Inov-8 MudTalon Speed Review
Our Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed review explores one of the first running shoes in the revamped Inov-8 range. The Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed is designed to be a lightweight soft ground trail running shoe. Essentially a fell or cross country shoe. The lugs are 8mm long and designed to bite into mud or other soft ground. The midsole is flexible enough to allow the mud to be released from the lugs to reduce clogging and give you good secure grip even in the extremist of conditions. The shoe is a cross between the Inov-8 X-Talon which was a light and nimble shoe and the Inov-8 Mudclaw which had longer, larger lugs to give a more secure level of traction in the mud.
Inov-8 started life producing shoes that were designed to flex with the contours of the runners foot. The first Inov-8 shoe the Mudroc was designed with the help of a Biomechanical expert in order to achieve this. When the Mudclaw was first launched the advert had a picture of a foot with rubber studs on the bottom to illustrate that the Mudclaw was an extension of your foot. 20 years later the Mudtalon Speed has taken the evolution a little further. The shape of the shoe is more anatomical. A snug fitting heel opens out to a much broader and more rounded toe box. The line of the big toe being straight to allow for a strong positive push off. For those who liked or got used to the narrower last of the old X-Talon don’t panic. The new last isn’t as broad and rounded in the toe box as brands like Topo or Altra. There is more room for your toes to spread and function inside the shoe but, the snug fit through the midfoot and tight fit at the heel coupled with the flexibility of the midsole means that your foot is unlikely to slide around in the shoes. Even when contouring on steep ground for long distances. The Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed is available in two widths Men’s and two width Women’s. The difference in the widths is mainly in the forefoot. So if you have a narrow foot or prefer a snug fit then we would suggest trying the precision fit and if you have a broad foot or like the room for your feet to spread on impact then we would suggest trying the wide fit.
The Mudtalon Speed is light. Inov-8 give an official weight of 260 grams which is an average weight across all sizes and fits. Co-incidentally my UK 11.5 Precision fit also weighed 260 grams. The padding in the heel cup and around the cuff of the shoe is minimal. There is a bit more padding in the tongue, but it is far from excessive. The whole upper is designed to not soak up any moisture. The upper is made from a very thin but tough rip stop mesh. Which allows the water to flow in and out of the shoes freely. There is an overlay that runs around the base of the upper to give extra abrasion protection. The overlays between the rand and the laces allow the upper to be pulled in over the foot to securely push the foot back into the heel cup. There is an extra lace hole if you feel you need to make the heel fit more secure. This also gives you the option of butterfly lacing the shoes. The rand at the toe bumper is thicker than elsewhere in order to give your toes some protection. Although it is still flexible and pliable so it is unlikely to cause any discomfort.
The midsole is made from Inov-8’s Powerflow Pro and is 11mm thick in the heel and 7mm in the forefoot. This midsole has a good level of underfoot protection as well as cushioning, rebound and flexibility. So, the midsole can bend medially and laterally which means that the shoe can take the curvature of the ground. This gives better traction, allows your feet to function inside the shoes and gives a good level of ground feel which allows you to be nimble. Essential when you negotiating a steep scree descent or trying to work your way through the field during a muddy cross country race.
For added protection in the forefoot there is Inov-8’s Dynamic-Meta Flex rock plate. This is so flexible that you don’t notice it at all when running in the shoes. It is used to protect your feet from sharp thorns or rocks piecing the shoe and damaging your feet. In trail shoe that have a very thick midsole this isn’t required as you are unlikely to get a thorn long enough to go through the midsole and into the foot but, when the midsole is thinner this is a real possibility and so a rock plate is a welcome addition.
The 8mm long lugs are made from Inov-8’s sticky grip. This has been formulated to offer a good level of traction on wet rock. The lugs aren’t too pointed so there is still a good level of surface area in contact with the rock. Softer rubbers that grip well on wet surfaces often wear down quickly.
Nimble shoes with a thin midsole often feel hard when used on firmer tracks and trails. Although they are usually designed for use on much softer ground if you are running a fell race or trail race in the UK you usually have short sections of harder track. Especially in popular places where erosion is an issue and footpaths have been surfaced. You do get some cushioning from the 8mm long lugs on the bottom of the shoes but, a bit more respite is always welcome. The Powerflow Pro midsole is designed to be firm and responsive so that you can feel the ground and run fast in the shoes. The Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed has an EVA Strobel board. This is a thin piece of EVA that sits between the midsole and the insole to give an additional level of cushioning and make the shoes feel a little softer. However, the real softness to the cushioning comes from the insole. Inov-8’s Boomerang midsole is 6mm thick and has Nitrogen infused pods with in it. Like the Nitrogen infused midsoles used in some shoes the porous foam is sealed. So, the air can’t escape. This gives the insole a permanently bouncy feel. As the insole is only 6mm thick it doesn’t take away too much ground feel but, does add a surprising amount of cushioning and comfort. It also doesn’t deform or wear out quickly.
During the winter my one of my sessions consists of running laps around a grass field. The field is on a hill so there is downhill and uphill and due to the amount of rain we have had this winter it has been very muddy. The mid is often over the top of the shoes in sections with lots of standing water on very wet days. When the wind arrive the mud was dried up and was still deep but, very sticky. This has given me the opportunity to test the Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed in various muddy conditions over several months. In these conditions nothing grips every time and on the really slippery days I am still teetering around the sharp corners. This is the same as I would be doing with another shoe even my cross country spikes with 15mm spikes in. The shoe flexes to the shape of the ground very well which helps maintain traction. This is particularly noticeable on the uphill section where are feel free to push off from the wet muddy ground without being too concerned about slippage. The outsole does shed the mud most of the time. When it’s really deep and sticky then the mud does tend to get stuck in the lugs at the heel. This is the same for all shoes with this length of lug and is because the heel doesn’t flex to shake the mud out. However, the mud doesn’t accumulate in the heel as it does with some other shoes.
During these sessions I also found that the upper doesn’t accumulate any water. At the end of the session the shoes felt no heavier than when I had started. The downside of the water being able to freely run in and out of the mesh upper is that in extreme conditions your feet get cold. When running hill reps on deep snow that was turning to slush due to the heavy rain my feet froze. A problem that is easy fixed by wearing waterproof or weatherproof socks. So, not an issue but, worth noting. In summer this breathability will be an advantage.
In summary if you like to run on soft ground or get off the paths on the fells you’ll appreciate a flexible, nimble, grippy shoe. The Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed ticks all these boxes and would therefore we worth considering.
Other Considerations
Scarpa Spin ST: Designed specifically for UK fell condition. 8mm long lugs provide great traction. The midsole is a bit thicker and stiffer which gives a sturdier feel to the shoe. This makes hem a touch less nimble on cross country type condition but, gives the feeling of a more propulsion on firmer terrain. The gaiter that runs around the cuff of the shoe is a nice addition and prevent debri from getting into the shoes. The pocket on the tongue for the laces is also a nice addition. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scarpa-spin-st-review/
La Sportiva Mutant: More of a mountain shoe than a cross country racer. More support and protection for the foot in the upper. A firm very positive feel to the ride. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-mutant-review-new-version-for-2023/
New Balance Summit Unknown SG: What lets these down is the stiffness in the midsole. This reduces the grip and makes the shoe less able to ride rough or soft ground. On firmer terrain, even rough single track it feels nice. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fuelcell-summit-unknown-sg-review/
Scott Supertrac Amphib: 6mm long studs are versatile and offer some traction in the mud but, not to the level that you would be happy tackling a muddy cross country. The midsole is stiffer which offer some propulsion on firmer ground but, means that the shoe doesn’t ride really soft or broken ground as well as more flexible shoes. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-amphib-review/
NVii Ultimate: A similar level of traction in the mud. A narrower fit. Nimble and responsive. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nvii-ultimate-review/
Inov-8 X-Talon 260 Ultra v2: Offers good traction but, not as flexible. A thicker midsole gives a more sturdy feel. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-x-talon-260-ultra-v2-review/
La Sportiva Cyklon: The lugs aren’t as pointed and so don’t bite as well into soft ground. The built in gaiter prevents debri from getting into the shoes. The BOA has the advantage of getting a perfect fit with no laces to come undone while bashing through the undergrowth. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-cyklon-review-boa-lacing-system/
VJ Irock 3: A Kevlar upper gives these a more durable feel and gives the foot more protection from scree etc. The natural rubber outsole is the same rubber as NVii use and offers one of the best levels of traction on wet surfaces while also being durable. The fit is narrower and the toe box more pointed than the Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed. https://www.northernrunner.com/search/irock
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