Customer Reviews inov-8 X-Talon™ 190

I got these after doing some research for minimalist trail running shoes. I'm an avid Vibram runner, and only recently started with trails, mainly Indiana forestry trails. These are steep, muddy, and covered with rocks and roots and lots of foliage. I was having a lot of foot pain running on gravel paths or stepping on odd roots, along with too many slips and slides. These shoes have a very small drop heel to toe, and are exceptionally light. Also the incorporation of a thin midsole and the deep lugs gave me that little bit of protection that I wanted without sacrificing the minimalist feel. The lugs are not rigid rubber, but rather have a nice amount of give. On concrete you feel like you're walking on mini marshmallows. Granted these are a trail only shoe, and they excel there. Muddy hills are taken with confidence. I'm no longer scanning for debris and traction paths, just debris. For sizing, I didn't have to go up any, which I normally do because I have wide feet. Apparently running shoes aren't often made with width sizes. Since these are all mesh sided though they give enough that it wasn't an issue. At first I was leery of the open design for allowing water in and out. Running through 30 degree creeks didn't sound like fun, but actually it's turned out better than I expected. I have other shoes that are waterproof, and the problem there is water gets in the top, and stays in. With these the water is in and squeezed back out after a few footfalls. By the end of a trail with 5 creeks that are 1 foot deep by 5 feet wide, my socks were just damp. My feet were never numbed, and actually warmed back up from the running quickly once the water is evacuated. The only thing I wish is for color options. Yes, these are deep trail shoes, but still they are a violently loud red.

One of the best buys I ever had...felt like a million dollar shoes. The comfort and performance is above and beyond my expectation!

Simply the best off-road running the there is. Fabulous feel, traction and articulation.

The service from the company is excellent. I love the shoes, however; I need to retrain my foot. These shoes are very light, have great traction even in wet grass, and my feet feel good in them for a long period of time. My arches are not so good, but with this type of shoe I am able to strengthen my arches.

I'm a minimalist runner used to Vibrams - and have big wide feet. After finding the Vibrams just didn't cut it at a couple of the obstacle course races I was in, I wanted a more trail focused shoe. I started out with a pair of MudRocs, but they were too narrow - as much as I wanted to love them, I never made it out of the house before trading them in for a pair of Merrel TrailGloves. I've loved the Merrels and wear a pair as my daily shoes - as well as a second pair on the trails and at the races - however, I always came back to the Inov-8 brand and styling. At a race weekend, I had the chance to try on these x-talons, and brought them home. They feel much wider than the MudRocs and have a lot more room in the toe box. A 4 mile trail run the next day went well, and these will now be my go-to shoes. They have a lot less ground feel than something like the Vibram or TrailGlove - this wouldn't be something I normally like on the roads, but for the trails it's preferable. Last thing I want is to feel the ground, when that ground is rocky and covered in mud! The sole lugs make road running an odd experience, and i'd not take these on a race with lots of tarmac (trailgloves for that) - but for the mountains, forests and mud, these are my new Go-To

This shoe offers incredible traction. I bought this for two purposes. I play tournament paintball and use this sneaker on artificial turf. It has incredible grip and it doesn't feel like I have anything on my foot. It's got a very natural feel, and the fit is very true to size. I also bought these to use in the Tough Mudder series as well to. I've competed in a couple of them so far in sneakers and heard that Inov-8 is a go to shoe for mountain/endurance racing as well...so I'm looking forward to my next TM event to give these a go. So far, so good as a turf shoe though!

Excellent trail running shoe. Great traction. Superb proprioceptive feedback. Allows the foot to move as a foot should. Fit adaptable from narrow to fairly wide depending on the footbed used (3mm or 6mm).

I use the 195s for Crossfit. I signed up for a spartan race & used these shoes. AWESOME...they hooked up on wet rocks, muddy wet wood, & down hill...great control....they allow you to own the trail! Thanks inov8 for ur dependability!

This is my second inov shoe. I'm really impressed by their minimalistic approach towards sport shoes. This shoes are really good for running, brisk walking, or casual every day use.

These are fantastic trail runners. When I first purchased them I was looking for a dedicated trail shoe with a minimalist sole. These fit the bill perfectly. At first, I was a little embarrassed by how extreme the tread looks (almost like cleats), and the others in my group all thought the same. Then we did a 13 mile trail run after a week of rain and I was the only member of our group who didn't fall or even slip. While the others, in their "trail shoes", had to scramble up slopes on all fours, I ran right up beside them, planting my beautiful treads into the slick mud without so much as slipping. I couldn't more highly recommend a trail shoe now. Everyone wanted to know after that what they were and where I bought them. They aren't cut out for road running because the tread will slip on slick surfaces, but for off-road running you couldn't find a better shoe.

I used the Inov8 for my first Tough Mudder race. The grip in the mud was amazing. The only issue is that you slide on hard surfaces such as wood beams.

I bought these to run fast on grass, and they do the trick. I love the sticky tread and how low it is to the ground. I tried the Inov-8 Bare Grip 200, but they were just a little too minimalist for me. I like the little extra padding in this shoe. I had to return my original purchase of size UK6 to get the size UK7 and they fit perfectly. I am normally a size 8.5-9ish in running shoes, and I have a wide foot. Very happy with this purchase. The orange is a little more attractive in person too.

Got this for a spartan race, I wanted the extra traction and wanted to be able to clean them after the race. Great traction and the fit is great, not to mention the color is awesome. These are some of the best shoes made and have since bought a second pair for daily use.

I wore these for the first time in a Rugged Maniac 5K race. They worked very well in the mud, but are not the best when climbing or balancing because of the tread. However, I don't think you will find a shoe that can handle everything perfectly. I have tried tennis shoes and Vibrams for other OCR races, and I would definitely pick these again of the 3. These offer good traction, good foot protection, do not retain water and clean-up nicely. Seems like you should be able to wear these without socks, but they did rub on my heels and gave me blisters so test it out if you plan to go barefoot. Sizing is true... I wear 11.5 in NB and Brooks and got the same size in these and the fit was spot on. I definitely recommend these shoes for OCR or any serious off-road minimalist running.

These are great shoes! I ran a 10k trail run in them without socks and I definitely noticed the difference from my other shoes (standard road running shoes). They grabbed the terrain well and I didn't slip in any mud. When I ran in puddles these shoes performed exactly the same even though they were soaking wet. They wicked water away quickly and remained light. They were a bit more minimalist than I was expecting and I probably couldn't handle more than a 10k right now personally. They fit well and feel good though.

I just ran a Spartan race in these shoes, and I was not alone because I noticed about 2 dozen other racers wearing these as well. They were amazing up and down the muddy and rocky mountain. Sure the mud got it, but the mesh upper was light weight and thin enough that it just pushed the push right back out with every step. I highly recommend these for off-trail courses! I usually wear a US men's 7/women's 9. I ordered these based on the men's size and they were perfect!

Great trail shoes. I bought them for the mudder fads, that I am now addicted too. I never hesitated or slipped while running the Tough Mudder. I went one size up, as recommended by others who have a wide step. Material doesn't look like it will last for more then a year of moderate to heavy use. We will see.

I absolutely love this shoe! It looks and feels great. I signed up to do the tough mudder and was looking for the perfect shoe(and I found it!). With its lacing system I didn't have to worry about losing it to the mud (no duct tape for this girl). It is light in weight and with its very breathable mesh the water didn't slow me down. The outsole was amazing for climbing up steep muddy hills which was an issue I had with different running shoes. Throughout the race I had many compliments and even heard some people say they should've bought these shoes for the event. I highly recommend this shoe to anyone looking to do a mud run or any type of off road running. With a performance like this I will definitely be buying more Inov-8s.

I bought these shoes for a 5k mud run and was extremely satisfied with the shoes. Inov-8 did a fantastic job with these shoes, I already cannot wait to go running on a trail in these. The tread/grips at the bottom provided great traction and kept my glued to the course. The shoes are extremely light and have a minimalist design to them. I generally need more arch support with my shoes, but due to the off-road running style of the shoes, I felt comfortable in these shoes. The shoes are so light - the first time I put them on I felt like I didn't put shoes on. The shoe is covered in mesh which helps to drain out water (if you step into water). Many people opt for the five finger shoes for minimalist shoes, but I would recommend these shoes over them due to the foot protection you get.

I have a pair of F-Lite 195s and these fit exactly the same. They are great on the trail! I can't wait for Tough Mudder to really test their mettle.

These were great. I can't tell you how much better these shoes made my run over the weekend. The first time I did a mud run I used regular shoes and I slipped left and right in the mud and up and down mud covered hills. Just walking over mud was hard and soaked up the mud and kept it in the shoes. Well, let me just say I didn't slip once with the X-Talons on while every one else was slipping and falling through the whole course I just cruised up and down the hills with ease. The water and mud would just push itself out the shoe with every step. They stayed lightweight and they cleaned up nice and look brand new once again. I would really recommend these to anyone thinking about doing a mud run or any other outdoor running. They feel great and really grip the ground. Best shoes I've used so far. Must buy.

This is the shoe for Tough Mudder. Best drainage, traction, and comfort of anything I've tried.

Best shoes ever! I split my trail running between these and Vibram Five Fingers Treksports. I love the flexibility. The traction is insane - they're great in mud, snow, and loose dirt/gravel. I even run in them on packed trails. I ran a half marathon in them this morning. The interior materials on Inov-8 shoes are super comfy - I never get blisters due to the shoe construction. My foot measures at a 10.5 but I wear 11.5 in these without socks to make my wide toes happy.

I originally bought these shoes for all the mud runs I do. I have worn them to six mud races so far and love them. This pair is the second pair I have bought. I bought them for my boyfriend and he loves them too. The difference they make for these races is night and day. I swear by them and will wear nothing else. They even held up through a Tough Mudder (no duct tape needed). I am more than happy with these shoes and think everyone that does these races should own a pair or two!