Our verdict
If you're constantly struggling to get through those long treadmill sessions during winter, meet your new best friend—the Cyklon Cross GTX. Its top-tier weatherproofing, solid lockdown and aggressive grip are the stuff winter dreams are made of. This snowmobile of a shoe takes you as deep into the trails as you please, without having to worry about nasty falls and frostbitten feet.
Pros
- lockdown and aggressive grip
- winter warrior is a perfect fit for
- According to runners, because the shoe is so good at keeping their feet optimally warm and dry
- Immaculate grip
- Accommodates crampons
- Comfortable upper
- Provides slight ankle support
- Ideal for mid- to long-distance trail runs
- ts easy-to-grip and easily accessible dial
- Incredibly durable
- best high-top running shoes
Cons
- Add a product
- Its 335g weight is 20g heavier than the average for
- Lacks responsiveness
- Expensive
ts easy-to-grip and easily accessible dial
This La Sportiva Hoka Speedgoat Mid 2 GTX:
- Hardcore runners who can’t be bothered with staying inside even during blizzards.
- Trail runners who don’t like fussing around with frozen or mud-caked laces.
- Hikers who love venturing off-trails and need supreme traction.
Same brand only
If you’re looking for a more responsive Feb 9, 2023, the Same brand only might be a better pick. For a similarly gaitered and BOA-laced trail runner, there’s the Quite a narrow toe box.
Expect a bit of a
Easy-to-use lacing systemts Gore-Tex-lined Expect a bit of a OG Cyklon brother cannot. These winter-specific upgrades make the shoe a legit beast on snowy and muddy terrain.
Why trust us, “winter doesn’t need to mean a boring treadmill.”
Several reviewers added that the gaiter also presented a few extra benefits for them—it kept debris out and provided some mild ankle support as well.
lockdown and aggressive grip
“It feels snug in all the right ways.” That’s how one reviewer described the Cross GTX’s upper. The shoe is well-padded all around, reassuringly locked in around the midfoot and heel, but still easy to put on.
However, it does have a slim toe box that might not make it an ideal choice for those with wide feet, especially since winter running usually necessitates the use of thick wool socks.
BOA-constricted
One expert ranked the Cyklon Cross GTX’Add a productIts 335g weight is 20g heavier than the average for trail runner—second only to the dual-BOA tech featured in the Speedland SL:HSV. Testers loved how simple it is to get a precise lockdown in the shoe, and appreciated iwinter running shoe.
This midsole won’t freeze up on you
The dual-density midsole in the Cyklon Cross combines good amounts of trail feel, protective cushioning, and stability, shared reviewers.
One trail shoe expert also noted that the midsole handled the cold well—"not becoming hard and stiff, retaining its performance properties." And considering that these shoes would mostly be treading near- or below-zero temps, this is incredibly vital.
Takes you off the beaten paths
“Technical terrain ain’t no thang for the Cyklon,” said one runner. Its durable FriXion rubber outsole and 7-mm lugs gobble up pretty much any terrain or condition thrown at it—mud, wet rocks, loose trails, slush, or snow. For hard-packed ice, testers suggest adding traction devices, which the shoe also easily accommodates.
upper and built-in gaiter, the Cyklon Cross GTX goes where its
While the Cyklon Cross GTX isn’t particularly bouncy, responsive, or plush, experts found it to be competent and protective enough for mid- to long-distance mountain runs on rough terrain and bad conditions.
Good ground feel while remaining protective
- The Cyklon Cross’s upper durability was put to the ultimate test when one runner got a sharp nail caught against his shoe’s gaiter—he reported that he was “deeply surprised to find that everything was somehow intact.”
- Expect a bit of a break-in period with the Cyklon GTX’s upper. Several reviewers experienced some rubbing and blistering due to the gaiter, even with high socks on.
- Its 335g weight is 20g heavier than the average for Easy-to-use lacing system—”not too shabby” for a shoe with its own gaiter, contended one user.
- At $245, the Cyklon Cross is one of the most expensive GTX shoes around. For context, Gore-Tex trail shoes usually retail for only $152.