MudRoc 290 and MudClaw O+340 test run
I test ran two Inov-8 shoes this week. This was a field test where we ran, changed shoes, then ran the same loop. Pavement, trail, rocky trail slope, and off trail under the Oakland Hills redwood forest.
The MudRoc 290's are a "very good" off-trail shoe. Good traction, decent cushioning, good fit, and very light. These really hit what I think of the Inov-8 niche, a well performing, light weight, and snug competition running shoe. The traction and cut-weight is not as aggressive as the MudClaw 270's - I'd say that is a good thing. We can call the 270 a more 'elite' orienteering race shoe and these MudRoc 290's probably a better trail+offtrail+orienteering shoe. I would put these on for whatever that was going to be more than trail running and pack the MudClaw 270's to compete in a more extreme race. For orienteers, these Inov-8s look like a good product duo to choose from. As mentioned elsewhere, you will need to figure out the fit/sizing for your foot.
The MudRoc O+340 I have REALLY been wanting to test for a new orienteering competition shoe: They have spikes. For me VJ/Olway, the venerable style of O-shoes from Finland, are the gold standard for orienteering racing. I consider spike tips as essential traction for rock faces, ice, and that extra edge in duff, deadfall, and regular soil.
The O+340 put Inov-8 on their way but not there. The Innov-8 signature features are there: light, tactile rubber outsole, no nonsense construction. The spikes perform well in the soft redwood understory. There are two issues I had: 1) The fit around the heal is really weird on me. The back of the shoe by my achilles feels way too low and hard. Like my original review of the 270's but with the added problem of something hard pushing into the back of my heal. I took the insole out and put wetsocks on and that got me lower in the shoe, but then the spike tops were pressing up into the bottom of my foot with each step. Issue 2) The spikes are set in soft rubber allowing, when running, movement of the spike(s) relative to your foot. This gave a non-positive feel on roads and trails, then you wonder what was happening in the duff. I also witnessed by Dad's 340 spikes start to rip loose from one of its cleats. Also heard but not personally confirmed: the spikes are just steel, not tungsten tipped for better wear.
The MudClaw O+340 is a "good" shoe. I believe that if it fits you, it will perform well offtrail. See the comment on the Dec 28 O+340 post.
But the non-spike MudClaw 270 is so "excellent"! The conundrum to work out is how can we keep a light shoe and that nice tactile rubber outsole, but give it the power of spikes? Perhaps something about how the spike plug is constructed or using a harder rubber in parts of the outsole?
The MudRoc 290's are a "very good" off-trail shoe. Good traction, decent cushioning, good fit, and very light. These really hit what I think of the Inov-8 niche, a well performing, light weight, and snug competition running shoe. The traction and cut-weight is not as aggressive as the MudClaw 270's - I'd say that is a good thing. We can call the 270 a more 'elite' orienteering race shoe and these MudRoc 290's probably a better trail+offtrail+orienteering shoe. I would put these on for whatever that was going to be more than trail running and pack the MudClaw 270's to compete in a more extreme race. For orienteers, these Inov-8s look like a good product duo to choose from. As mentioned elsewhere, you will need to figure out the fit/sizing for your foot.
The MudRoc O+340 I have REALLY been wanting to test for a new orienteering competition shoe: They have spikes. For me VJ/Olway, the venerable style of O-shoes from Finland, are the gold standard for orienteering racing. I consider spike tips as essential traction for rock faces, ice, and that extra edge in duff, deadfall, and regular soil.
The O+340 put Inov-8 on their way but not there. The Innov-8 signature features are there: light, tactile rubber outsole, no nonsense construction. The spikes perform well in the soft redwood understory. There are two issues I had: 1) The fit around the heal is really weird on me. The back of the shoe by my achilles feels way too low and hard. Like my original review of the 270's but with the added problem of something hard pushing into the back of my heal. I took the insole out and put wetsocks on and that got me lower in the shoe, but then the spike tops were pressing up into the bottom of my foot with each step. Issue 2) The spikes are set in soft rubber allowing, when running, movement of the spike(s) relative to your foot. This gave a non-positive feel on roads and trails, then you wonder what was happening in the duff. I also witnessed by Dad's 340 spikes start to rip loose from one of its cleats. Also heard but not personally confirmed: the spikes are just steel, not tungsten tipped for better wear.
The MudClaw O+340 is a "good" shoe. I believe that if it fits you, it will perform well offtrail. See the comment on the Dec 28 O+340 post.
But the non-spike MudClaw 270 is so "excellent"! The conundrum to work out is how can we keep a light shoe and that nice tactile rubber outsole, but give it the power of spikes? Perhaps something about how the spike plug is constructed or using a harder rubber in parts of the outsole?
posted by James Scarborough at 12:36 PM
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