Inov8 - X-Talon 190
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 15, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
66
0
"Yeah, I just wish I had bought them *before* my $200 and $400 sets. ... For that, I will likely keep them."
"For something with solid bottom end, the Hype 4 absolutely smash them... ... the bass is incredible, miss are very good & treble excellent. ... They sound far more expensive than they are - I'd have been happy had I paid 700. ... You could absolutely say (and it's been said by others) that this could easily be a 700 USD IEM"
"I wore them for everything - training runs on pavements, trail runs, and the swimrun world championships, OTIllO, in 2013."
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84
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
"I forgot I had my fenix on and did a mud run. Didn’t even phase my watch. Literally dragged it through the mud and it just kept going."
"I've put them through the washer and dryer."
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"the X-Talons were like a tight glove with minimal movement running."
"a bit more supportive ... Turns out padding and isolation from scorching hot jagged/sloped black basalt surfaces is important."
"It’s really great as the toe box is wide anyway but then you can get a better fit for the heel/body of the foot"
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"They also have the best sole material I’ve found for slippery mud and rocks."
"the 6mm lugs really helping in the shitty clay mud of the Surrey and South Downs hills."
"imo x talons are excellent at wet rock"
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"low drop, minimalist X Talons which allowed me to run pain free again, and I never looked back. ... Probably my favourite shoe because it allowed me to rediscover the joy of running"
"like a low drop and low rise ... I've only bought these shoes since early '23 and I hope they never change."
Disliked most:
8
37
"The problem is that the precision fit isn't precise - a massive step back given their intended use."
"They all fit differently. ... It was infuriating. ... So, a warning to all: Try all models of a given brand, because you can't rely on equivalent fit."
"I did end up going for a run with them yesterday though and I don't think they're going to work for me. I want them to, but there's just not enough room for my toes in the end. ... Ultimately I do like them and their build quality is clearly superior to Speedgoats. But between their non-wide toebox and having to *size normally* to accommodate that instead of *sizing down* like the internet suggests because they *fit long*, I found they fit a bit awkwardly. ... I've ran in them four times now and rolled my ankle three of those times. Yesterday put me on the verge of injury. I want to like them, and they're built very well, but they're not built for my feet. I think they're just too narrow and throw off my balance."
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"the toebox is too narrow for me and gives blisters on the outside of my big toes. ... the toe box is just too tight for me."
"They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. ... They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. ... I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. ... after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%."
"They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. ... They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. ... I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. ... after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%."
9
41
"very fragile when they come into contact with any rocks or roots. ... When I finished they were full of holes. ... For 160 euros I'll be lucky if they last the month."
"O cabedal é feito com aquelas telas, por isso ele acaba não sendo muito resistente. ... Eu usei ele em Uricibi para fazer uma trilha que cruzava um rio várias vezes nesse fim de semana e num trecho em que a mata estava bastante fechada, eles acabaram rasgando nesses pontos pelo atrito com a vegetação"
"I bought the 13s and after two runs totalling 30k a hole was starting to appear on the side and the front toe area where the outsole meets the upper, it started peeling. I sent them back for a refund."
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"hate the lack of energy return. ... Feel like I've got bricks on my feet after 50 miles!"
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"It was a total disaster. ... By mile 13, the soles of my feet were two giant blister cushions. ... I hobbled out the next day nearly crying from pain and hitched home, utterly defeated. ... Turns out padding and isolation from scorching hot jagged/sloped black basalt surfaces is important."
"hate the lack of energy return. ... Feel like I've got bricks on my feet after 50 miles!"
"I used to wear Vivos on the trail. I do think I’m able to go farther and without sore feet with some cushion."
I started noticing this a couple years ago and planned accordingly. For me I have huge feet and it's hard to find good shoes. For those in my situation and like a low drop and low rise, look into Inov-8. I've only bought these shoes since early '23 and I hope they never change.
r/trailrunning • Why are so many trail shoes now high stack + high drop? ->I much prefer the new Mudtalon to these - have had both. The X-talon a pure soft ground shoe I think though. Wouldn't like to be caught on wet slabby rock. You can get a range of fits in the newer shoe too - precision, standard and wide which helps.
r/trailrunning • Inov8 X Talon 260, worth a buy? ->My absolute shit bust favourite was my first pair of On Cloudventure Peaks - the orange and grey ones. It was a proper game changer. I hate massive chunky Hoka-style soles. The Ons were light, insanely comfortable, with amazing feedback, good grip - basically everything you want in a shoe. Closely followed by my first pair of Inov8 XTalons (the red and white ones from c.2012). I’d had bad trouble with my ITB and had tried gait analysis (which led to some Saunconys), physio, orthotic footbeds etc, but on the recommendation of some mates and having read Born to Run I bought some low drop, minimalist X Talons which allowed me to run pain free again, and I never looked back. I wore them for everything - training runs on pavements, trail runs, and the swimrun world championships, OTIllO, in 2013. Probably my favourite shoe because it allowed me to rediscover the joy of running, albeit not the best. Honourable mentions to my workhorse Inov8 Trailtalon 290, which have seen me through a few 50 and 100 milers, and my Roclite 275s, which were superb on the Cape Wrath Ultra.
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->Would love to know how inov8 ranks here, imo x talons are excellent at wet rock
r/trailrunning • The best wet rock grip, Arcteryx, Adidas, Salomon, Altra, LaSportiva, Icebug, VJ ->I’ve been wearing Inov-8s for 15+ years for trail and fell running and even moved to them for XC races when achilles injuries meant I could no longer wear spikes. Always done the job for me, reasonable value and regularly available with chunky discounts online.
r/trailrunning • Looking for my first trail running shoes..help needed ->Inov-8 has a bunch of models in a wide size now. Even the older models I use have a lot of room for my toes. Durability is fine I think, compared to what I read about Altras.
r/Ultralight • advice wanted on trail runners for hiking ->I'd say yes (not having used the latest models personally though). I find mine very comfortable.
r/Ultralight • advice wanted on trail runners for hiking ->I can also confirm the durability of Inov-8s!
r/Ultralight • Another discussion on shoes - please help ->I maintain that it was a crime to replace the Mudclaw and Xtalon with that shoe. They replaced their fell shoes with a trail shoe that's good in mud. They're just shit at contouring and too fragile to bash through heather etc.
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->Love the inov8 fit and grip - hate the lack of energy return. Feel like I've got bricks on my feet after 50 miles! Looking for an alternative, gonna be trying the Topo MTN racer for my next winter shoe
r/trailrunning • favorite technical trail running shoe? ->I’ve gotten great longevity out of Inov8 trail runners. 800-ish Appalachian Trail miles on a pair.
r/Ultralight • More durable/longevity trail runner and hiking shoe options? ->Always always always Inov-8 shoes. Still love my Nathan running vest for hydration for longer trail runs.
r/trailrunning • What trail running shoes & gear are you all rocking this season? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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