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I've mostly been road running but I'd like to try a bit more XC so I've decided to invest in some proper gear. Question is, which shoes?
I've narrowed it down to the following two. Does anyone have any advice I need before deciding? Is there a reason why I shouldn't buy one of these pairs?
These options are two 'standard fit' shoes by Inov8 as I have quite wide feet and the 'precision fit' of some of their other options wouldn't work.
[url= https://www.athleteshop.co.uk/inov-8-x-claw-275-extreme-off-road-running-shoes-men-black-blue-red?gclid=CPfL7v_7rM8CFUQq0wodcv4GFw ]X-Claw 275[/url]
[url= https://www.athleteshop.co.uk/inov-8-roclite-280-trail-running-shoe-black-orange-190295 ]Roclite 280[/url]
No, I haven't tried either on yet! But I'm interested to know what people think who actually own them and what differences might I benefit from when actually using them on the trails.
I've had Roclite 243s and 295s before and might well buy another pair soon. Good bread and butter shoe for most trails, light fell use and will stand a bit of tarmac. 275 looks good - a bit more aggressive/mountainy. The 295s are at least stocked by a few places so you can get try - some Inovs are hard to find in the wild. PS Sportsshoe have a deal on some 280 sizes
Roclites every time. A very flexible use shoe. I've had multiple pairs over the years. They wear well too.
Just make sure you try them on - the sizing can be all over the place.
Cheers Bob / Steve
How are the Roclites in the sloppy mud?
The xclaw has a much more aggressive sole than the roclite (which I think Innov8 call a multi terrain shoe)
If you want something comfy that will do most terrain well over a long distance then roclite , if you're doing perhaps shorter/ faster runs but the ground is going to be minging then Xclaw
I use x talon which j find v comfy even for 10-15 miles I'm size 9 and take a size 9 standard, you can still cinch them up pretty tight so they don't move.
I've had loads of their shoes over the years. Xtalon are my favourite vs the three pairs of earlier generation roclites I had. I have the hiking boots too. If you can try the performance and comfort versions of their models, that helps fine tune the fit.
I've got roclites 280, only issue I found with them is they're a bit thin with the supplied insole, so I use a custom insole which has sorted out my sore feet problem. Otherwise very happy with them as a cross country shoe.
Also have a few pairs of old Terroc which I've bought on ebay, they rarely come up for sale anymore, they've always been my preferred xc shoe