Inov-8 Mudclaw 265 Review

Recently, I have had the privilege of trying out the new serious off-roaders from Inov-8; the Mudclaw 265. These extreme mud-pluggers certainly looked the part, but will they earn my approval or be put back in their box and returned?

 

Straight out of the box these were clearly another fantastic looking trail and fell shoe from Inov-8. The colour scheme looks fast, professional and attractive. Couple this with the serious studs on the sole of this minimalist trail shoe and you can see why it may get the heads turning of anyone interested in finding a decent, lightweight high-performance fell and trail runner!

 

The sole is comprised of huge cleats for extreme mud conditions and steep accents and decents. It is made from Inov-8's excellent and well-proven sticky rubber compound for grip on wet and rocky surfaces as well as mud and grass. There is a meta-flex incorporated into this shoe but no midsole construction as has been seen on previous models. The differential is only 3mm, so this shoe is built for the minimalist and racing market of trail runners with strong calves and feet.

 

 

The upper seems to be made of a highly-durable rip-stop outer, with a smoother sock like lining and 6mm footbed. Around the toe area there is a band of thick and durable plastic/rubber material to protect the toes and prevent mud and debris from wearing the material away and creating holes. Over the top of all of this is the lacing system that holds the foot in place. A very good system.

 

 

The ups and downs:

These shoes look great. The lacing system is fantastic and the material seems very durable. However, it wasn't all good news when I took them for a run.....

 

Straight away the shoe was clearly too narrow a fit for my feet. Others may find the last OK but for me it is not comfortable at all. The material allows no room for stretch and the toes are crunched together. I decided to see if they would become better as my run continued. They gripped really well over grass and mud and a variety of gravel and stony paths. However, the narrow fit was starting to really hurt my feet. On top of this, the band surrounding the toe area is a very strong and tough material. Sadly, it decided to bend in one particular place on both feet at the metertarsal flex point and cave towards the toes. This meant that on every step the material dug into my big toes and left me with a terrible blister. I do not see how this would improve as the material is very tough. Maybe with different shaped feet or very thick socks this may not be a problem, but for me, these shoes left my feet feeling constricted, crushed and blistered. I was also surprised and disappointed at how clumpy and heavy these shoes felt for a supposedly lightweight trail shoe.

 

Sadly, these shoes, as good looking as they may be, had to be sent back. They simply do not fit my feet comfortably. I would not categorise them as a bareform shoe, rather they are a minimalist trail and fell shoe. For someone not too worried about barefoot feel and biomechanics, with narrow feet and looking for a sturdy but slightly lighter than usual fell shoe for serious and extreme conditions, this may be the shoe for you??!!

 

How would I like to see these improved?

• a much wider fit
• a softer material surrounding the toes
• 0mm differential
• slightly lighter and less cushioning

My search for the perfect bareform trail shoe continues......

 

 



 

 



Inov-8 X Talon 190 Review

Over the last few weeks I have tried and tested the Inov-8 X-Talon 190 fell and trail shoe. I have seriously put these shoes through their paces in a variety of conditions and terrains, from soppy mud in the East of England to the Scottish Highlands. Therefore I feel I stand in good stead to tell you all what I discovered to be the good, bad and the ugly of the super light light racing shoe from Inov-8.

 

A great looking and lightweight trail/fell shoe

So, as many of you will already be aware, I only run in bareform shoes. Otherwise known as minimalist shoes, they are shoes that allow the feel and biomechanics of being barefoot whilst providing some grip and protection for the foot. Straight away I hear some of you shouting "But these have a 3mm differential from heel to toe!". And you would be absolutely correct; they certainly do. What I have been looking for is a fell/trail shoe that has a huge amount of grip. Here in England it rains all the time and the ground on the trails is often half way to your ankle with mud, so you can begin to see why I am after the grip?! With this in mind, there really is not a huge choice to choose from in the minimalist market. I had already tried the Inov-8 Trailroc 235's, but the upper fell apart after only 150km, the Baregrip 200's were too narrow at the forefoot and the Vibram FiveFingers Spyridon LS wasn't quite enough grip in the more extreme conditions. So I popped out and decided to try the X-Talons to see if these could be the shoe for wet weather runs.

 

The X-Talons after a muddy run

Initial Impressions:

Immediately I loved the look and design. These shoes are super light and sexy straight out of the box. At just a tad over 200g for a size UK 9.5 they are extremely light and flexible. Slipping them on I did notice the 3mm differential and also the slightly narrow toe box which felt like it could restrict the toes movement slightly. The lacing held the foot in place well and the sole flexed with ease when bending the foot. It also felt very ventilated and there were no sore spots or points I was worried may cause a blister.

 

Fantastic grip of the X-Talon 190's

Running in the X-Talon 190's:

Once on the trail, the 3mm differential was not really noticable any longer. Only on flat, hard surfaces was it apparent. The studs held in almost everything but the most rediculously deep and sloppy mud in which no shoe would really hold. They performed well on mud, grass, stones, gravel and vegetation. The sticky rubber compound also held its own on rocks and tree stumps, preventing any slipping or sliding. The grip was ideal for wetter and off-road/off-trail conditions. Also, with minimal cushioning, you are still able to feel the ground quite well. This is very important to me as I feel it essential to avoid twisting your ankle or loosing your footing when you can immediately feel upon impact what the surface is like. As you may imagine, these shoes are not that great on paths or roads as the studs prevent 'feeling' the terrain. Even on harder packed trails I began to feel that I would like a little more ground feel as the studs essentially raised me up a few mm off the ground. Also, the performance fit was a little too narrow for my feet. I found that my toes did not have enough space to spread and be un-restricted. I would have liked to see the X-Talons in a wider option.

Positives:

·         - Lightweight

·         - Great looking design

·         - Fantastic grip and sole in a variety of conditions

·         - Lacing very comfortable

·         - Ground feel was good for a shoe with such good grip

Negatives:

·         - Slightly too narrow fit

·         - 3mm differential needs lowering to 0mm to allow natural running gait

·         - Durability not good enough (read below)

Durability:

After less than 100km the X-Talons developed a hole at the metertarsal flex point just as I had found a few months ago with the Trailroc 235's. I was horrified as I had really grown to love these shoes. The upper mesh-like material was just not strong or durable enough for trail conditions, let-alone off-trail fell running. What the shoe needs is a wrap-around durable band such as the X-Talon 212's have. This would prevent the lightweight material from ripping so soon.

I only used the shoes for what they are designed and marketed for. Yes I ran through mud and water, dusty trails and grassy tracks but surely a trail shoe should cope with this? With this in mind, I returned the shoes for a full refund, as I thought an exchange would leave me with the same problems a few weeks later. I will miss the feel and grip of these lightweight racers.

Conclusion:
Inov-8 have created a fantastic and lightweight race shoe with superb grip and excellent ground feel. Sadly, the last is too narrow and the uppers are not durable enough to cope with trail or fell conditions. For me anyway, the search continues for the ideal minimalist/bareform trail and fell shoe.

Comments welcome everyone, and I will be back soon with more reviews. In the meantime, happy running :-)

Coming soon ... review of the Inov-8 X-Talon 190

For the full review please click here:
http://caveman-clarke.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/inov-8-x-talon-190-review.html

Hi everyone,

It has been a long while since I last blogged, but don't fret. In this time I have accumulated a variety of minimalist trail shoes and am just about ready to emerge from this difficult English winter with a few well-thought out reviews. The first will be of the Inov-8 X-Talon 190. I hope to get this up in the next week or so.

In the meantime, enjoy my previous posts and speak to you all soon!
CavemanClarke

Inov-8 X-Talon 190 minimalist trail and fell shoes

Xero Shoes: Thank you!

Just a very quick post to say thanks to Xero Shoes UK who sent me a pair of their very cool looking 4mm Huarache style sandles today. I opted for the DIY kit as I fancied finalising them myself. I am really excited to get these fitted when I have a spare moment later this week and give them a go.

Sadly the weather is not great here at the moment for huarache style shoes. We currently have about 4-6 inches of snow! Therefore, give me a few weeks to try these properly and time for the weather to improve and I will review them for you all.

Below is a picture of the DIY kit that you receive when you order a pair of Xero Shoes. You have the option of 4mm or 6mm sole thickness. I chose the thinner 4mm as I prefer the minimal space between my foot and the ground, and maximum proprioception.

NOTE: the hole punch and hair clip to help with lacing, seen in the picture, comes with the kit! What a great thought from an obviously thoughtful company!!!

DIY kit from Xero Shoes UK

Anyway, if you want any more info the website is http://www.xeroshoes.co.uk/ or get hold of me on the comments section below for any questions you would like answered. Wish me all the best fitting them later this week :-)

Thanks again Xero Shoes UK.

Happy bareform running

CavemanClarke

New Year ..... get outdoors for real fun and adventure in 2013!

Happy new year everyone!!!

 

A new year lies ahead and who knows what exciting adventures it will bring

Out with the old and in with the new, so to speak 

But first, now is the time to stop and appreciate your blessings for 2012.  What are you really thankful for? What did you achieve in the last 12 months? What things made you genuinely happy?

For me, a vast majority of the times that I felt most happy were outdoors in the countryside. Whether running on my own or with the dog, walking the Pennine Way with my Dad or simply strolling the local rural footpaths around my house, I always feel most alive outside in the fresh air. You may be sitting down right now, drinking a cup of tea or a mug of coffee in your warm house thinking, "Why on earth would I want to be outside?" Well I can tell you; no cup of something warming ever tasted as good as one made in the great outdoors. Especially with my new favourite toy the Kelly Kettle.

Please excuse the childish grin, I couldn't contain it!

So what are you going to do to add a little adventure and fun to your everyday, sometimes mundane daily routine? The possibilities are endless. The outdoors awaits your adventure. The feeling of freedom just outside your front door.

I hope 2013 brings us health, happiness, fun and adventure

CavemanClarke

Barefoot shoes for Christmas!

As Christmas is coming around fast, some of you may be hoping for a new pair of shoes to go run in?! I thought I would give my recommendations in case you are undecided on which pairs are best for what. Of course, they will all be bareform or minimalist shoes of some variation, as I thoroughly recommend getting your gait and form back to how we are designed and created to run.

Best for muddy, wet and slippy trails goes to:
Inov-8 Trailroc 235
Reasons:
Fantastic grip from the studs. Sheds mud well. Drains well when wet. Light and comfortable. Removable insole allows quick drying and lacing holds foot well in slippy conditions.

See for more info: http://caveman-clarke.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/update-on-inov-8-trailroc-235s.html

Best general all-trail shoe goes to:
Vibram FiveFingers Spyridon LS
Reasons:
Very natural feeling, great fit and comfort. Lacing holds foot well and kevlar insert protects against sharp and pointy trail obstacles. Fantastic ground feel and very light. Grip copes well with a variety of terrain.

See for more info: http://caveman-clarke.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vibram-fivefingers-spyridon-vs-spyridon.html

Best for short fast runs on dry and compact stony trails goes to:
New Balance Minimus MT00/WT00
Reasons:
Extremely light and airy, and grip has just enough thickness to protect against stone bruising.

Best transition shoe goes to:
New Balance Minimus MT10/WT10
Reasons:
Just the right amount of protection, cushioning and heel-toe differential to wear when transitioning to bareform running without straining the calves too much too soon. Especially when slowly incorporating bareform running in to an already established running routine.

Best road runner goes to:
New Balance Minimus MR00/WR00
Reasons:
Comfy, light and great looking shoe with lots of grip.
Please see link below for video review by BarefootAthleteVideo

Best gym and crossfit shoe goes to:
Inov-8 BareXF 210
Reasons:
Tough, robust, grippy, comfy and lightweight. Will take whatever you throw at it.
Please see link below for video of the Bare XF 210 from INOV8run

I hope this brief post helps with those Christmas choices. Any comments welcome.

Happy Running and a Merry Christmas to you all
CavemanClarke

Back to Boots for a day or two

In the past week I have visited a friends farm to help with general farming activities. Not being a fan of welly boots at all due to the painful Achilles heel I get when wearing them, the only other 'suitable' farm footwear was my trusty walking boots. They are a good pair of Meindl leather boots. Pretty expensive when I bought them years ago. Now don't get me wrong, the durability of these boots has been great. I have put them through a whole host of harsh environments in the past, but recently in the past 3 years have sidelined them due to my enthusiasm and dedication to barefoot and bareform movement. But needs-must, and so on they went to tackle the ploughed fields and farm machinery.

Meindl boots

The point I want to make in this short post is about what I experienced when I returned to built-up, stiff-soled and heel-raised footwear. Was it a pleasant experience? Not really. My feet remained dry where minimalist shoes would have most definitely failed. My feet remained warm; not used to this in the current English weather! The problem lay in the way my body responded.

The heel raise caused my old back problem (the reason I tried barefoot movement in the first place) to start to re-surface and my glutes to ache, my toes felt cramped and my achilles tightened. Also, I felt very unstable on the uneven terrain. The sheer weight made me aware a knee problem or lower back pull could be just around the corner. After taking them off at the end of the day my feet ached and my ankles felt weaker. My feet were trying to tell me not to put them back on if I could help it. Free at last from their cramped environment my feet began to relax and stretch out again. On went a pair of VFF Spyridon LS and across the fields I ran to re-discover that liberating and free feeling bareform and barefoot running gives me. With my feet free at last I was again happy to feel the ground beneath me.

This has helped me to realise that although cold and wet feet are not very comfy in freezing UK weather conditions, I still remember why I decided to go 'minimal' with my footwear. No back ache, no knee problems, stable foot positioning and landing even when running across treacherous terrain and a light free feeling instead of heavy footed stomping! I simply love the feeling, and I truly believe it is far better for our whole bodies and even our mind, not just our feet.

Happy running
CavemanClarke