I was delighted when the Great Outdoor store in Dublin gave me the opportunity to test their new range of INOV-8 TERRACLAW 250 Trail Shoes. Having owned a few pairs of INOV-8s in my time I was looking forward to testing this latest edition.
One thing every runner can agree upon is that our feet should always be comfortable and relaxed while running. Having a comfortable pair of shoes is essential and the INOV-8 TERRACLAW 250 certainly delivers on many levels. A high performance, breathable and fast drying shoe with light meshing, which not only provides a comfortable and flexible feeling but at the same time offers protection to your feet even on the toughest of the Wicklow trails.
Although still undecided about there new colour range (my pair were a mix of black, yellow and blue) there's a lot of great things to say about this shoe. So let's begin. Firstly, I found the sole grips really effective on a variety of terrains - from the open mountains to marked trail’s, wet rocks and boardwalk sleepers. The sticky sole and durable rubber lugs provide excellent traction on a range of surfaces and seems to offer the best in durability and grip. Having recently completed a few IMRA races the firm grip of these soles make them perfect for races as well as a training shoe.
Indeed, the INOV-8s remarkable ability while pushing the pace is mainly due to the fact that this 8mm shoe is extremely light weight with a wide toe box and comfortable midsole cushioning which offers the best of protection under pressure! Renowned for its wide toe box this INOV-8 allows the toes to move naturally offering the right amount of feedback to those concerned with technique. Along with this the lugs are nicely spaced which allows any muck that clogs to be easily released upon flexing the shoe giving you suitable grip even for winter runs!
The reinforced toe box similarly provides extra protection for impact from stones and rocks and the tongue is stitched at an angle so it won't slide in wetter conditions as other shoes can. The TERRACLAW is also equipped with suitable thin lacing which provides a secure foothold and when tied in a double knot they will not loosen. Once wet this thin lacing also drains well.
As I'm genuinely impressed by how this shoe handled the trails and various terrains during a particular wet Irish summer I can see the TERRACLAW becoming a very popular shoe.
Ultimately, if you're looking for shoes suitable for a variety of trails then the TERRACLAW is a worthwhile purchase.
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