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Do I need ice grips (brodder) on my shoes in a Norwegian winter?

Why ice is common, where grips are sold and how winters differ by region.

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Short answer

Ice grips, called brodder in Norwegian, are worth packing for a winter trip, because temperatures around freezing often leave pavements and paths icy. Visit Norway advises shoe spikes or grips for slippery days and says they are sold in sports shops and big supermarkets, so you can also buy them after you arrive.

Winter packing list for Norway a round calendar wheel with four seasons shown as a snowflake, a leaf, a sun and a raindrop around a small mountain

Why

  1. Yr's 1991–2020 normals for Oslo (Blindern) are −1.4 °C in December, −2.3 °C in January and −2.0 °C in February, close to freezing.
  2. In Tromsø the normals stay below zero from December to March, between −1.7 and −3.3 °C.
  3. Visit Norway's winter tips say to always wear proper footwear and studs, and to get shoe spikes or grips for slippery, icy days.

Details

Grips are most useful on pavements, steps and hilly streets and on short winter walks. Choose boots with room for wool socks or insoles, as Visit Norway advises, and fit the grips over them. Take the grips off indoors.

Tip

Keep the grips in your pocket or bag and put them on before icy stretches, such as hills and steps.

What may differ

In Bergen the winter normals are above freezing, between 2.3 and 3.1 °C from December to February, so you may need grips less often than in Oslo or Tromsø, where the normals for these months are below 0 °C.

People also ask

  • Do I need shoe spikes in Norway in winter?

Sources

Information checked on 15 October 2026.

Winter packing list for Norway
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