Written by Neil Bryant
Anyone who loves trail running and is always on the hunt for the perfect shoe, would have been intrigued when it was announced that Kilian Jornet was starting up NNormal and that they would be making shoes. The shoes that were developed with/for him while he was with Salomon, were superb, though a little tight for me around the toe box and rather narrow. I felt that seeing as Kilian would be using NNormal shoes all the time at the very top of the sport, they would be quality, fast shoes, but I was worried, that they would again be too narrow for my feet.
Fast forward a few months, and I was unpacking my sample Kjerags (Kjerag is a Norwegian mountain) to review. The first thing I noticed, was the weight. At 200g per shoe, they are feather light for a shoe that has been worn successfully for mountain 100 milers. We all love a light shoe, as long as they haven’t sacrificed too much in the protection and durability department. It is always a difficult balance to get right, and what is right for one, won’t be right for another. It felt great in my hand, but how did it feel on my foot.
Written by Neil Bryant
I started running trails back in the mid 2000’s, and the selection of trail running shoes back then was miniscule compared to now, where we have a dizzying number of options for every type of terrain, speed, conditions and of course foot shape. One shoe that I do remember that you could buy at the time, was the aggressively soled Speedcross from Salomon. Every race I went to there was always a few people wearing the Speedcross. I tried a pair but they were too narrow for my feet.
The shoe became more and more popular, as both trail and ultra running boomed, and it got updated a number of times. Six times in fact, and it still bears a striking resemblance to the first incarnation, though many improvements have been made.
Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
After what I would call a successful review of the Fuga Air 2 race vest from Chinese company, Kailas, it seemed like a good idea to investigate some other kit from the same company. Where better to see how much research a company is putting into their gear, than with shoes. I feel, if a company can make a solid shoe, then they are more than likely putting the effort in and investing time and money into the R&D side of the development of the shoes, showing a real desire to make a great shoe.
Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
Years ago, tired with either not being able to go running or sliding around like mad when the temperature plummeted, I purchased a pair of the fantastic Microspikes from Kahtoola. I still have them and they are still used. They have been totally dependable and show not a sign of wear. They grip really well and if I had any issue with them, it would be that they can be quite uncomfortable when the ground is hard like ice or tarmac.
A comparison to show the differences between the microspikes (below) and the EXOspikes (above)
Kahtoola have an answer to this. The EXOspikes have a similar upper section as the microspikes, but the lower section is very different. Instead of the chain construction of the microspikes, there is a ‘TPU Traction Matrix’ which holds the relatively low profile Tungsten Carbide tips (12 on each foot).
It is the low profile nature of these traction devices that really is a big improvement over the microspikes. When not being worn, they are noticeably smaller in size making them easier to carry. They are also a lot lighter which is a huge bonus. Being low profile means they are more comfortable when running on hard surfaces.
A close up of the tungsten carbide tips
Kahtoola state that they are tough enough to handle dirt, mud and rocks, so I was certainly keen to put them through their paces. If the microspikes are anything to go by, durability will not be an issue!
In use, they are simple to pull on. All you need to make sure is that you get them the right way around, but other than that, just push your toe in and stretch the back over your heel. Check they are tight and even all round, and you are ready to run!
In their favourite environment
I’ve used these in quite a lot of different conditions, from ice, to slushy ice to thin hard snow, to deep snow. On many runs, they have done stretches of trail or road with no ice or snow. As with the microspikes, you quickly become very confident that you aren’t going to slip. This is really empowering and opens your eyes to just what you can now achieve in what before was difficult conditions.
For me, the best part of the EXOspikes, is that they really are ok to run in on hard surfaces. I used to have to take the microspikes off after a while of running on hard surfaces, as they dug into the bottom of my feet, but the EXOspikes stay on. Even when I have finished with them out on a run, they are quite packable and light (110g each) and just about squeeze into my Salomon Pulse Belt. They also come with a little bag which is good as they are generally wet and muddy when you take them off so it’s good for keeping the mud off the rest of your kit.
Folded in half, ready to be stowed
As with most gear, they do have their limitations, and with the EXOspikes, it is deep soft snow. The microspkes would handle this surprisingly well, whereas the Exospikes, although adding a little extra traction, it's not massively confidence building as with all other conditions.
Opened up, ready to fit on to your shoe
Overall, the EXOspikes are fantastic. I even did a fast interval session on icy roads the other day and managed similar paces to normal. I think, for people who want to be running at all times of the year, then the EXOspikes are invaluable, even though they will barely be used for many runners, when you do need them, you will be smiling!
At £49 they are certainly not cheap, but I think they are basically a lifetime investment seeing as they are so durable. Remember, they can be used when not running too! I think they are worth the price due to their effectiveness, durability and how small and light they are. They even get a mention on ‘My Favourite Running Gear’. That’s how much I rate them!
To purchase the EXOspikes from Kahtoola, please consider using the following link for a good price - Buy Kahtoola EXOspikes here . This is an Amazon affiliate link. The URC will make a small commision from each sale at no cost to the buyer.
Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
My first and only Adidas were the Adizero XT 4’s which I had a reviewed almost a decade ago. I have fond memories of this shoe. It was light, had excellent grip, very comfortable and very durable. Since then, I have used many, many shoes but for whatever reason I have not pulled on another Adidas shoe.
I then saw the Terrex Speed Ultra and knew I needed to try them out. It reminded me of the old Adizero XT 4’s even though there were a few differences, with the major one being the tread. It is still manufactured by Continental, but it is not a deep aggressive pattern, but more a light tread designed for long distances on hard pack trails where deep tread is not needed. There is a shoe in the Speed lineup with really aggressive tread called the Terrex Speed SG.
The Speed Ultras have a midsole made from Boost foam, which I have read much about, yet hadn’t tried, so was interested to see how it felt. I had just published my review of the inov8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 max which was a shoe built for a similar purpose, ultras on decent trails, providing decent comfort, yet they seemed light years apart from each other. The trailfly seemed big and clumsy compared to the compact and lighter Speed Ultra. How would they feel on the trails? Would they have enough protection, and would the Boost be as bouncy as I had read?
With 8mm of heel-to-toe drop, the Speed Ultra has enough rise to give most peoples achilles a fairly easy time when running longer, but also stays fairly low to still feel grounded.
The upper is made from a single piece of fine mesh which has overlays on the inside (underlays?) which you can see through the mesh as stripes. There is an overlay toe bumper that is fairly minimalist but should add a little protection from stubs. There is also an additional overlay that is over the top of the big toe nail. I am guessing that this is to counter blow outs from the toe nail occurring? If so, this is a nice touch, just for durability.
The heel is held firmly in place by a soft, lightly padded heel cup that has no solid insert, which I really like.
The tongue is gusseted with thin unobtrusive elastic which is sure to help keep the foot firmly in place, and keep the tongue from sliding to the side. The tongue is thin and punctured with many holes to aid air circulation. For me, having feet that sweat a lot, the tongue is the major week area when it comes to aerating the foot, so holes are always good for me.
The laces that come with the Speed Ultra are thin flat ones, which are a good length for me, and seem to stay tied well. I like them.
The midsole is a blend of Boost and Lightstrike materials. It feels nice and spongey and feels as though it will be springy too. Only some time pounding the trails in them will reveal if this is true.
Lug depth is a tiny 2.5mm making it a shoe which will certainly not be happy with much mud at all! This shoe is made to go fast over decent, not muddy trail or road. As previously mentioned, the outsole material is provided by Continental the car and bike tyre manufacturer. I remember being seriously impressed with the soles on my old Adidas years ago, so have high hopes for these, though I am assuming that the compound is different from back then!?
I’ll be honest, I was really quite excited about this shoe. It felt light (240g according to Adidas, though my samples were 279g) and I liked the minimalist size. When I pulled it on, I immediately knew it fitted well as the elasticated gussets on the tongue hugged my midfoot.
Out on the trail, the midsole instantly felt great, managing to feel very soft and also adding a spring to my stride. I felt like my feet were well protected, but also like I was close to the ground. They feel great! The combination of the small size of the shoe, light weight and bouncy sole made me want to both run fast on the flat and descend the most technical trail. They were playful and I wanted to try them out on anything I could find here in Chamonix.
When on dry trails, the tread is excellent. It sticks reassuringly to ret rocks and copes pretty well with loose gravelly descents. The main weakness is wet mud. Now, I know that it wasn’t designed as a fell shoe to grip in bogs a shoe sucking mud, but I like to raise the point for those that want an all-rounder. The 2.5mm deep studs are wholly inadequate for anything muddy. I have run a few times in some muddy areas and they just don’t really bite at all. Basically, if you want a shoe that may encounter wet mud, then this is not the shoe for you! For anything else though, the tread is great! The grip on wet slabs was really impressive, I can’t be sure, but I was considering it to be the best I have tried!
The shoe seems to breathe ok, though my feet still sweated a lot (they always do!), and the toe bumper seemed to hold up to a few minor stubs. Laces were great, not losing tension or coming undone. The overall feel of this shoe is fast and playful, yet they are also comfortable and provide some protection underfoot making them more ultra oriented.
I have put over 260km into them so far, and they are showing no signs of weakness or wear in the upper. The tread is showing a little wear, which is an amount I would be happy with, but it seems more significant as the tread is so minimal. I shall update in the future when they have many more km’s in them.
If you are looking for some decent underfoot comfort yet with some great spring, then the Terrex Speed Ultras are for you. If you want a shoe for racing ultra distance, that is light and playful, then the Terrex Speed Ultras are for you. If you encounter some squishy, slippery mud sections on your runs, then the Terrex Speed Ultra is possibly the wrong shoe for you.
Fast, light, comfortable, excellent grip on rock. The Terrex Speed Ultra from Adidas is a serious shoe for some seriously fast and fun runs.
Priced at £160, though currently on sale at £129 at Wiggle, they are priced at the top end, but in the sale they are much more accessible. £129 seems like a good price for this shoe I would say. Of course the true test will be the durability after a few hundred more km's.
To purchase a pair of Adidas Terrex Speed Ultra, click on either of the buttons below. You will get a good price and a small commision goes to the URC (at no cost to you). Thanks
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Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
inov-8 really are very good at drumming up lots of interest in their new shoe releases, and the new TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX was no exception!
There are certainly some interesting and exciting sounding innovations in the new ultra specific shoe though and I was very interested to try a pair out. One thing I have been frustrated with many of inov-8’s shoes are that they are zero rise (or very low rise) and/or too narrow for my feet. Well, the TRAILFLY would rectify this for me, as it has the same upper shape as the TERRAULTRA which fitted my foot beautifully, and apparently fits many other people feet nicely too. Unlike the TERRAULTRA which is zero rise which instantly makes it unsuitable for many people, the TRAILFLY has a decent 6mm drop. Ticking my boxes nicely!
What are the innovations then? Well, inov-8 first utilised the wonder material, graphene in their Graphene grip compound outsole, which is reported to be stickier yet more durable than others. Now they have incorporated graphene into a midsole compound they have titled, G-FLY. According to the site “The foam delivers 25% greater energy return and retains its optimum levels of underfoot rebound and comfort for longer, so runners feel faster and fresher over greater distances.” Well it all sounds pretty amazing of course, but although I can’t say I am immune to some good promotion from companies, I can only vouch for claims if I feel it after a decent test period.
The other new innovation, is the ADAPTER-FLEX on the outsole which is basically a very deep groove on the outsole which allows for the foot to react well to uneven terrain adding stability and confidence. This is interesting as Inov8 are attempting to retain as much trail feel even with a relatively large and soft sole unit. Again, I was intrigued to see how this worked.
Providing grip, would be the already tried and tested Graphen grip compound which I have used before on a few other shoes and I knew was a good solid compound.
The final part that caught my attention was the 300 in the name. The number in all inov-8 shoes relates to the weight of one shoe. 300g is not light, but just on the edge of being too much in my opinion. The problem is, both my left and my right shoe weigh a rather hefty 358 grammes! That is a huge discrepancy, and in my opinion, places it in the heavy region. I am guessing that the upper is pretty light, and the outsole is fairly standard, so the weight is in the G-FLY midsole. If I am right, then it really needs to shine as some sort of magical foam to make it worthwhile!
Anyway, enough waffle with my theories, let’s run this shoe and see what it actually feels like!
My first impression on opening the box was, what is that stink! Don’t get me wrong, I like the ‘new shoe’ smell, but this was potent, and still is! My partner has a very keen sense of smell and can’t stand it! I am guessing it is the G-FLY foam as my TERRAULTRA's didn’t smell like this! Anyway, this isn’t a performance issue obviously. I suppose it is (maybe?) better than the smell of my other old smelly shoes!
The upper, as previously mentioned, is very similar to the TERRAULTRA's, which has a wide fitting, the widest that inov-8 make, and was a fantastic fit for me giving my toes plenty of space. It was good to pull the TRAILFLY's on and instantly realise that they had the same secure, yet spacious fit. Luxury!
From my house, you have to run some road to access the trails. That combined with the fact I am running loads of slow aerobic kms on the flat (as I slowly rebuild my aerobic base) means I have been running more than usual on rolling road and trail, though still getting on the rougher singletrack trails with plenty of vert. The trails here are generally dry as they drain so fast, but wetter than most of the year as the snow melts. Overall, I’d say there has been a good variety of terrain passed beneath the TRAILFLY's soles.
The midsoles give a comfortable ride, and they do smooth a rocky trail out a bit which would certainly help tired feet when you are well into a long run. Sharp stones are really well dulled when you step on them, and they do have some bounce to them. Are they noticeably different to anything else out there at the moment due to the G-FLY foam? I really couldn’t tell anything different. I was hoping for more bounce if I’m honest. There is certainly no issue here. Maybe it is that inov-8 make a huge deal about it, so it ups my expectations too much? I suppose the bottom line is, the midsole is comfortable, fairly springy and has plenty of protection, so it is good. I am just not sure the G-FLY is superior to other compounds out there.
The GRAPHENE-GRIP sole is an excellent patterned tread with 4mm studs, giving very good grip in all conditions and terrains, yet runs very nicely on the road. As I write this, I am still not sure whether the wear after 200km is as enduring as it should be. I have added pictures for you to decide. I will also plan to update this in a few months once I have got some heavier mileage on them to review the durability.
This image was taken showing the wear at 165km
The other major new feature from Inov8, which they got patented, is the ADAPTER-FLEX. This large groove in the sole aids flexibility as can be felt when you hold them in your hands and bend them. For an Inov-8 shoe, the heel height of 25mm is fairly high, but for the whole market, I wouldn’t say it is that high, so I am not sure how unstable I would be on a 25mm shoe anyway. I can’t feel any difference when running technical trail, but I certainly wasn’t going over on them any more than I normally would. I felt like the trail feel was decent for the size of the sole, so maybe it works well. I guess the only way to truly tell how effective it is, is to have an identical shoe minus the groove but that is pretty much impossible.
This image was also taken at 165km showing the front section of the sole.
I do like this shoe and it will get worn a lot more, but there are certainly some things I am not sure about, with the number one being, is the G-FLY foam a worthy addition? It seems to be a relatively heavy foam (I could be wrong with this) which bumps the weight of the shoe up to a fairly heavy weight. I am not too sure I can feel the magical bounce either. It feels fairly normal to me. Maybe I am just not very sensitive to such things.
The other main issue is the weight. When I run in them, they feel good, but the fact is I have around 80-100g more on each foot than a lot of other shoes in the same market, which over a long period will make a difference. Maybe if I get to 1000km in them and they are still holding together alright it will be ok, but to be honest I will be surprised if the upper lasts that long as it is built lightly. Time will tell.
Overall, the TRAILFLY is a solid first ‘ultra shoe with a big midsole’ from inov-8. I admire that they have broken away a little from their norm and not only that, but they have done it with new innovations. It is brave and I am a fan of that. As with all first attempts, there is refinement needed, but it is certainly an excellent shoe and I personally am looking forward to wearing it plenty more this year.
It has a hefty price tag of £170/170 Euro so is near the top of the pile when it comes to price. I guess the research and innovation with the Graphene enhanced sole and midsole has a cost, but whatever the reason, this is a shoe you want to be happy with. It seems steep to me, but only you can decide whether it is worth it.
The TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX is a top end shoe designed specifically for long/ultra runs on decent trails and even road. It performs great at a slow plod as at pace. Descending is a dream with the well cushioned midsole and the excellent grip. I think it is well able on more mountainous terrain too due to the excellent tread and amazing fit of the upper. As long as you are ok with the weight, then you can’t go too far wrong with them, though I am excited to see how they evolve in future versions.
To purchase the Inov8 trailfly ULTRA G Max shoes, click on the Wiggle button below. You will get a good price and a small commision goes to the URC. Thanks
Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
Since Salomons first S/Lab shoes were developed for Kilian, the range has grown and been further refined each season. They are always lightweight, fairly low to the ground and race orientated.
The Ultra 3 is no exception. It isn’t super light, but at 298 grammes per shoe it is still pretty light for an ultra specific shoe.
With a heel stack height of 26.8mm and a forefoot stack of 18.2mm the heel to toe drop comes out at an achilles friendly, and rather unfashionable 8.6mm. It is nice to get a racey shoe that isn’t 4mm or less. I personally appreciate this, especially as I am finishing up with the skiing for the season and slowly trying to ease my body back into the high impact abuse of running. Don’t get me wrong, I like a 4mm drop shoe, but I like to have a variety of drops.
For me the most noticeable feature was the ‘integrated gaiter’ as Salomon call it. This is the opening of the shoe which is just a stretchy sock like opening. There is no separate tongue. This is not the first shoe to have this from Salomon, but it is the first that I have tried. I really liked the idea, and have basically been waiting for a company to do it as it seemed inevitable to me. Would it be well executed though? We shall find out later.
The upper is what appears a single piece of fine mesh that has strategically placed, welded on tpu overlays for added strength. The toe protection is pretty minimal that will add some protection, but probably not too much if you properly stub your toe. The heel is very flexible and fairly thin with a minimal but adequate padding in the appropriate areas. I don’t think there is a solid heel cup inside at all. This shoe is born for ultras, but as minimally as possible!
The laces are the standard Salomon quicklace system. Not everyone is a fan, but they have really commited to it so they are here to stay. I am indifferent to them, not seeing any real advantage/disadvantage with them. The lace pocket on the gaiter/tongue is just a little slit with a small pocket which I have found quite fiddly to actually use, so end up just tucking the excess lace under the laces below.
The midsole is produced with EnergyCell™+ which apparently is ‘a high-rebound midsole compound that provides exceptional energy return along with substantial cushioning and durability.’ It sounds like what you’d want from a shoe, but only testing can verify the validity of this description.
Sandwiched somewhere in there is a Profeel film which is Salomons rock plate. It is exposed in a small section underneath and it feels fairly hard compared to some I’ve felt. For me the rockplate is quite important, and even more so on an ultra specific shoe. It needs to add noticeable protection from sharp rocks, as when I am fatigued during long events, my feet are certainly more sensitive, and sharp object on the trail which I tread on, can really suck the fun out of the moment. The Profeel film felt like it could add some decent protection.
Finally, we have the outsole which is made using Salomons in-house compound, Contagrip. The Ultra 3’s use the Contagrip MA compound which is a balance of being quite sticky and quite durable, which sounds sensible for an ultra shoe. The tread is made up of mostly fairly small diamond shapes that are well spread out, which should make mud clearance simple. The studs are 4mm deep so should make good all-rounders.
The first thing to notice when pulling on the shoe, was just how tight they are to get my foot into. The stretchy gaiter is fairly stiff making it a bit of a pain to pull on, but once on they felt very secure and certainly not too tight. My feet are a tiny bit wider than average but not that wide, so I guess other people will find the same. My feet felt so secure once in, I felt no need to tighten the laces. They felt good! Often with some Salomon shoes, the toe box is just too narrow for me, but the Ultra 3’s were wide enough and felt secure.
Out running, I felt relatively connected to the trail and the 8.6mm drop felt lower than that. They felt light and fast. I was surprised. I have been on quite a variety of terrain, from muddy, wet rock, dry rock, snow and ice and road, the they really are great all-rounders, only feeling out of depth in sloppy mud and of course useless on ice as you’d expect for no metal studs. The Profeel film adds some decent underfoot protection while allowing your feet to still get some feedback from the trail. We all have different tastes though, so I am sure this will be too much/little for some. Definitely a sweet spot for me though!
The heel to toe transition is smooth due to the rounded shape of the outsole which feels good and maybe helps retain some form when flagging.
The mesh of the upper seems to drain well as promised, and seems to breathe well during hotter weather which is essential for me with my super sweaty feet! The mesh has a special protection applied to it to prevent it from absorbing too much moisture which will help keep your feet from getting too wet, and the shoe gaining too much weight. Very nice.
Overall, I have been impressed with what Salomon have produced here. They are showing their pedigree I think. As I stated earlier, they have managed the difficult balance of making the shoe as minimalist as is possible while retaining its practicality as an ultra shoe. If this shoe fits your foot well as it does mine, then you have here a shoe that is good from short fast training sessions to 100 mile mountain races on all but the boggiest terrain. I have my reservations about the gaiter setup and although I am a fan of companies that are innovative, which Salomon are, it does not mean that every innovation is good or well executed. I think I’d prefer a decent gusseted tongue. This wouldn’t sway me to not buy them though.
I have around 200km on my pair now and the uppers look absolutely perfect. The midsole has a few creases from the many steps I have taken in them, but I don’t feel that this has noticeably affected how they react to the ground. The tread is showing a bit of wear on the lateral edge of the heel, where I land, which maybe a little more than I’d like. We shall see with more use. As usual, I will endeavour to update this once I have a lot more mileage on them to give some decent info on durability over the next few months.
Is the S/Lab Ultra 3 good value? It is currently priced at £165 on the UK Salomon site which puts it at the top end of trail shoes at the moment. It is a lot of money in my opinion, and not long ago this would have been a crazy price for shoes, but now it seems to be the new ‘premium’ level. Are they worth it? It is certainly a nice shoe and much has gone into the design and evolution of the S/Lab range of shoes. I won’t be able to answer this fully yet as I do not have my conclusion on durability yet. I suppose it boils down to whether you are willing and able to spend that much on a shoe. It is a quality, well thought out shoe which fits my feet very nicely, and is designed for the long run but feels perfectly light and agile enough to be fun on the shorter runs. Only you can decide whether they are good value.
To purchase the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 shoes, use this link https://geni.us/INpa
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Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
I, like I imagine most people who read this, often find myself checking out other people's shoes. It’s not really a conscious thing. I suppose I am just a bit of a shoe geek! Over the last Summer I noticed a few pairs of shoes I was not familiar with. They looked pretty good, and on closer inspection, I saw the name ‘Cimalp’ down the back of them. I got on the web and looked them up and I discovered an interesting looking outdoors company that is local to me (Chamonix, France).
A few months later I got an email from them asking if I would like to review their shoes as they had just opened up a website in English and they were delivering to the UK and were after some exposure. Well, I of course jumped at this opportunity.
Before receiving the shoes to test, I was back online again to learn some more. The 864 Drop Evolution, is one of two shoes the French company produce. The 864 in the name relates to the interesting concept regarding adjustable heel stack height, and therefore heel to toe height. This is done simply by the shoes coming with three different pairs of insoles. The thinnest give a 4mm drop, the next give a 6mm drop and the last give an 8mm drop. For me personally, I see this as a useful feature as I like to run in 4mm shoes, but every now and then, my achilles play up a little and I need to swap shoes so I get a higher heel. With the Cimalps, I just need one shoe! Does it work well though? First a bit more about the shoe.
The shoe weighs in at 275g, excluding the insoles, which of course are all different weights. Not featherweight but certainly not hefty either. With the largest, 8mm insole, one of the shoes weighed a solid 355g. If it is a durable shoe, then I am happy to have the little extra weight. This shoe is designed as a versatile mountain running shoe which is as at home on the shorter, faster stuff as it is on the longer, where more comfort is needed. The insoles really add to the versatility as you can adjust the cushioning as well as the stack height.
The upper is a very fine weave material, which is sure to keep all debris from working its way through, but I am a little concerned that when it is hot, my feet won’t get enough ventilation, as my feet really get hot. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to test this out as it is bloody cold here at the moment and won’t warm up for a few months yet. I will aim to update this when Spring arrives!
The toe protection is a welded on and fairly minimalist affair that will certainly add some protection. Not super heavy weight like some shoes out there, but about right for my needs. I run on very rocky trails and will occasionally stub toes, so I do certainly appreciate a little protection.
There is a thin rigid PVC (?) midfoot support system in place in the shape of an ‘M’ on each side of each shoe. The heel is a fairly solid and therefore supportive one, which will add to the stability and comfort over long periods of mountain terrain.
The tongue is gusseted and is seamless and smooth, as is the whole of the inside of the shoe, which all helps to give your feet a happier ride. The tongue has a light foam padding in key areas. It reminds me a little of the La Sportiva Bushido tongue, which I really like!
There is also a decent webbing pull-on loop at the back too which is great.
The midsole, according to the site is an ‘Ultra-dynamic CHROMOSOME® midsole for an effective stride and improved proprioception.’
Then on to the outsole. Here we have another excellent tread from the team at Vibram. The Megagrip is an outstanding rubber compound. Every single shoe I have run in that has a Megagrip outsole, no matter what the lug pattern is, is brilliant. A seemingly perfect balance between Durability, grip and comfort. The Cimalp tread pattern is a collection of triangles facing in different directions with a varied stud height with a max of around 4mm. A good solid all-rounder, Though, as usual, it will no doubt struggle on the really gloopy mud as all shoes with this size studs will.
Since receiving the shoes, it has turned from Autumn to Winter. Conditions are not the best at this time of year for shoe testing, but they have seen some deep mud, Deep powder snow, Crusty snow, Hard rocky trail, dry road and a few other conditions, so they have had a fair test!
I have already used the word solid, and I think I will use it again, as this shoe just feels, well, solid! It supports the foot well and my feet felt secure at all times, so they work well with my feet. My feet are fairly average, though a touch wide if anything. The tongue is great and there are no issues with the laces. They have really good underfoot protection which of course varies a little depending on which insole you have in, but if there are lots of sharp rocks where you are running then you may well be grateful. The Vibram outsole is predictably brilliant and my confidence in them not slipping much grew quickly. Everyone should use Megagrip!
I haven’t taken them up high on rocky ridges or anything of the like, but when I do I get a feeling that they will be ideal. The tread height of 4mm is a fairly standard height in many shoes, and it certainly seems like a sweet spot that is the best multi tasker. It can provide a really solid tread on so many terrains, yet is still comfortable on the road. When on the road and hard pack smooth trails, I could certainly feel the extra protection compared to a road shoe.
The Cimalp 864 Drop Evolution is a rugged, dependable work horse of a mountain running shoe. The build quality is superb and it feels like it will last forever (I will update later in the year). There is a confidence in foot placement and comfort, which makes this also ideal for long ultras. The fact that you can change the insoles and stack height makes it even better for 100 milers and beyond. Being able to start with 4mm and moving up to 6mm when you are tiring and 8mm near the end would be brilliant!
This is no minimalist, super lightweight shoe with loads of trail feel, but that certainly doesn’t make it a poor shoe. It really is an interesting shoe which deserves to get some heavy use. I am certain that there are a lot of people out there who would like it too. I would really be interested to hear how people get on with this shoe!
Written by Neil Bryant for the URC
If you have already read the 'first look', then scroll down for the update.
The first thing to notice with the TERRAULTRA G 270 is the name which has changed from 260 to 270 signifying a 10g weight gain. I am not too bothered about the extra 10g, but it does show that inov-8 have changed this shoe. The colour is still the bright green of the 260 so they still look similar.
What has been altered then? Well, the main upgrade is the midsole foam which is tagged POWERFLOW MAX and apparently delivers 20% more energy return and cushioning levels are retained for twice as long. I’m not sure what they comparing it too or how they test it, but I was keen to try them out!
There is also a BOOMERANG insole which inov-8 claim gives a 40% increase in energy return versus the previous footbed. There is also ADAPTERFIT technology in the upper which adapts to any foot swelling and changes in the terrain which should improve comfort.
If you are not familiar with the old TERRAULTRA, then here is a run through of the spec.
The upper is very tidy and cleanly made. The most notable thing for me is the toe box. It is very wide. Not quite Altra level, but wider than anything else I have ever tried. I really like the feel of it. To make the wide toebox work, you need the rest of the shoe to fit nice and snug to prevent any sliding around and the TERRAULTRA delivers. The tongue is thin and gusseted and really adds to the comfort and stability. The whole midsole fits nice a snug around my foot.
The outsole is made from the super sticky Graphene which I liked when I reviewed the Trailroc G 280, and the stud depth is 4mm which is meaty enough to give good traction when it’s a bit slippery, yet low enough to still be comfortable on hard trail.
A feature that makes this shoe a little niche is the fact it has a zero heel to toe drop, so unless you are already adapted, then they will need some caution, before running every run in them. Indeed, they will not be suitable for some people.
I have literally just received these so have managed to get out for one hour long run on a circuit that includes steep up and down, some pretty technical trail, easy trail and even some road. A good circuit to get a feel for a shoe. They felt great putting them on and thankfully my normal size fits well with plenty of toe space to help protect my poor battered toe nails. The first km is on road and they felt great. They feel lighter than they are if that makes sense. Maybe it is to do with the bounce of the midsole, which is really nice and springy. Once on the trail and heading up, the grip dug in and held well on all surfaces, though it was as dry as a bone. I will need to test them in wet conditions later to get a better understanding.
After a little road that connect two trails, it was back up on an easy trail as hard as I could and they were feeling quite racy for an ultra-specific shoe.
Then the descent down some steep and technical trail, with some loose rock that I often slip on. There were a couple little slides, but I was in control. Then finish with a final road dash back home. They were great fun! I am not adapted to zero heel rise, so was a little nervous that I would irritate my achilles, but all is good. That is all I can give for now. In a month or so I will update when I have some decent mountain mileage on them, but for now, I am impressed and look forward to testing them further.
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Update
Since writing the first look report above, I have managed to get in 200km of decent mountainous trail here in Chamonix including a 27km mountain race. I had some concern about the zero-drop seeing as I am not adapted to that and have had some achilles issues in the past so decided to just use them unless the achilles started playing up. Fortunately (or unfortunately) my life at the moment only allows 3 runs a week which means the achilles always gets at least a day off after each run to recover. One of the first tests though was the Centurion Running ‘One up’ virtual challenge which was a matter of running as much vert as possible in seven days. I managed to run all seven days and hit just over Everest by running 1300m of ascent a day. I managed to wear the Terraultras every day and had no issues. I ran the steepest, closest trails to home which meant a sharp 1300m up and then straight back down. Usually on pretty technical trail and mostly in dry dusty conditions. The shoes were perfect for this. The soft, bouncy sole gave me a bounce in my stride as I run/walked up, and the tread really worked well. So well that my confidence in them grew fast. I was really enjoying the wide open toebox . The upper, tongue and heelcup held my feet firmly in place even on the steepest of trail.
They are far from being a super light shoe, but they feel lighter than they are. Maybe it’s the slipper like feel, due to the midsole and wide toebox that gives that impression?
On the descents they really held the trail well on most surfaces. I slipped a few times on wet, slimy rock, but feel that no shoe I am aware of would have gripped there.
Considering there is a fairly soft and springy midsole, you still get quite a bit of feedback from the trail when it is rocky and that is nice, but after a bit of time on technical terrain with plenty of sharp rocks, I got a few ouchy moments. But they weren’t designed for super rocky trails.
They are great on anything below 3 hours on really rocky terrain though, and at the moment, that is the majority of my running, but if I was running plenty of longer days like a few years ago, then I would probably be after a little more protection. That is of course just me. I know there are people out there who could run these for hundreds of miles on this terrain quite happily.
I feel like this shoe is more for the not so technical trail, where underfoot protection becomes less important. It is an ultra shoe with little underfoot protection, a very wide toebox and is zero drop. It is quite a niche shoe I think. It could have been a little more mainstream with, say a 4mm drop, but inov-8 were brave and I have to say, I think it paid off. It is not going to be for everyone, just on the zero drop alone, but what shoe is!
So, if you are looking for a zero drop, yet plush zingy feel, and you intend to run fairly smooth trails, then the TERRAULTRA is certainly worth a look.
When originally released they were available in the very bright green and the all-black colourways which was a bit all or nothing, but they have just released a new blue/yellow colourway that is toned down from the Green and a little more exciting than the black. My favourite!
As usual when I have run many more km’s in them, I will update on durability etc.
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