Discussion: Inov8 Trail Shoes

I need to try to acquire a pair before a trail race next week. Suitable for rocky windy trails - which ones? I can't keep up with all the different lines now.

And Inov8s are expensive here :(

X-talon 212s are excellent for any circumstances - orienteering, trail running, ballroom dancing, ice climbing, water skiing, space walking, etc.

Assuming you've run in these before. I have had my heels shredded by my inov8s when I first got them. Eventually I broke them in and i use them all the time but I'll say it's a good thing they are red. Mine are roclites, 285's, pretty good aside from the first few weeks. I think pat-hectic on AP had a similar experience, perhaps not as rough as me.

I've had Mudclaws before and no issues with the heels of doom.

My other option is just to wear my Integrators but the trails are currently pretty hard for them.

212's or 285's would both be fine for the bimble. I've never had a problem with breakin. For that course having grippy shoes (& nimble feet) trumps needing forefoot protection.

I think it depends a lot also on how much protection you like under your feet for trail racing. I love my X-talon 212s, but the lugs are probably beefier than what's totally necessary for rocky trails, and the shoes themselves are quite minimalist. I love them, though, because it feels like I'm not wearing shoes at all, just that my feet have grown cleats =). No problems breaking them in.

I was about to try some Roclite 275s (gore-tex trail shoe), but unfortunately they sent one size too small, so that's being cleared up right now. I don't know how necessary the gore-tex is, but I figured it was worth trying. The Trailroc is a slightly cushier version of the Roclites, and they all come in different weights (the numbers correspond to the weight of the shoe in grams). One advantage to the Trailroc is that the sole has three different rubber hardnesses, so it's good in a wider variety of conditions. The Roclite, on the other hand, is a sticky rubber sole, like the X-talon, that is good for sticking to rocks.

I'm waiting on a pair of Mudclaws (also sent the wrong size), but I think I'd go with the Trailroc or Roclites over Mudclaws for pure trail running.

I run there in Brooks Beasts frequently. (And won the race in the past in them.) No need for trail shoes, although if it rains I would probably switch to studs for grip on the wet rock.

TrailRocs are also made on a different last than the RocLites iirc and have a wider toebox. I wear both and they definitely have a different feel. Also, in the case of the TrailRocs at least the three different sizes do have different weights, but more importantly they each have a different drop - Inov8 uses their arrow system to denote drop.

Indeed feet, I would normally, but I turned my ankle twice out there today in my Saucony equivalents, and seem to be more stable with less cushioning on uneven surfaces.

The x talon 190's are basically the same as the 212's for trail running, but not as tough for surviving undergrowth etc when orienteering. I think the roclite 285's I've got are discontinued, but I'd go the x-talons anyway.

I needed a few runs to wear in the 212's, but was fine from run 1 in the 190's. Probably because they are so similar. Roclites (I'm pretty sure these have been superseded by the trail-rocs - lots of people around here seem to be using them now) slipped on my heel for the first run, but didn't blister. I dunno if the sole softened slightly, but they have been fine ever since.

> Inov8s are expensive here

212 and others are advertised at 85 quid in the recent CompassSport versus $120 at Zappos with free shipping in a day or two, if not overnight. Go for it if you can get them cheaper.

I have 3 pr of 212s, a Roclite 285, Flite 230 etc. all fit from first go and comfortable. But that's my foot. Had a lot of trouble getting a fit for Lyn as she has a wide forefoot. So if they fit, they're great.

if your size is 7.5, 8 or 8.5 US, oroc 340 is $78 at Amazon.
These are supposedly shoes for off-trail, but I use them for trail running only,
because they are relatively wide.

212's on sale at Born to Run for $86 - had good success with them. Other models too

http://www.borntorun.com/collections/inov-8

Oh boo, ordered some X Talons for $120 from amazon last night. Ah well! Hopefully they'll be worth the dosh, I've had my eye on a pair for a while. Thanks for all the help!

Order from the cheaper place and send the Amazon ones back.

The cheaper place hardly has a full assortment of sizes.

Time is of the essence! I am happy with my purchase!

Re. 212s tearing your heels up - I had problems with my first pair as well. First run I did (admittedly a marathon, because breaking shoes in first is for sensible people) I ended up with a 5cm-wide blood blister across my heel.

Fletch actually came up with the solution, which was that I wasn't tying the laces tight enough. If you really wind them in (much tighter than you would with normal shoes) the heel-rubbing is greatly reduced. Once they're worn in the problem seems to disappear.

Having orienteered for 25+ years in normal running shoes, the 212s are a revelation.

For most of my shoes, I tend to do the heel-lock lacing technique. Works really well, and keeps my foot in place while allowing room for my toes to wiggle.

Thanks for that link Alex - my 285's came laced in what i now see is a high lock - I've switched a few other shoes to that and really like it.

Thanks for the tips guys! Test ran in my new shoes this morning and they were great - felt very stable and only a slight ghost of a heel rub after running then walking around in them for another hour. Think they'll be perfect for Sunday.

One my early X-Talons came with the low lock. Now use that on most of my shoes.

212s are the best shoes I've owned in 40 years of O Enjoy!

Also very happy with my X-talons, despite having had a stick go right through the sole once during an O race. I have several pairs and use them for everything (much like Ian, I suppose) :)