Inov8 - X-Talon G 210 V2 Womens

I run on the road in the Mach 6 among others but it's maybe my favourite one. For trails, I mainly use Inov-8. I tend to like their models that have a drop of about 4-6 mm (Mach 6 is 5mm if I remember correctly). I currently have the X-Talon G210 for shorter, faster runs and the Trailfly Ultra G300 Max for longer distances. These are, of course, very different from any road shoes and are more specialized than the Mach 6, which I consider a good all-arounder. They have plenty of models and I'd recommend trying some if you have the opportunity.

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.

Would love to know how inov8 ranks here, imo x talons are excellent at wet rock

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.

It's a bit strange but the shoe seems to move around my foot more when running. The actual grip of the lugs is great, but my foot moves around in the Mudtalons more, so they're not as stable. Very often I'll put my foot down and because of the instability my ankle or lower leg will twist or move awkwardly. I've never had that issue with a pair of fell running shoes before - the X-Talons were like a tight glove with minimal movement running. It's not much of an issue for training runs but I can't race in the Mudtalons.

The VJ XTRM2 are really good. Despite "only" having 6mm lugs, they've held up in the fells in winter for me. Haven't rated Inov8 for some time now, but did really like a pair of X Talons way back in 2018. Any other pair of Inov8 I've got since hasn't been right for one reason or another. Scott shoes are too wide fitting for me. They're OK, but lack the precise hold that you'd get with the other shoes you've listed. Better for longer distance stuff though.

I have the opposite problem! I find speedgoats very comfortable for road portions of off-road runs, even long road sections, and they're good on easy trail and wet rock, but I struggle with them on technical trail stuff as they're far too unstable and they're terrible in mud. (I do a lot of fell running, so my definition of 'technical' might be more extreme!) What I'm struggling with is finding something as comfortable as the speedgoats that handles technical trail, steep off-trail descents / 'light' fell running well, but is comfortable for long runs. I currently wear inov-8 x-talons for short fell races but need something for longer fell runs.

Inov8 with graphene has very good grip. Nike trail have no grip at all

Topo mtn racer has better grip. Inov8 has better grip also; Trailfly for hard trails and Mudfly for wet/mud.

Don’t know of any places that offer that kind of support but you could try inov8. They’re outsoles are supposed to be tough. The ones I’ve used fell apart before the sole showed any wear. They’re sizing isn’t very consistent though so worth trying in a shop if you can find them.