Frigid temperatures, snow and ice don’t mean you have to forgo your cardio fix.
ON YOUR FEET
RUNNING
1. Ahnu Firetrail Winter
Ideal for slush and mud, this shoe provides just enough waterproofing—in the form of a breathable hydrophobic mesh—to shuck off the nastiness without deviating too far from a standard trail runner. The Vibram sole and special lug pattern provide extra traction on slippery rocks. $120; ahnufootwear.com
RUNNING SPIKES
2. La Sportiva A.T. Grip Hobnails + Tools
Don’t want to buy a whole new winter trail runner? This nifty tool set provides studded tires for your favorite rubber-soled shoe. Come spring, they screw back out. $45; sportiva.com
SPIKING
3. Kahtoola Microspikes
Most of the time when you go “snowshoeing” in the Front Range, you really don’t need the snowshoes. The trails are icy, yes, but those big planks on your feet are overkill. These portable spikes are the answer—simply stretch them onto your favorite winter boot and you go hiking past the snowshoers. $59; kahtoola.com
SKATE SKIING
4. Fischer RCS
Featuring World Cup sidecut and light, smooth performance, Fischer’s RCS series was designed for racing, but they’re ideal for Front Range fitness freaks. $535; fischerskis.com
SNOWSHOEING
5. Crescent Moon Silver
This multi-purpose snowshoe will get you out exploring the woods and/or working up a sweat. The aluminum crampons provide plenty of traction and the cam-locking buckle system is user-friendly. $175; crescentmoonsnowshoes.com
FAST SNOWSHOEING
6. Atlas Run
Weighing in at just 2.7 pounds and featuring a spring loaded suspension that allows for a natural running stride instead of that snowshoe shuffle, the Run is the ideal shoe for putting down some serious cardio miles on snow-covered trails. $200; atlassnowshoe.com
ESSENTIALS
Dots
Can’t leave your iPhone at home? These smart gloves feature “dots” on the fingertips so you can work it from the trail. $25; dotsgloves.com
Yakima Skybox Lo Pro with Solar Panel
Getting up for a dawn patrol workout before work often means you’re rooting around your top box in the dark. Yakima’s simple solution is to include a solar-powered light inside an aerodynamic box to haul all your active winter swag. $700; yakima.com
GoLite Black Mountain Thermal Wind Jacket
This jacket keeps you cozy yet not overheated during winter workouts thanks to a recycled polyester fabric bolstered by a waterproof/breathable membrane and stink-absorbing Minerale fibers. $150; golite.com
