Inov8 Trail Talon Review: A Real Trail Running Shoe
Inov-8 Trail Talon review: trail weapon or just another muddy compromise?
Inov8’s claim: the Trail Talons are light, grippy, fast, and built to tear across soft ground like a caffeinated mountain goat.
According to the marketing, the Trail Talon is designed for runners who spend more time off-road than on it. Mud, bog (I’ll get to these points a while), forest tracks, loose gravel, the kind of terrain that eats road shoes for breakfast. They promise confidence, bite, and just enough cushioning to keep your legs from turning to jelly on a 20km run.
But here’s the question I always ask:
Are they actually versatile… or are they brilliant for one very specific type of terrain and utterly rubbish everywhere else?
Disclaimer: at the time of writing this review, I’ve owned the Trail Talon shoes for a couple of weeks, but they’ve been given a baptism of mud (I live in England, and it’s currently winter, which means the weather is cold and wet, the terrain muddy). With those points in mind, here’s my honest answer.
Personal history
I’ve run in just about everything over the years. Big, squidgey Hokas. Wide, natural-foot Altras (I love these, especially the Lone Peak and Wild Experience models). And even some road racers that give the feel of having rockets strapped to my feet.
But I keep coming back to one simple truth:
When the trail gets ugly, most shoes I’ve run in tend to have failing points, such as:
- Thick midsoles start wobbling;
- Road-style tread become ice skates.
So I picked up the Trail Talons because they looked properly aggressive… perfect for deep mud and wet trails. They’re light, lean and have a “rally car” feel about them.
Since I bought them, I’ve run along woodland tracks, through deep mud, on wet grass, up the steep climbs of the Chiltern Hills, plus, a few accidental road miles when connecting trails.
And they still look good! But how do they feel and perform?
First impressions
The first thing I noticed when I picked them up is the weight. The Trail Talon weighs in at only 310g grammes, which is properly light.
I went the wide version and the fit feels precise – not cramped, not sloppy. If you’re used to roomy Altras, the Trail Talon will feel more built for performance. They feel less like a slipper, having more of a molded, glove-like fit.
The upper is breathable and tough (to which I can attest as mine have shrugged off tough, rugged terrain and plenty of hard knocks), with none of the over-engineered, armour-plated nonsense that adds weight but rarely gives any benefit.
These shoes feel like they want to run fast and drag you with them, whether you want to or not!
The key observation I have for you is this: whilst light, the Talon’s sole feels inflexible when you first try them on. There’s a reason for this, which I’ll come to soon.
Protection
Unlike the Topo MTN4, which I love, the Trail Talon isn’t a pillow-soft shoe.
You’re not getting giant stacks of foam like you would in something from Hoka. Instead, you get a moderate midsole with enough cushioning to take the jarring out of rocky, uneven terrain whilst retaining connection with the ground.
And I actually prefer that on trails.
Why? Because too much foam and I lose the ‘feel’ of the ground, which is important when I’m moving at pace.
For me, the Trail Talon hits that sweet spot:
- Enough protection for long runs
- Enough ground ‘feel’ to stay agile
- And just enough flexibility to react quickly
There’s a solid toe bumper too, which has already saved me from several full-speed rock punts. Don’t get me wrong – they’re probably far from indestructible (although I’ve yet to prove that), but hardy enough to stop your expletives echosing through the woods.
Grip (the fun bit)
Right.
This is where the Trail Talon excels over most of my other shoes.
The outsole lugs are aggressive enough that I swear I can feel them bite the ground when I’m running. They have a proper, claw-like lugs that dig into mud and soft terrain, and this is where I’ll loop back to the rigidity of the sole.
On my first run, the relative lack of flexibility when compared to Hoka’s ATRs, or Altra’s Lone Peak shoes, felt odd, and I wasn’t sure the fit was right. Then I hit the seriously muddy and slippery stretches of the Ridgeway, and everything clicked into place.
The combination of a fairly rigid sole and incredibly aggressive lugs allows me to maintain a fast pace, even when cross-graining muddy embankments. The Trail Talon ripped over the terrain – no slips, no sideways slides. The assuredness gave me a huge boost in running confidence.
I tested them on:
- Wet grass (normally lethal)
- Thick mud (my footprints are mingled in with many other in the image above)
- Loose gravel climbs
- Rain-slick chalk paths
On every test, they win! They’re especially good uphill. You can really drive through your stride without that half-slip feeling you get from shallower tread.
If most trail shoes feel like trainers with a bit of grip, these feel like tools.
I can honestly say, they feel like they were designed by someone who actually runs in the cold, wet and muddy conditions that are so common to the UK.
Durability
I’ve only been running in these shoes for a couple of weeks, but I’ve tested them in some of the roughest terrain I can find, and the uppers are still surprisingly intact. No tearing, no stitching failures, no blown-out sides. This may change after a few months, but for now I’m very happy with the durability.
I’ve read the lugs and outsoles can show early wear if worn on roads, which is an obvious statement. They’re not road running trainers; they’re built for cross country, and I can only advise you use them within the parameters of the design. Enough said on that point.
Fit and speed
Fit-wise, these are more performance-focused than comfort-lounge.
They hug my feet securely, which is exactly what I want when moving up slippery slopes, descending, or cornering hard. The snug fit ensures my feet don’t slosh around inside the shoe as everything stays locked in, even when wet (some of my previous trainers get a little ‘baggy’ when they’re soaked through)
If, like me, you’ve got very wide feet, go for the wide fit option even if they feel a little more snug compared to roomier brands, as the secure fit means better control and fewer sloppy landings.
I’ve alluded to speed already. All I can say is, they are quick!
Not carbon-road-shoe quick, obviously. But for a trail shoe, I find them nimble and responsive. There’s a nice snap when you toe off, and the lower stack height makes you feel closer to the ground and more agile. And the low flexibility of the outsole only enhances this feel (for me… you might not like it).
To me, the Trail Talon makes me want to push the pace hard.
Final thoughts
The Trail Talon doesn’t try to be everything. It’s a fast, grippy, confidence-inspiring trail shoe designed for getting dirty and helping you move quickly.
And I love that, because many shoes try to please everyone and end up being only okay at everything. The Trail Talon picks a job—and does it very well.
If you mostly run:
- muddy trails
- cross-country/trail
- woodland paths
- soft or mixed terrain
You’ll probably love them.
If you’re mostly on road or want ultra-soft cushioning, look elsewhere.
My verdict?
A solid 9 out of 10.
Buy the Inov-9 Trail Talon if:
- You want lean, tough, grippy, and surprisingly quick;
- You want your shoes to handle the terrain whilst you enjoy the ride;
- You, like me, really dig the cross-country vibe.
Don’t buy the Inov-9 Trail Talon if:
- You’re a road runner;
- You prefer a large degree of sole flex;
- You don’t have about £130 to spare (that’s the price point covered)
And if you do buy a pair, let me know your thoughts on the performance – especially in the mud!
