****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Me:I am not a long distance runner, nor much of a runner at all. I’m an all around fitness enthusiast, who lifts weights, does calisthenics, rides bikes, go for hikes, paddles, rows and sprints… but I don’t run distance.Lately I’ve had the urge to add a little bit of trail running into the mix. I hike a bunch, and often find my mind wandering and dreaming about covering that same terrain at double the speed, bouncing from rock to rock with beauty and grace. I also do so many other things, and I knew I would never become a full time runner or “ultra runner”.I started my search for running shoes at a local running specialty store - I told them I am a forefoot striker, have been exercising in zero drop shoes for 10+ years and don’t like shoes that feel mushy underfoot. The shop proceeded to push mushy, overly cushioned “road to trail” shoes with drops (they called them offsets) ranging from 4mm to 10mm+ I was not impressed with any of them. I was less impressed with the staff there suggesting I could learn to become a heel striker.The closest thing they had to my liking was the Altra Lone Peak, but those shoes are freakishly wide and my feet are actually on the narrow side (I’m a 12B in things like dress shoes and cowboy boots). I left the shop a bit disappointed and feeling as though the shoe I dreamt of didn’t exist.After google searching for “zero drop trail running shoes” I came across review after review for the Inov-8 Terraultra G 270, with it being well praised for a blend of cushion, ground feel, grip and durability. I generally love Inov-8 shoes and have done my cross training in them for years, so I’m shocked I had overlooked them.Amazon had the best price and shipping speed (as they often do), so I placed an order for the “oh my goodness these are impossibly bright” orange and black color. And let me tell you, they are impossibly bright!Sizing:My normal shoe size is 12, but I sized up to 12.5 to account for swelling during runs and hikes. I recommend you do that too, or order the larger size if you tend to be in between sizes.These shoes are roomy, but not cavernous like the Altra Lone Peak. If you have slightly narrow to average width feet, the lacing system will let you dial in a very secure fit. I’m not sure how well they would fit really wide feet since I don’t have those.Feel:Like most Inov-8 shoes, they feel natural and light on the feet, while being comfortably snug. You will not find these to be clumsy, unless you are a hardcore barefoot advocate - in which case, why are you looking at these? Most people should get along fine with their balanced feel, “just right” level of cushion and snug fit.Grip:I’m going to give grip its own section. Simply put, the grip is amazing! My hiking boots have a grippy Vibram outsole that I’ve never felt lacked for traction, but the grip of these Inov-8s is on another level in comparison. Walking and running on the same trails, consisting of hard pack, tree rooted, granite/rocky, dusty and occasionally moist dirt has been eye opening. There are spots of trail that I anticipated a slide, but never got one. Northern California isn’t know for mud, so I can’t comment on that. Uphill, side hill and downhill we’re equally grippy and secure. A+ on gripPerformance:So far, about 45 miles into using these shoes I’m very happy. I will be using them for dry weather hiking and all of my running now. I have also run a couple miles with them on the road and don’t see why they couldn’t be used for that too. This is such a well balanced shoe, and has inspired confidence on my trail runs so far. No blisters either.Conclusion:I could see this shoe being popular with thru-hikers, fast-packers and guys like me who want to be able to transition between walk and run whenever the mood strikes. There are lighter shoes, there are more rugged shoes, there are cushier shoes and there are more minimal shoes - but I can’t think of any shoes as balanced and Goldilocks as these. The only caution I’d have is if you are a very established runner with a history of training in high drop shoes, or if you strongly favor an attribute not found in this shoe - in those instances, stick with what you like. If you are open minded, not super experienced or are somewhat of a blank canvas like me, you owe it to yourself to try them.Did I mention their grip?
