Caution, ice is slippery!
Now that we have that out of the way I will start with a few things that these shoes cannot do. They do not prevent ice from being slippery. They also 
will not prevent the string of curses that will enter your mind later this winter (and may come out your mouth) after too many weeks of running on the rutted, icy, frozen roads in Missoula.
What will these shoes do for you?
Well have you ever driven a car in the winter weather with snow tires? I would consider these shoes the snow tires of the running world. I don’t take my snow tires off if the roads are dry and I would not hesitate to wear these shoes when the roads or trails are free from ice and snow. In fact I think that is possibly the biggest asset of these shoes. If you know you will be spending your entire run in snow and ice then I would recommend picking up something from Kahtoola, DueNorth, or your favorite sharp winter accessory. If you don’t have any then I am sure the crew at Runners Edge can fix that problem. If your run is like many of mine have been lately (mix of pavement, dirt, rocks, ice, and snow) then these shoes will help a lot. Since they are built on a proven trail shoe they can handle every type of trail I throw at them. The traction is terrific! When I come around the shady corner into the snow there is no need to change my stride. If the next corner is solid ice, well then I still do need to run with a little caution. They do not act like metal spikes! However, like a good set of snow tires, they do improve traction over regular trainers and with a few carefully placed steps I am past the ice and still running. I will throw out the disclaimer that I have already owned Peregrines in the past and loved them so I probably went in with high hopes and they did not disappoint.
How about the shoes?
There have been some changes with the Peregrine 8 from previous models. They have removed any kind of rock plate and increased the amount of foam underfoot. In a recent trip around Lake Como (when I was not running across the actual frozen lake) I was intentionally taking some of the lines that were littered with rocks to see if I could tell a difference. My feet did not feel any discomfort. The biggest increase in comfort I noticed was due to the Runshield upper. They are not waterproof, but they are extremely water resistant. I have had them in the cold snow, wet snow, and rain and my feet have been dry every time. The dry snow is usually fine, but I often return with wet feet after being out in the rain or sloppy snow. I plan to add a pair of short gaiters and continue testing these all winter! The outsole has changed a little and the Ice+ have the addition of the Vibram Arctic Grip to help with the slippery sections, but they still maintain the great grip I remember. They are still a neutral trail shoe sporting the 4mm drop and a great new upper.
Conclusion
Traction devices for your shoes are like tire chains, the absolute best when the going gets really rough. On all those other days when you want to be able to cruise at higher speeds and across varied terrain then these trail shoes will not let you down. I think the Peregrine Ice will see a lot of use this winter!
