Performance

The numbers on inov-8’s shoes relate to weight, but our 275s actually tipped the scales at 313g per shoe in a size 43. Nit-picking aside, that doesn’t stop them being a brilliant blend of slipper-like comfort, deceptive grip from the multi-compound outsole and a surprising amount of cushioning.

We felt immediately at home the first time we wore the shoe. The upper has lovely soft, but secure feel to it helped by the external lacing cradle. There’s plenty of forefoot space, to keep distance runners happy and the best word we can come up with to describe the way the shoe feels is ‘natural’.

It’s light, agile and connected with a sort of zip to it that makes you want to make like a frisky trail hound. How much of that is down to the DFB technology we don’t know, but the shoe just made us want to run.

It helps that the 4mm lugged, multi-compound outsole is properly all-round grippy on anything hard to medium including wet rock where it simply sticks to surfaces that Salomon and Saucony shoes squirmed over nervously.

Despite being a shoes designed for ‘hard-packed trails’, it also managed off-camber grass with ease and bit into medium slop quite happily. Inov-8 has toothier shoes for more fell-like conditions too, but it’s nice to know that the Trail Talon isn’t out-faced by a bit of slipperiness.

Verdict

The first-time we ran in the Trail Talon 275s, the shoe felt instantly right and very, very natural. Slipper-like comfort, superb all-round grip and a properly quick, easy rolling feel that brings out your inner sheep-dog sums it up for us.

It’s very comfortable on the foot from the off, but without feeling at all insecure and has a quick, connected, agile vibe that makes you want to go faster. There’s enough cushioning to cope with harder surfaces, but not so much that it upsets the shoe’s composure on rougher stuff.

The fit’s quite generous in the forefoot by inov-8 standards, which should suit longer distance use and while it’s touted as being ‘for long miles on hard-packed trails’ there’s enough grip to cope with  occasional softer surfaces too. Comfortable, but still quick and confidence inspiring.

Forward with a waggy tail!

If you want a lighter, fast version – maybe for racing – we also have the Trail Talon 250 in for a look. It’s a pared-down version with less gubbins, a 4mm drop and a genuine 241g per shoe weight.

More Information

See www.inov-8.com/men/footwear-terrain/trail/trailtalon-275.html