Inov-8 TrailTalon Review
The Inov-8 Trailtalon is a trail running shoe designed for use on soft ground but versatile enough for harder tracks, trails, and short sections of tarmac. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for the UK winter, where frequent rain turns unsurfaced trails muddy.
The Trailtalon features a broad, rounded toe box that allows the runner’s feet to spread on impact, promoting natural foot function within the shoe. The heel-to-forefoot drop is 6mm, encouraging a midfoot landing that correctly distributes load. This midfoot strike helps the foot absorb impact by stretching the plantar fascia like an elastic band, which then recoils to propel the runner forward. Foot spreading on impact also enhances landing stability, vital on uneven or broken surfaces. By facilitating natural foot function, the Trailtalon promotes better posture and evenly distributes running impact across muscles and joints, reducing the risk of overuse injuries. All the latest Inov-8 models feature this shaped toe box to strengthen feet through use rather than compensating for them.
The outsole is crafted from Inov-8’s G-Grip rubber, a sticky, durable material infused with graphene. The sticky rubber ensures excellent traction on wet surfaces, while the graphene infusion improves durability and flexibility, allowing the shoe to contour to uneven ground and enhance grip. The 6mm lugs are designed to bite into soft, muddy terrain while providing enough surface area for traction on harder surfaces like gravel and tarmac. This balance makes the Trailtalon ideal for mixed runs involving wet, muddy paths and harder-packed trails.
The midsole features Inov-8’s Powerflow Pro, a responsive foam that provides ground feel, enhancing agility and responsiveness. With an 18mm heel and 12mm forefoot, the 6mm drop suits both heel and midfoot strikers. The flexible midsole bends naturally with the foot, improving ride comfort, traction, and stability over varied terrain.
On top of the midsole lies Inov-8’s Boomerang foot bed, a 6mm nitrogen-infused insole. This adds extra cushioning and bounce without compromising ground feel or flexibility. The nitrogen infusion creates sealed bubbles that prevent water and dirt infiltration, extending the insole’s longevity and maintaining its cushioning properties for longer runs.
The heel cup is soft and pliable, conforming to the shape of the heel, with adequate but minimal padding to avoid water retention. Similarly, the tongue features modest padding and a gusseted design to keep debris out. Laces thread through a tab on the tongue to prevent slipping and through overlays attached to the shoe’s base, securing the upper and heel snugly around the foot. This design, combined with the shoe’s flexibility, minimizes foot movement within the shoe and reduces forward sliding during descents.
Despite the snug heel and midfoot fit, the roomy toe box accommodates natural foot spreading for enhanced comfort. This feature also reduces foot swelling on long runs and provides space for any swelling that does occur. An additional lace hole allows for a more customized fit, including butterfly lacing if needed.
Weighing approximately 300 grams (depending on size), the Trailtalon feels lighter due to its flexible design, which moves in harmony with the foot. Inov-8 shoes are similar in length to brands like Hoka, New Balance, La Sportiva, and Karhu. However, runners accustomed to Brooks, Saucony, 361, Altra, or Topo may need to size up by half a UK size. The Trailtalon comes in two widths—standard and wide (equivalent to a 2E fit in other brands)—for both men and women.
The Trailtalon is also available with a GTX (Gore-Tex) upper. Using Gore-Tex’s Invisible Fit technology, the waterproof upper is as thin and flexible as the standard mesh version, maintaining the same fit. While the GTX upper keeps feet warm and dry in wet, cold conditions, it may retain heat in temperatures above 10°C, potentially causing sweat buildup.
In summary, the Inov-8 Trailtalon is a versatile trail running shoe, particularly suited for UK winters. It handles varied conditions, from muddy paths to hard-packed forest trails, with ease and reliability.
Other Considerations
Inov-8 Trailtalon Speed: These are a lighter, more connected to the ground version of the Trailtalon aka the Speedier version. The midsole is thinner so you can feel the ground a bit better, and the shoe is more flexible. If you prefer a more minimal feel, then these might be a better option for you. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailtalon-speed-review-2/
Hoka Torrent 4: A stiffer heel gives the Torrent a better ride on hard packed ground but, makes them less nimble on more broken ground. The rubber on the outsole can be a bit slippery on wet tarmac. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-torrent-4-review/
Brooks Cascadia 18: These offer a stiffer heel which gives more support to a heel striker and rides better on hard packed terrain. The forefoot is flexible and offers good traction but, not to the same level on soft ground as the Trailtalon. Available in two width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-18-review/
NNormal Tomir 2: A bouncy midsole takes away any ground feel and makes them feel like a road shoe. The lugs offer good traction in the mud but the shoe isn’t as flexible, so it doesn’t take the contour of the ground as well and therefore doesn’t ride well over anything other than hard packed tracks. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-tomir-2-review/
Topo Athletic Terraventure 4: A 5mm lug offers a versatile level of traction on all terrains. These have a broad rounded toe box similar to the Trailtalon. The midsole feels a little more cushioned on hard terrain but, this takes away from the ground feel and makes them less nimble on more broken terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-terraventure-4-review/
VJ MAXx 2: These offer a good level of traction on soft ground for a 4mm long lug but, this isn’t as good as the traction you get from the TrailTalon 6mm lug on soft ground. The midsole offers more cushioning but takes away from ground feel. The toe box is a similar rounded shape and also promotes foot function. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-sport-maxx2-review/
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