Inov8 TrailTalon all-terrain running shoes review: for complete confidence on technical trails

Inov8 TrailTalon: first impressions

One thing you can be sure about when you get a pair of Inov8 trail-running shoes is that they will last the distance – I’m notoriously hard on footwear, but I’ve had a pair of Inov8 TrailFly Ultra G 300 Max trail shoes that I’ve been running around in for more than three-and-a-half years, in which I’ve racked up well over 1,000km on the Strava clock now, and they’re still trail-ready.

This is largely down to the award-winning graphene rubber compound the British brand use in the soles of their running shoes, which is extremely tough. The upper, though, is starting to fail, so I do need an everyday running shoe, and I’m hoping the Inov8 TrailTalon could be it.

The TrailTalon is the brand-new shoe from Inov8. A product that has evolved from the brand’s Roclite range, it can be worn on any kind of terrain, but complete with a G-GRIP graphene rubber sole, which supplies excellent traction, it promises to really excel off-road, on the proper mucky stuff.

Of course, a really top-quality trail-running shoe requires more than just good grip – it needs to be comfortable while supplying serious support to the foot, and the midsole must strike a good balance between protective cushioning and feedback. I’ve been testing the Inov8 TrailTalon for the last month, to see how it compares to the best trail-running shoes on the market.

Inov8 TrailTalon: versions

The Inov8 TrailTalon comes in three iterations: the standard version; the GTX version ($160 / £140), which features a Gore-Tex membrane and is thus waterproof; and the Speed version ($160 / £140), which has less padding, and a more aggressive, lighter design, with a smaller (4mm) heel-to-toe drop – ideal for race day if you’re looking to lead the pack.

I’ve been testing the standard TrailTalon, which features more cushioning across the upper than its sleeker siblings, to provide cushioning during day-to-day training runs, as well as high performance when you need it. Personally I prefer non-waterproof trail-running shoes (because they breathe better), and I certainly don’t have any podium pretensions, so the standard version – which promises to be right up there with the most comfortable running shoes around – is the perfect model for me. There is also a wide fit option right across all three models, which I have selected, as my broad feet appreciate the extra space in the toe box.

Meet the reviewer

Pat Kinsella

Pat has run thousands of miles on the trails, and has taken part in an ultra across the roof of Mauritius, as well as setting short-lived records for trail-running Australia’s highest peaks and New Zealand’s Great Walks. He’s also an experienced tester of running gear, and gives kit a thorough thrashing before handing in his reviews.

Inov8 TrailTalon: design and materials

The upper on the TrailTalons is constructed with a synthetic mesh material, reinforced with a very flexible TPU skeleton. The extra cushioning on the standard version is mainly around the heel and the tongue, which is integrated into the main chassis of the shoe, creating a semi sock. There is substantial heel cradle, which loops around the back of the shoe and connects to the lace system, so you can get a good secure locking fit. There is no rand to speak of, but there is a small toe bumper.

Inside each shoe is one of the brand’s Boomerang footbeds, made with hundreds of tiny TPU beads, which compress as your weight pushes down on them and then expand to supply 40% energy return with every stride you take (according to Inov8). Beneath this is the Powerflow Pro midsole – an EVO foam cushion that’s 18mm thick at the heel, tapering down to 12mm at the toe end, so the shoe has a 6mm drop – just about perfect for the average trail-runner like me.

The outsole is, of course, made with the brand’s signature tough graphene rubber compound, which promises to last for years. The 7mm cleats are arranged in a multidirectional pattern, to supply grip on all sorts of surfaces, plus braking control and traction on a wide range of terrain. These teeth are also quite widely spaced, so they don’t tend to collect too much mud.

Inov8 TrailTalon: on the trails

I’ve been running across a wide range of terrain in the Inov8 TrailTalons, from a gravelly (and very icy) disused railway track in the Midlands and the slippery chalky trails atop the North Downs, to the muddy fields, technical woodland paths and rocky coastal routes around the South West. The first thing to say is that this is a genuinely comfortable shoe to run in, even straight out of the box. I can only speak for the standard version that I’ve been testing, which does boast more padding around the collar than the Speed TrailTalon, but I have been very impressed with just how snug and comfy these shoes feel. Assisted by the cradling heel cup, which you can pull nice and tight as you do the laces up, the secure fit of the shoe stops your feet moving around in the chassis as you run (vastly reducing the chances of blisters and other discomfort-causing problems arising).

I found the mesh zones across the upper allowed my feet to breathe beautifully, and the shoes drained well after stream crossings – although the cushioning around my ankle area did absorb a lot of water and took ages to dry (a pay-off for the extra comfort, I guess). So far, the half-sock that extends from the tongue to the top of the toes has successfully managed to prevent any serious grit from getting into the chassis.

I’m not sure about the claim that the Boomerang footbed dishes up 40% energy return (I just don’t know how you measure such a thing), but having put in some serious clicks on lots of different kinds of trail, I can report that, between this footbed and the Powerflow Pro midsole, there is certainly a palpable degree of positive bounce in these shoes. At the same time, they cushion the impact of repeated footstrike (even on solid or hard-packed terrain) wonderfully well. And despite the substantial stack, you still get a little bit of feedback from the trail too, especially around the front of the foot where the midsole is thinner.

On the downside, the level of foot protection offered by the TrailTalons is pretty low – the toecap is tiny and the sidewalls of the shoe, especially towards the front, are really quite flimsy. The graphene outsole will, however, protect you from sharp objects underfoot.

And once again, the underside of this Inov8 hoof is probably the most impressive element of the entire shoe. The 7mm lugs are extremely grippy on all kinds of terrain, and the way they’re positioned provides traction when you’re accelerating and good levels of control during technical descents. The tread design lies somewhere between a good mud-running shoe and a standard trail running shoe.

There are substantial spaces between the lugs, so mud tends to peel off as you run, rather than accumulating in massive heavy lumps, but thanks to the meaty midsole it’s not uncomfortable to run on sealed or hard surfaces in the TrailTalons (you can’t feel the studs). The overall effect is superb grip combined with sumptuous comfort, which is pretty much everything a trail runner wants from life.

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