Based in “England’s last Wilderness”, the North Pennines, inov-8 is a British company passionate about the specialist off-road running products they make. Part of the “Off Trail” line, the inov-8® X-Talon™190 is a light weight minimalist trail shoe offering elite-performance in light, fast and comfortable package.
Whether you’re lacing up for your next solo scamper through the backcountry, or your race over the summit, the X-Talon 190’s breathable mesh upper, minimalist design and sticky rubber outsole ensure that you’ll soar over the trail.
While we knew our First Look was a harbinger of good things to come, we didn’t know how much the inov-8 X-Talon 190 would impress. This is one trail shoe that had us running quicker, lighter, and more connected to the trail and our surroundings.
Our very first trial run in the X-Talon 190’s took place along the Clarksburg Branch Line Trail in Sacramento California. A beautiful trail stretching through the countryside, guarded by towering oak trees, the Branch Line Trail offers the runner a mélange of terrain from hard packed dirt, crushed stone, and everything in between.
This initial run taught us one thing; like a beast of prey craving it’s next meal, the X-Talon 190 longs for bigger, burlier trail. Unsatisfied with simple runs through the countryside, these trail runners are beautifully designed for mountain loops that get the heart-pounding and adrenaline flowing.
Fit and Performance….
When you’re out on the trail, making sharp cuts and dancing across technical terrain, the first thing you’ll appreciate is the fiery heart of the X-Talon 190 – a performance last and Met-Cradle™ webbed upper. Together these features ensure forefoot security without suffocating your feet and prevent the side to side sloppiness you experience when taking those fancy road shoes of yours out on the trail.
The mesh upper is not only flashy, but keeps your feet fully ventilated from start to finish. And because you can’t always avoid those puddles and babbling brooks, you can take comfort knowing it dries out quickly so you don’t feel as though you’re slogging it through the rest of your run.
In line with its sleek minimalist design, the inov-8 design team has done a tremendous job providing just enough cushion without sacrificing the minimalist feel of the shoe’s 3mm heel-to-toe drop differential. In part this is accomplished via inov-8’s 1 Arrow Shoc-Zone™ midsole. Not too hard and not too soft, the midsole cushions your steps and keeping your strides quick and efficient.
Like an eagle facing furious winds, steering its course upwards with a rush of speed, the rubber cleats (talons) on the outsole devour the trail underfoot virtually propelling you upward. Moreover the sticky rubber outsole construction is based on climbing rubber technologies providing added stick to wet surfaces further removing the worry of finding the best footing.
Whether reality or placebo affect – miles of trail left the impression that the effort of the shoe necessitated less effort from my legs while digging into the steep grades. At the very least it was a welcome aid of which I was the beneficiary.
Room for Improvement…
From box to trail the X-Talon™190 kept the foot firmly pressed on the impression accelerator. Yet even products we love deserve a fair critique, so following are some of our thoughts from the field.
For adherents of “barefoot-styled” shoes the protruding talons of the X-Talon 190 will take some adjustment, and you may find yourself driving to the nearest trail head rather than making your way there on foot via street and asphalt.
And while the rubberized talons dig deep propelling you onward there is another downside; the tread does not easily shed the mud and clay. On one wet day, there’s no doubt the X-Talon’s kept me upright in the muck, but as the grime built up underneath, the added weight was noticeable at times requiring a pit stop to clean the cleats.
The other critique centers on the mesh upper. Is it light and breathable? Yes. However, it isn’t dense enough to win the battle against grains of sand and other tiny annoyances that can find their way into the shoe and beneath your foot. This can prove to be problematic especially when going sans socks.
Bottom Line….
As trail running continues to explode in popularity the consumer has a great variety of shoes from which to choose. That being said, its hard to go wrong with the inov-8® X-Talon™190. Your own personal FastPass to access the backcountry the shoe is light, nimble and exceedingly capable. Our lasting impression of the X-Talon is this: A trail shoe that lets you soar on wings of eagles, while attacking the trail with the voracity of a mountain lion.
MSRP: $120
Manufacturer: inov-8
Manufacturer’s Website: www.inov-8.com/
Weight: 7.8 oz (size 9)
Sizing: Based on the men’s scale. Women should subtract 1 and a half sizes from their women’s shoe size. Example: Women’s 8.5 equals size 7.0 for this shoe.
Availability: You can find your local retailer here.
*Met-Cradle™: Anatomically positioned to cradle the fore foot behind the metatarsal heads