About The Inov-8 X-Talon Shoes
The Inov-8 X-Talon collection has been designed specifically for tearing up the trails with a aggressive outsole.
These lightweight trail shoes will have no problem digging its claws into any terrain.
The Inov-8 X-Talon range does it all, over short or ultra long trail distances, and used by a number of world champions from the mountain, fells, trails and OCR courses.
Are Inov-8 X-Talon Running Shoes Any Good?
In no particular order, we are going to cover what we think our Inov-8's X-Talons best running shoes and how to get the best out of them:
- Inov-8 X-Talon 255
- Inov-8 X-Talon 212
- Inov-8 X-Talon 235
- Inov-8 X-Talon 260
- Inov-8 X-Talon 210
- Inov-8 X-Talon 230
INOV-8 X-TALON 255BEST FOR WIDE FEETPrice - £125 | Buy From Inov-8  The X-Talon 255 shoe is slightly wider compared with the other shoes in this range, which is a big bonus for some runners that find the other X-Talon shoes slightly too tight. The shoes are built on a wider sole which gives you a bit more room around the forefoot. However, they do not compromise on other areas like grip and comfort, so you do not lose out on the benefits of the X-Talon range. PROS
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INOV-8 X-TALON 212BEST FOR AGILE MOVEMENTPrice - £115 | Buy From Inov-8  The X-Talon 212 is a shoe that is primarily designed for cross country and fell running, particularly for people that are serious about racing. The sole is incredibly flexible, largely because it does not have the protective plate that you find in other Inov-8 shoes. The X-Talon 212 has the lowest level of cushioning of all Inov-8 shoes, which helps to increase speed, but you do make some sacrifices in comfort. The upper portion of the shoe is made from a tightly woven mesh that is breathable and good at keeping out debris as you run, and allows water to roll off very easily. The shoe also includes an insole but this is quite flat and does not offer a huge amount of support. PROS
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INOV-8 X-TALON 260BEST FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAILSPrice - £125 | Buy From Inov-8  The X-Talon 260 shoe is designed for long distance trail running over difficult terrain, so it has more focus on comfort. The well-designed combination of materials gives the level of comfort and support that you need for longer races over varied terrain, but it is also a good all-rounder that is great for training or short distances as well. The lugs on the sole are 8mm, which is incredibly large compared with other similar shoes. They are also positioned in such a way that mud falls off easily, so you get maximum grip and reduced chance of clogging. However, if you wear these shoes on concrete, they will wear very quickly and you will not get the same grip when you go back to running trails in the mud. PROS
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INOV-8 X-TALON 210LIGHTEST IN THE X-TALON RANGEPrice - £140 | Buy From Inov-8  The Inov-8 X-Talon 210 is the lightest shoe in the X-Talon range, but it does not compromise on grip. It has the same 8mm lugs as most Inov-8 X-Talon shoes do, but it does have less cushioning than some of the other models available. The upper layer is incredibly lightweight and breathable for maximum comfort. Like the 212, the X-Talon 210 is a shoe that is designed for speed. PROS
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INOV-8 X-TALON 235BEST ALL FOR GRIPPrice - £69 | Buy From SportShoes.com  The Inov-8 X-Talon 235 shoe is designed to be lightweight, hard wearing, and waterproof. Each shoe weighs 235g, hence the name, and they are a great trail running shoe built with graphene enhanced rubber soles that offer improved grip. According to Inov-8, the graphene enhanced soles are 50% stronger, 50% more elastic, and 50% more hard wearing than a standard rubber sole. The upper portion of the shoe is made from a single piece of hard wearing ballistic nylon, which is incredibly lightweight and waterproof, so it holds up when you are running trails in bad weather. The shoes are incredibly lightweight and comfortable, and the sole gives you plenty of grip, even on the muddiest terrain. The X-Talon 235 is available in a male and female version for improved fit, but some people do find that the upper portion of the shoe is not right for their feet. PROS
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INOV-8 X-TALON 230BEST FOR ?Price - £80-£115 | Buy From Amazon  The X-Talon 230 has fewer features than some of the other shoes in the range, so it is lighter, but this does mean that there are some compromises. It still has 8mm lugs, so you get incredible grip.
The upper of the shoe is water resistant and reinforced with a protective plate to protect against rocks and sticks when you are trail running.
However, the X-Talon 230 gives a very rough ride when you are on harder terrain, so even though they are great for muddy terrains, they are less effective on varied trails or hard packed ground. PROS
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Lastly, we cover some frequently asked questions about the Inov-8 X-Talon running shoes.
Inov-8 X-Talon 210 vs 212?
The X-Talon 210 and 212 are both great shoes for racing as they are lightweight and offer good grip.
However, they are both less comfortable and offer less support than other X-Talon shoes.
The upper portion of the 210 is more lightweight than the 212, although there is only 2g difference in the weight of the shoe. If you are looking to maximise speed over everything else, the 210 is the best choice.
Inov-8 X-Talon 190 vs 212?
The X-Talon 190 is quite a bit lighter than the 212, so you may expect it to offer less support.
However, that is not the case. When compared with the 212, the 190 is actually better suited to long distance running over firm terrain.
The 212 is better for racing over a lot of muddy terrain, but it does not perform well on hard packed ground. But the 190 will handle varied terrain over long distances without causing as much pain in the feet.
Inov-8 X-Talon 225 vs 212?
The 225 is a heavier shoe than the 212, but it does have some advantages. The main benefit is that it is a wider fit so people that find the 212 a little tight around the toe end will do better with the 225.
It also has more cushioning than the 212. However, this extra comfort does mean that you sacrifice speed, so if you are racing, the 212 is the better choice.
Inov-8 X-Talon 212 vs 230?
The X-Talon 230 is more focused on comfort and protection at the expense of speed.
The protective plate, which the 212 does not have, helps to protect against sticks and stones when trail running.
But this does also reduce flexibility, which has a negative impact on speed.
Questions
If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Inov-8 X-Talon running shoes, please ask below in the comments.
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