Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed v2 Review

The Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed v2 is the latest evolution of Inov-8’s lightest trail running shoe designed for soft and muddy ground. Essentially, the Mudtalon Speed v2 is a fell-racing or cross-country racing shoe. Like all of Inov-8’s current range of running shoes, the Mudtalon Speed v2 has a rounded toe box to give the runner’s feet room to spread and function naturally. This helps utilise the 26 bones in the human foot to mould to the contours of the terrain, allowing fast forward progress even on the most broken or muddy ground.

As well as a rounded toe box, the other key attribute the Mudtalon Speed v2 possesses is a very flexible midsole that bends to the shape of the ground, allowing the foot to do likewise. The midsole foam used is Inov-8’s Powerflow Pro, a foam that bends and flexes easily in all directions. What makes the Mudtalon Speed v2 better at adapting to the terrain and allowing natural foot function than the previous version is the removal of the rockplate in the forefoot. The rockplate is a thin piece of nylon designed to protect the foot from thorns or sharp rocks. Although flexible, it does stiffen the forefoot slightly. This extra flexibility has made a noticeable difference to me. I find the Mudtalon Speed v2 to feel much more natural, and I can feel that I get more power from my feet on ascents.

On reflection, running in the original Mudtalon Speed felt a bit like running in a pair of cross-country or track spikes. This put extra stress on my calves and Achilles, which became sore if I used the shoes too frequently. The Mudtalon Speed v2 allows my soleus—the smaller calf muscle beneath the gastrocnemius responsible for pointing the foot and toes—to work more. As the shoe is more flexible in the forefoot, I can push off with more power. Initially this extra work caused some tightness and soreness, but the muscle has since strengthened. I’m now using the Mudtalon Speed v2 twice a week for cross-country-style threshold sessions and feel the benefit from the natural movement and traction, especially now that the rain has arrived and the fields are soft and muddy.

I don’t perceive the lack of a rockplate to be an issue. The midsole is 7mm thick in the forefoot, and the Boomerang footbed is 6mm thick. A thorn would need to miss one of the 8mm studs and be at least 13mm long for you to feel it underfoot.

BROWSE INOV-8 MUDTALON SPEED v2

The 8mm lugs are made from a stickier version of Inov-8’s Stickygrip rubber. This is hard to test scientifically. I found the rubber on the previous version to be adequate when hopping across wet, moss-covered stepping stones—something I often find hazardous in trail running shoes. The new version works equally well. When fell racing, I always found wet Welsh slate to be the most slippery rock. I haven’t had access to this surface yet to give the new rubber a proper test.

Long lugs bite extremely well into soft ground but can clog on clay soil. The more flexible forefoot of the Mudtalon Speed v2 sheds mud better than the previous version. The field where I run my cross-country-style threshold sessions can get extremely muddy—much like a National Cross Country course—making it ideal for testing grip and strengthening the legs and feet.

For runners using the Mudtalon Speed v2 for fell or mixed-terrain trail racing, the cushioning provided by the 8mm lugs will be welcome, as will the cushioning from the Boomerang Footbed. This 6mm nitrogen-infused footbed is sealed, meaning no water or grit can get in, which improves durability. It also means no air can escape. This has two benefits: despite being only 6mm thick, the insole has a surprisingly cushioned, almost bouncy feel, and this cushioning remains consistent throughout the run.

There is a balance between underfoot protection and ground feel. You don’t want your feet to get bruised by rocks, roots or thorns, but at the same time you need to feel the ground so your feet can respond. The removal of the rockplate increases ground feel simply because the shoe bends more naturally where the foot bends. This makes the Mudtalon Speed v2 feel very nimble. It’s easy to react to the ground and change direction, but at the same time—even on gravel tracks, root-covered singletrack or rocky hillsides—I found the underfoot protection adequate.

The Mudtalon Speed v2 has a new upper pattern that improves midfoot hold and locks the foot more effectively. The fit of the original Mudtalon Speed was good, but the v2 feels noticeably snugger. The upper pulls in more effectively around the heel, and there feels like less tension on the heel when running uphill—helped further by the more flexible forefoot.

The upper is very thin and designed to let water in and out easily. The v2 includes drainage holes at the base of the upper to improve water shedding and reduce the chance of the shoe becoming heavy when waterlogged. However, on a cold, wet day my feet do get cold easily in the shoes, so I would recommend a good pair of merino wool socks that help keep your feet warm even when wet.

The heel-to-forefoot drop is 4mm, which makes it easy to land midfoot and be nimble. A low drop also helps maintain stability on broken or slippery ground, making forward progress easier and reducing the chance of twisting an ankle or knee.

The average weight of the Mudtalon Speed v2 across sizes is 266 grams. The previous version weighed in at 260 grams.

Inov-8 running shoes are similar in length to Hoka, New Balance, La Sportiva and Karhu. If you use Brooks, Saucony, Topo, 361 or Altra, we suggest trying half a UK size larger to achieve a similar length—for example, a Brooks UK 11 is similar in length to an Inov-8 UK 11.5. The Mudtalon Speed v2 comes in two widths: Inov-8’s Precision Fit, which is narrow, and Wide, which is similar to a 2E fit in other running brands.

In summary, the Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed v2 is a lightweight, nimble trail racing shoe designed for soft and muddy terrain, including fell and cross-country racing. The increased forefoot flexibility is the most noticeable improvement, giving the Mudtalon Speed v2 an even more natural feel on muddy or broken ground and allowing the feet to function more effectively than in the previous version.

Alternatives to Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed v2

Saucony Peregrine 15: Like the Supertrac RC 3 the Peregrine 15 is a more versatile shoe then the Mudtalon Speed v2. For that reason is isn’t as effective in the mud and isn’t as nimble when descending down a steep mountain side. The traction is good and the cushioning suitable for more compact tracks and trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/saucony-peregrine-15-review/

VJ IRock 4: A real rival to the Inov-8 Mudtalon Speed v2. The Irock 4 is equally as flexible with grippy pointed lugs that bite well into the mud. The upper is more durable than the Mudtalon Speed v2 but, not as light. The Irock 4 has a very pointed toe box which reduces how much the feet are able to function inside the shoes despite the lovely flexible feel to the shoes. If you are used to running shoe with a narrow pointed toe box, then you probably won’t notice. If you are running in shoes with a more rounded toe box, then these will feel a bit restrictive. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-irock-4-review/

Scott Supertrac RC 3: Designed to be more versatile than the Mudtalon Speed V2 in that it is suitable for use on harder packed tracks and trails as well as soft ground. However, this does make the Supertrac RC 3 less suitable for extremely muddy conditions that lugs are shorter and don’t bite as effectively into the mud. They also clog more easily. The curve of rocker shape to the midsole helps to maintain a quick cadence and works well on firm ground. However, it does some of the work for the feel and take away the natural feel which the Mudtalon Speed v2 has in abundance. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-rc-3-review/

Scarpa Spin ST: 8mm long lugs bite effectively into soft ground. The Spin ST is designed to be more versatile than just a soft ground she and they are stable enough and have a thick enough midsole for some hard packed trails. They lack the flexibility of the Mudtalon Speed v2 and for that reason don’t feel as nimble. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scarpa-spin-st-review/

Altra King MT 2: Like all Altra running shoes the King MT has a rounded toe box and is designed to allow the feet to function inside the shoes. The midsole is much stiffer than the Mudtalon Speed v2 and the lugs are 6mm long and not as pointed which makes them not as effective in the mud. However, they are versatile enough for some harder packed tracks and trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-king-mt-2-review/