UKC

Hi All

For the last twenty years I've worn Inov8 shoes for Munros and route approaches. I've just replaced a pair of Mudroc 300s with Mudtalons with disastrous results. They rollover at the slightest excuse (sole too high and the fit is different to the Mudrocs); uncomfortable lacing so down hill I find it's like trying to force your feet into metal stirrups; sweaty, despite not being Goretex. 

What do you use? I'm a narrow fit 43/44 (La Sportiva usually fit well for boots). Bonus points for being available in Edinburgh!

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Not sure about Edinburgh availability, but I moved from Inov8 Mudclaw & x Talons to VJ shoes. Either the XTRM or Iroc being the closest comparison.

They're a good narrow fit & the VJ uppers have been far more durable than anything I've had from Inov8 in recent years. Their rubber compound have been both grippier (especially on wet rock) & harder wearing too. 

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I second this. VJ irock or irock+ if you have a wider foot. Rubber compound is amazingly grippy and they are the least ankle roll-ey shoe I've ever worn.

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Surprisingly the Mudtalon Zero fits completely differently to the standard one and the Speed. I found the heel cup to be much too shallow in the standard Mudtalon and if felt like your heel was sitting on top of the shoe rather than in it. No such problem with the Zero, they are just a very vibrant green.

I have quite a few La Sportiva shoes, the mutant and the Cyklon have the best lugs for UK fell running in their range, nothing quite as long as the Inov8 shoes for when the mud is really bad.

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I will third VJ irocks from what you're described. Good grip, low to the ground, narrow. Can't comment on Edinburgh availability I'm afraid.

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I’m similarly unhappy about the loss of the Roclite, which I have worn various iterations of for 20 years or so. 
 

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Shoes are such a personal thing.  I've been using a pair of Mudtalon Speed (wide fit) for orienteering and multi-day mountain events, and they're the best shoes I've ever had (for these sort of events).

I was initially a bit sceptical about the longevity of the uppers, but they're completely unscathed despite a year of the worst terrain that orienteering can throw at them.  I did buy a standard pair of wide-fit Mudtalon (i.e. 'non-Speed') at the same time, but the uppers on those are actually much less robust.

I'm presuming that you did buy the 'Precision' fit (i.e. narrow) rather than the 'Wide'?

My daughter's just got a pair of VJ IRoc and thinks they're great!  She has normally narrow feet.

In reply to Dave Todd:

Glad to hear they work for you. I came down the fall line on a 40° slope (by clinometer) yesterday and same old unimpeachable Inov8 grip.

Correct, precision fit, as were the shoes they were  intended to replace. I had to go half a size up to get the length right which may explain the rollover; but it's mostly the height of the sole, I think. Looks like i need to try some of the VJs!

In reply to Gav M:

Sorry to hear that, Gav. Has something happened to Inov8 or is this just the way things are going, I wonder?

In reply to probablylost:

Thanks, grip; low; narrow. Sounds well on the way to perfect. 

In reply to tomsan91:

Agreed re the heel cup. I think I read elsewhere a few criticisms of Inov8 shoes for being uncomfortable at the ankle; possibly they were trying to address that. 

I haven't heard of the zeros. I'll see if I can dig some up.

In reply to Andy_B39:

Thanks Andy, looks like the VJs could be just what I'm looking for. 

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Yet another vote for VJ Irocs. Better fit for me, grippier (especially on wet rock), longer lasting (both the uppers and the sole) than Mudclaws. I've not tried the XTRM's but based on experience with the Iroc then I will be giving them a good look when next need new shoes of that type. 

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I don’t see VJ’s on their website, but I thought I saw some in Up & Running on Queensferry St in Edinburgh not long ago if that helps…

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I've tried pretty much every shoe put there in an attempt to get something that fits my bizarre shaped feet (ironically the new inov8s are the best). From the sounds of it something in the VJ range would probably suite you quite well. 

In reply to A.C.Gull: you need to go to a shop.  Buying shoes on recommendation just doesn't work for me.

Normal kjerag? They should have been perfect,  but i only needed to wear them for 30 seconds to know they didn't work for me

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Inov8 has been bought back by the original owner and has changed most of their range in line with that person's view of what is good.  My personal disappointment is a significant reduction in the range offered at larger sizes (14 myself) though I'm conscious it's a niche market.  But I think most of the product evolution that was happening before has been wiped out back to first principles.

That may or may not prove to be good, but it is certainly a major change to the point that anyone who was used to their former range will now be a bit lost.

In reply to Neil Williams:

Is this good or bad. I gave up on them as the soles were outlasting the uppers (quite dramatically).

Whereas the La Sportivas I am currently eeking out have been great.

In reply to Mike-W-99:

As per my edit I just did, it might be a good thing or it might not (I've not had any of their new range yet, the last I bought was the previous range's Parkclaw which despite the name suggesting they are just for parkruns are actually an excellent all round shoe which grips better hillwalking than most hiking boots) - it remains to be seen!

I too have had the longevity issues that I hope will be resolved, also issues with the padding swelling to the point of affecting fit if they are got very wet (as trail/fell shoes often will).

We shall see in due course I guess - I just mean that those who were used to the former range is going to feel a bit lost for a bit.  Would be nice if they'd add more 14s though, people aren't exactly getting smaller!

In reply to JWTM:

Thanks, I'll have to get over there and have a look.

In reply to wbo2:

The irony here being that the Mudtalons did come from a shop; I'm just not that good at shoe shopping, it seems. Agreed though that it's one man's meat territory, for sure.

In reply to Neil Williams 

It'll be interesting to see how that pans out. According to their website they redesigned the entire range last year. If I'd only known I'd have filled a cupboard with Mudclaws!

In reply to A.C.Gull:

Thanks to everyone for your input. I've ordered a pair of iRocks. Fingers crossed. 

In reply to A.C.Gull:

As others have said, recommendations are going to be quite personal, based on foot shape, but I switched from mudclaws as they got progressively more narrow in the forefoot, and less durable.

I now wear Topos, but even there, despite their reputation for wide forefoot, it varies across the range; pursuit and MTN Racer are wider, the Traverse is too narrow for me.

Durability and gripiness are reasonably good, the former better and the latter not as good as Mudclaws. They always wear out the front grips quickly, which reduces the function of them, but they at least wear down, rather than the studs falling off like Mudclaws!

In reply to A.C.Gull:

no one mentioning Walsh PBs?  I find their tread pattern good for lots of different terrain.  They're £70 which is pretty good.  I've got a few pairs but my faves are the Ultra Extremes.  I'll be wearing them again for the Ben Race in a few weeks.  

In reply to A.C.Gull:

I'll have to agree with Dave Todd - I replaced my seriously well worn Mudroc 290's with a pair of Mudtalon Speed (precision fit) and couldn't be happier! 

The fit is great, the upper a year later after being hammered all over the Peak and Lakes looks as good as new (albiet a bit bog stained) and the drainage is incredible... They're not held together with superglue too!

Sorry to hear they don't work for you - I didn't like the look of any of the others in the current/previous range as they look too road orientated and I like a zero drop fell shoe as any cushioning plays havok with my achilles tendons!