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REVIEW: INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270

Chris Holdsworth • Jul 15, 2020

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 - PENNINE TRAILS REVIEW

WE WERE ASKED TO TEST A PAIR OF THE NEW INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 RUNNING SHOES, LABELLED BY INOV-8 AMBASSADOR AND ULTRA RUNNER, DAMIAN HALL, AS THE 'ACE IN THE HOLE' FOR ULTRA RUNNING SHOES.

As we're a trail running events company, I wanted to look at the shoes from a racing perspective. There are certain boxes a shoe needs to tick, for me, to be taken the distance and be the trusted race day shoe for long distance trails...

How effortless does the shoe feel on hill climbs?
How does it cope under the strain of long distances of fast paced running?
What comfort does it give for long distances of steadier running?
How responsive is it to technical and tricky terrains?

I've used the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA model as the go to option for long distance trail racing for some time now. The need for a shoe that you can reliably depend on to carry you over long distances on technical trails matters. It needs to be a shoe that feels comfortable, provides cushion and doesn't compromise these essential factors by making the shoe bulky and cumbersome. When the legs tire and the running form begins to drop, the need to feel the technical terrain underfoot is crucial. Just as crucial, is how the foot is held in the shoe, which is what the Terraultras provide. Whilst the uppers hold the foot in firm, feeling much like the foot being wrapped into the shoe, the toe box felt spacious and allowed the foot to bend and move over rugged rocks and ground.

Essentially, a good long distance running shoe needs to provide comfort and cushion, but also be responsive to the ground underfoot... And if the brand behind the shoe relentlessly aims to perfect the model of shoe you choose, then you know you're never having to look for a new brand or model once your favourite shoe gets discontinued every other year.

(Left) At the Keswick Mountain Festival 25k 2019 (Keswick Mountain Festival©) - (Right) At the Snowdonia Trail Marathon 2019 (Always Aim High Events©)

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA 260 BACKGROUND

I've chosen two races to highlight how the graphene-less version INOV-8 TERRAULTRA 260 performs during race situation.

The first was the Keswick Mountain Festival 25k trail race, a stunning fast pace run around Derwent Water, though at times very technical underfoot. The second was the Snowdonia Trail Marathon - another stunning route, but again, at times very technical underfoot with harsh compact trails.

At the Keswick Mountain 25k, the shoes worn were nearing the end of their shelf life. Chasing the course record, I ended with a very uncomfortable fast last two miles with burning soles and increasingly battered feet.

However, at the Snowdonia Trail Marathon I opted for a brand new pair, taking on twice the distance with significantly more climb. Coming in at 4th place during a GB Long Distance Mountain Qualifying race after a lengthy lay off with a knee injury, I had gone into the race slightly worried how the knee would hold up. The wrong shoe choice could have brought on the injury mid-race. Thankfully, I finished the race with the knee in one piece, but the feet felt as fresh as they did when I'd started.

So the problem was, the shoe was the perfect choice for long distance technical trails, but if you wanted the best out of the shoe for races, then you'd need to be careful about preserving their quality and keeping them for 'race best'.

(Left) After completing the Howarth Hobble route 32 miles, 5000ft in a time of 3:38 - (Right) Close up of the inov-8 Terraultra G 260 worn during the 50km effort

INTRODUCING GRAPHENE

The introduction of Graphene to their shoe range allowed runners to be able to get more life out of their shoes, allowing for use in both training and racing. I'd had a pair of the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 model of the shoe and had been training in them throughout the winter, ready for the long distance races I'd planned that year.

With no races going ahead when it was time to take advantage of the winter miles, I instead took on the challenge to run the Howarth Hobble route (32 miles with 5000ft+ elevation) as fast as I could, starting and finishing from where I reside in Worsthorne (roughly 10 miles into the course). Although the shoes had been used for around 250+ miles over the previous few months, the shoes performed much more like the race at Snowdonia Trail Marathon than at the Keswick Mountain Festival 25k. The Terraultras G260 provided comfort throughout despite the mileage that had already been put into them that year.

So if the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 was already the perfect long distance trail running race shoe (in my eyes), how could inov-8 improve? When I took the new pair of INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 for a test over a week, it was obvious from the first step...

Image provided by inov-8©

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Without knowing anything about the science or technology going into the shoe, I took the shoes out for a week under various circumstances and elements I'd likely meet in any of the races I undertake.

Putting them on and lacing them up, I could notice what felt like a more 'plush' comfort on the upper material. Taking a stand and a walk around, I noticed a different feel to the stack. They 'feel' expensive on my feet and more of a luxury than the previous models. Runners who prefer a more minimal wedge underfoot may notice extra height off the floor compared to G 260, presumably where the extra 10g of weight comes into play. The difference of feel when running is negligible, and the slight extra depth is a small trade off for the level of bounce and comfort provided.

Immediately from the first steps it was clear the improvements inov-8 had made to the shoe. The previous models worked well in allowing your foot to do exactly what it needed to. It didn't try to force your foot into awkward positions, or unnatural running styles. You could run your natural style of running, feeling the ground under the foot without the shoe trying to overwrite it and forcing you into something unnatural.

You were in total control, and if you were feeling fresh you could eat up the miles. If you were having an off day, feeling a bit jaded or tired, the G 260 wouldn't necessarily provide any bounce or 'boost' to your running. The INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270, although it also allows your foot to do what it does best, it also feels as though it's boosting you forward, and you'd be forgiven in thinking inov-8 had dropped the zero drop in favour of something higher (fear not, it's still zero drop). Whilst running on tarmac to the beginning of the trail, the shoe performed like a road shoe, giving me a light and responsive ride and a bounce on each step propelling me up the climb, more so than the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 did.

FIRST IMPRESSION KEY POINTS

More comfort in the upper
Has the comfort and feel of a long distance road shoe with addition of the best grip on the market
Has a much improved 'bounce' over the G 260 version

*The added bounce I felt would turn out to be a new cushioning foam inov-8 had added to the shoe model

Image provided by inov-8©

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 ON HILLS CLIMBS

Taking the shoes on a hill climbing session, I specifically used a route I knew would test both their grip and their power to propel me up the climb. I used one of the climbs from SWITCHBACK VALLEY TRAIL RACE (Race number 2 from the inov-8 Pennine Trails - September Midweek Trail Series).

As the name suggests, the route had numerous twists and turns and the ground is on loose rocks. Tuning the corners, I found myself easily gripping the bends and pushing quickly on the next climb. I felt light and quick, even managing to take my old Strava segment CR up the climb.

The shoes were insanely grippy despite the fact there'd been heavy rain on the trails over the last week, working well on the wet loose rocks and feeling continuously light up the climb.

HILL CLIMBING TEST KEY POINTS

Light up the climb, adding feel of explosive power with the 'bounce' cushioning
Grip on unconventional hill climbs such as twists and turns/wet ground was immense, meaning I didn't needlessly lose energy or effort

Images provided by inov-8©

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 ON ALL OUT RACE PACE

This, for me, is just as important as any other factors even though it's not necessarily something you'd associate with an ultra running shoe.

I want to know that if the moment in a long distance race asks for it, and I'm required to switch up the gears and take the race on all out, that the shoes carrying me would be up to the task. I took the Terraultras on a tempo run over the GORPLE ROCKS TRAIL RACE route (Race number 1 from the inov-8 Pennine Trails - September Midweek Trail Series) to find out.

I've done this route and session hundreds of times over the previous six years. All different shoes and in all different weathers. The route resembles a mild Snowdon Mountain Race. Less climb and distance, but similar terrain and race feel with it being an up and down, there and back route over rugged fast paced trail.

Although this isn't necessarily the shoe built for the job, it held up 100% for the whole session. The difference I noticed between the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 and the G 270, was that although the responsiveness was still there under the forefoot of the shoe, there was an added comfort in the midsole. This didn't take away from the feel underfoot when tackling tricky terrain under descending conditions, but added an extra comfort in knowing the more crueller jagged/pointed rocks weren't going to cause bruised feet with any overly heavy foot steps.

I found the cadence and turnover quick, something you wouldn't necessarily associate with an 'ultra shoe', but an added bonus.

RACE PACE TEST KEY POINTS

Quick cadence despite being a 'heavier' shoe
The flexible sole picked up the rugged terrain at quick paces, but also offering protection from harsher ground particularly in the heal and midsole.

*The different feel of the midsole I would find out be a new addition to the shoe, called POWERFLOW MAX, a midsole foam which inov-8 claims it delivers 20% more energy return

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 - PENNINE TRAILS REVIEW

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 ON SLOWER, STEADIER, LONGER MILES

Something that stops me from taking on the MEGA long distances, looking at 50+ miles, is an ongoing and bizarre manufacturing default in my body that occurs on longer slower miles...

Running past 15 miles on slow, technical terrains with high elevation brings on an occurrence in my left achilles, like a searing 'popping/cracking' sensation and has done so for the last 4-5 years or so. This strange sensation occurs 2-3 times per mile past a certain point, and the running in between is absolutely pain free, but it never happens on fast running over long distance (like The Three Peaks or any of the Trail Marathons I do yearly). It simply comes on when running slower miles, but is absolutely fine the next day or once I stop running.

Usually this occurs due to the achilles becoming tired through continuous impact using less cushioned shoes, as well slow hills climbs putting extra strain on the area.

I used the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 on a long slow run over technical terrains to Hardcastle Craggs, a superb woodland in the Calder Valley with plenty of long slow technical hill climbs. Despite the slow running and added extra impact, this sensation didn't occur (though this was over 19 miles and will need more testing to see how it would cope with the shoes over longer distances - though the signs were positive).

The other thing I noticed was the transition between rougher ground and hard running to more runnable sections. One particular section I'd run over technical trail through high ferns straight out onto tarmac. Usually the hips and legs would take a short while to cool off after this period of running, but reaching the tarmac I once again felt the boost of the midsole and the propulsion, a welcome feeling after a tougher section of running.

STEADIER MILES TEST KEY POINTS

Less energy lost over longer distances, particularly noticeable between technical to easy running transitions
Less impact felt through the legs, especially if comparing to the G 260, protecting niggles runners may already be protecting, whilst no doubt helping to prevent new ones emerging in long distance races

Images provided by inov-8©

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 ON TECHNICAL TRAILS

Pretty much covered in all the previous sections, it's worth mentioning again. The feeling underfoot and the grip provided is immense. To be fair, this is something you find in the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260 model too, but but it's worth remarking on again.

I can't say I've tried every shoe labelled an 'ultra shoe', but I can imagine many will fall foul of the over-cushioned, bulky feel. The INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 260/G 270 provides sensational grip and feel over wet rock, mud and pretty much most things you'd find in an ultra race in the UK with the comfort of an 'ultra shoe' too.

TECHNICAL TRAIL TEST KEY POINTS

Grips to everything like s**t...
The feel of the ground underfoot was still there, reducing 'clumsy' running but with an added sense of protection from larger rocks

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Image provided by inov-8©

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 - FINAL THOUGHTS

I love the INOV-8 TERRAULTRA shoe, having been the shoe of choice for me for many years now on long distance trail races, so it's no doubt this was going to be a positive review. The only thing that could have changed this would have been if inov-8 made unnecessary changes and over complicated an already well loved shoe. Thankfully, they really have just tweaked and refined the shoe, making changes and additions where needed and keeping the elements that made the shoe the brands most popular trail shoe intact.

The INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 provides extra performance and feel that I wasn't even aware I needed, but am thankful for. I found myself wanting to run more than planned, simply because they were a joy to be in, but also because I wanted to find something I didn't like. Something I didn't discover in a full week of trying.

Runners wanting to know the difference between the G 260 and the G 270 can expect more comfort, more cushioning, more bounce in your stride and somehow... even grippier.

This shoe will certainly continue to be my long distance shoe of choice long after the racing scene returns, but surely inov-8 can't improve on it again? Can they?

INOV-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 KEY SPECIFICATIONS

For: Ultramarathon races and long distance running on trails

Price: £145  www.inov-8.com

Outsole rubber: Graphene-Grip (World’s Toughest Grip)

Cleat depth: 4mm

Fit: Grade 5 (inov-8 fit scale in the toe box is 1-5, with 5 being the widest)

Midsole stack height: 12mm in the heel & 12mm in the forefoot

Drop: 0mm

Weight: 270g

BROWSE TERRAULTRA G 270 AT INOV-8.COM