-20's and began dabbling on the roads a few years later. Trail 50k's are nearest and dearest to her heart, and she recently took the win at the 2025 Way Too Cool 50k and placed sixth at the 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50k. These days, you can find her primarily on the sweet California singletrack around Auburn, chasing competitive and personal goals over a variety of surfaces and distances. Depending on the season, she also competes in the USATF road and XC circuits for Sacramento Running Association's racing team, with a marathon PR of 2:41.
Mike Postaski currently focuses on long mountainous ultras - anywhere from 50K up to his favorite - 100M. 5'10", 138 lbs, midfoot/forefoot striker - he typically averages 70 mpw (mostly on trails), ramping up to 100+ mpw during race buildups. A recent 2:39 road marathoner, his easy running pace ranges from 7:30 - 9:00/mi. From 2022-23 Mike has won the Standhope 100M, IMTUF 100M, and Scout Mountain 100M trail ultras, winning the Scout 50M in 2024. He also set a CR of 123.74M at the Pulse Endurance Runs 24H and completed the Boise Trails Challenge on foot in 3 days 13 hours, besting the previous record by 7 hours. Mike's shoe preferences lean towards firmer, dense cushioning, and shoes with narrower profiles. He prefers extra forefoot space, especially for long ultras, and he strongly dislikes pointy toe boxes.
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