For slippery conditions, you have a few footwear options, such as grip-sole shoes (also known as friction-sole shoes) and studded shoes. The two types of sole differ quite a lot, so which is the right choice?

Esa is the store manager at our Kuninkoja store and has years of experience as an outdoor and hiking gear specialist.

In this post, Esa explains how the different soles compare and which conditions and activities each one suits.

Studded shoes give the best grip

When you need maximum grip on icy, slippery ground, studded shoes are clearly the most secure option.

Here you'll find studded shoes for women, and here for men.

Our range includes Icebug, for example, which makes a variety of studded shoes. Icebug's line-up covers everyday wear, outdoor walks and hiking. When choosing studded shoes, pay attention to the number of studs and where they sit on the sole.

For running, we stock Salomon's unisex studded Spikecross 6 GTX, Icebug's NewRun Bugrip, VJ Sarva Ace, VJ Sarva Icehero 2 and Hoka Speedgoat 5 Spike GTX. There's also the high-cut Salomon Winter Cross Spike.

For hiking, you can fit ice grips to your shoes – for example, Devisys Ice-Blade ice grips give good traction even on rough terrain.

Left: Merrell's Vibram Arctic Grip sole. Right: an Icebug studded shoe.

Although studded shoes give the best grip, they're not suitable for walking indoors – the studs can damage floors. Icebug uses so-called smart studs that retract into the sole on hard surfaces, but they'll still leave marks on wooden floors, for example.

If you're constantly going in and out, or driving, friction-sole shoes – also called grip-sole shoes – are a good alternative. Grip soles don't come close to studded soles on ice, but you can wear them indoors without worrying.

If you prefer studded shoes, there's also a rubber cover that fits over the sole to shield the studs: Icebug Overshoe

Grip soles: easy traction for everyday use

We stock grip-sole shoes from brands such as Pomar, Icebug, Merrell, Halti and Lowa. Icebug uses Michelin grip soles on its friction-sole shoes, while Merrell, Halti and Lowa use the Vibram Arctic Grip sole. Arctic Grip holds better than Michelin on wet ice.

Here you'll find grip-sole shoes for women, and here for men.

At our Kuninkoja and Tammisto stores, you can test how different shoes grip on an ice surface.

Some winter shoes come with the grippy Arctic Grip friction sole.

Esa says many people buy hiking boots to use as winter footwear, but he warns that sturdy hiking boots are usually designed for snow-free ground and perform poorly in winter. Freezing temperatures harden the rubber, and after a winter of use the sole may even need a light sanding with, say, 120-grit sandpaper. A very stiff sole also can't flex to follow the ground, so less of it makes contact – and grip suffers.

Nordic brand Pomar makes smart shoes for wearing around town. They're made from durable, carefully chosen materials, and the Trail Grip+ TR outsole doubles as a grip sole.

For hiking, a good option is a regular winter shoe that you can fit with ice grips when conditions call for it.

In short, studded shoes grip better and work well for dog walking, outdoor walks, running and hiking. You can't wear them indoors, though, so for everyday use a grip-sole shoe is the more practical choice.

Here you'll find studded shoes for women, and here for men.
Here you'll find grip-sole shoes for women, and here for men.