Lightest Trail Shoe On the Market

The Inov-8 F-lite 250 weighs in at only 9oz yet manages to provide some minimalist protection with Inov-8's Fascia-band outsole, dual density foot bed, a shank stiffener, and Rocshoc impact-absorbing compound that is graded according to the size of the shoe.

F-Lite™-grip

• Unique 'Fascia-band' sole design

• Good stability

• Lightweight registered design

• Inov-8 sticky rubber sole compound

• Excellent hard pack terrain performance

• Graded sole depth and cleat sizes

• Contoured profile provides sure footed placement

• Excellent grip

250
Inov-8 F-lite 250: Elite lightweight racing shoe ideal for use on hard pack mountainous terrain. Has a low profile midsole with sticky rubber outsole. Radical design provides good upper support while the patent pending fascia-band™ aids propulsion efficiency of the running cycle. Ideal for Mountain Running.

$94.95

posted by Perry Dau  # 9:17 AM 0 comments

Columnist

For a moment, forget about Nike and New Balance. Take pavement and trail out of the picture. Imagine running on rocks, jumping stumps, stomping in mud, and bushwhacking at high speed.

In the wide world of running sports, the subgenre of off-trail racing requires its own type of footwear. Indeed, the esoteric pursuits of fell running, adventure racing, orienteering and speed-mountaineering necessitate shoes that bend common conception.

Take the Inov-8 Mudclaw 340 O + as an example. This odd animal, made for orienteering and off-piste mountain running, comes with one of the industry's most aggressive outsoles. More than 50 quarter-inch rubber knobs poke off the bottom of the shoe, ten of them tipped with metal spikes for extra grip on snow, ice and dead fallen leaves.

I've run off-trail in various sports for years. Companies like Montrail, Salmon, La Sportiva and Ice Bug have kept my feet happy and fast moving through the forest. But Inov-8, a U.K.-based company (www.inov-8.com) with 13 unique shoe models, has been under my microscope as of late.

The subject of this week's dissection -- the aforementioned Mudclaw 340 O + -- is not my favorite Inov-8 shoe. The company's Terroc 330, which I reviewed last year, is lighter weight and more comfortable. It fit me better than the Mudclaw, too. The Inov-8 F-Lite 250, a featherweight sprinter, is my pick for pedal-down, heat-of-the-race type scenarios.

But the Mudclaw 340 O +, which costs $90, is the most interesting shoe in the company's line. It's not perfect, but the shoe concept has a lot of potential.

The Mudclaw's build mixes a trail-running aesthetic with hints of a hiking boot. The toothy sole will crush most everything in its path. But this crushing can be done at unusually high speeds because the shoes are relatively lightweight at about 12 ounces apiece.

On the trail -- and especially on pavement -- the Mudclaw feels stiff and slightly flat-footed. But on variable terrain the shoe excels.

The big teeth under your toes dig in deep and provide tremendous traction. For grassy hill climbs, bush-crashing forest runs, and mud, the spiky tread makes a noticeable difference. Though the shoes are too airy and breathable for winter running, the metal spikes will dig into snow and ice if needed.

In most scenarios, though, the extra grip is simple overkill.

Fit on the foot, I found, was fine overall, though the heel cup area was a smidge too shallow for my feet. Be sure to try these on for size before purchase if possible.

Overall, the Mudclaw is a highly-specialized shoe I'll use in rare situations. Muddy and wet hilly terrain would be one such scenario. It may come out on warm winter days, too. It's not going to be a workhorse in my stable of footwear. But it's a good steed to have ready to go just in case.

Stephen Regenold writes The Gear Junkie (http://www.THEGEARJUNKIE.com) for eight U.S. newspapers.

posted by Perry Dau  # 6:42 AM 0 comments

Inov-8 Mudclaw 340

Product
All our products are designed to be extremely lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable with excellent durability relative to the weight of the materials. All of our shoes have a naming system where the name is unique to the sole design followed by a number which is the weight of an average UK size 8 shoe.

Mudclaw™-grip • Aggressive outsole • Designed to give maximum grip when steep ascending, descending, contouring especially on wet grass • Dual compound Inov-8 Endurance rubber sole • Harder on heel & toe areas for steep uphill & downhill ground penetration. • Registered design

'O' +340 Inov-8 MudClaw 340: Extremely durable and aggressively outsole fell/hill/mountain or ideal orienteering shoe. Synthetic upper has dual layer mesh for comfort and protection. Outsole uses metal dobs for extra grip, ideal for forest and if you come into contact with snow and ice. $89.95 Meta-flex™ Metcradle™ Met-shank™ Bi-Planer™ Heel High Breathability, No Waterproofing Endurance Rubber Performance Last Recommended uses: Mountain Running Fell / Hill Running Mountain Marathon *Orienteering Recommended Terrain: Steep Loose Rock Long Grass / Heather / Tussock Mud Peat Bogs Steep Wet Grass

Unisex Inov-8 running shoes come in unisex sizing. Order in US Men's sizes Size Chart

Meta-flex ™ torsion shank
• Profiled polymer wishbone™ shape shank stiffener embedded into the midsole allows torquing effect for precise contouring and foot placement.
• Secure fit gives no slip placements and dabs

Metcradle™
•Secures Met forward and behind
•Angled base of the webbing gives the foot further natural holding on undulating terrain
•Improved torque by design

Met-shank™
New 5-finger meta-shank aligns with each individual metatarsal for greater flexibility when contouring while retaining underfoot impact protection

Bi-Planar™ Heel
Sole design whereby the heel section is curved in two planes aligning the natural curvature of the heel. This provides a more natural and earlier heel strike to aid descending and contouring.

posted by Perry Dau  # 7:06 AM 0 comments

Inov-8 Mudclaw 330

Product
All our products are designed to be extremely lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable with excellent durability relative to the weight of the materials. All of our shoes have a naming system where the name is unique to the sole design followed by a number which is the weight of an average UK size 8 shoe.

Mudclaw™-grip • Aggressive outsole • Designed to give maximum grip when steep ascending, descending, contouring especially on wet grass • Dual compound Inov-8 sticky rubber sole • Harder on heel & toe areas for steep uphill & downhill ground penetration. • Registered design

'O' +330 Inov-8 MudClaw 330: Extremely durable and aggressively outsoled fell/mountain/orienteering shoe. Synthetic upper has dual layer mesh for comfort and protection. Outsole uses inov-8 sticky rubber compound. $89.95 Meta-flex™ Metcradle™ Met-shank™ Bi-Planer™ Heel High Breathability, No Waterproofing Sticky Rubber Performance Last Recommended uses: Mountain Running Fell / Hill Running Mountain Marathon *Orienteering Recommended Terrain: Steep Loose Rock Long Grass / Heather / Tussock Stream Crossing Mud Peat Bogs Steep Wet Grass

Unisex Inov-8 running shoes come in unisex sizing. Order in US Men's sizes Size Chart

Meta-flex ™ torsion shank
• Profiled polymer wishbone™ shape shank stiffener embedded into the midsole allows torquing effect for precise contouring and foot placement.
• Secure fit gives no slip placements and dabs

Metcradle™
•Secures Met forward and behind
•Angled base of the webbing gives the foot further natural holding on undulating terrain
•Improved torque by design

Met-shank™
New 5-finger meta-shank aligns with each individual metatarsal for greater flexibility when contouring while retaining underfoot impact protection

Bi-Planar™ Heel
Sole design whereby the heel section is curved in two planes aligning the natural curvature of the heel. This provides a more natural and earlier heel strike to aid descending and contouring.

posted by Perry Dau  # 7:04 AM 0 comments

WAUSAU

SURGERY CENTER

BIG EAU PLEINE PARK TRAIL RUN

4, 7, OR 9 MILE TRAIL RUN

4 MILE FUN WALK

(Proceeds to Marathon Parks foundation)

WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPT 16 2006 entry fee: $12.00 w/t-shirt

Time: 10 am all races $ 8.00 w/o shirt

WHERE: WEST UNIT EAU PLEINE late fee: after sept 9th & same

PARK, mosinee wi day registration

$15:00 w/t-shirt

(while supply last)

$12.00 w/o t-shirt

mail form and entry fee

payable to: Jay Punke

3703 N 18th ave

Wausau WI 54401

Perks: t-shirts guaranteed to

Early registrants, food and

Refreshments at the end of race

Trophies to top overall m/f

follow race signs medals to top 3 winners in each

off of hwy 153 age group 10 yr increments

for further info jay or judy 715-675-5850 or jjpunke @aol.com

visit www.revelsports.com for 2006 results and running attire !

age group 11 & under 12-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 & up /PLEASE

DIVISION 4M RUN 7M RUN 9M RUN 4M FUN WALK

T- SHIRT S M L XL XXL CIRCLE

LAST NAME FIRST AGE M F BIRTHDATE

---------------------------------/-----------------------------------------------/---------------/----------------------------------------

STREET ADDRESS CITY STATE PHONE #

_____________________ I HEREBY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND RELASE MARATHON

PARKS, RACE ORGANIZORS FROM ANY OCCURANCE WHETHER FORSEEN OR UNFORSEEN IN

CONNECTION WITH EAU PLEINE PARK TRAIL IN WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY, DEATH OR ANY

DAMAGE TO ME. I FURTHER ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY PHYSICAL FITNESS AND

CAPABILITY TO PERFORM IN THE RACE AND HAVE TRAINED SUFFICIENTLY TO PARTICIPATE

IN THE EVENT I HAVE REGISTERED FOR

Sign --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

posted by Perry Dau  # 5:25 PM 0 comments

Inov-8 Roclite 315

Product
All our products are designed to be extremely lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable with excellent durability relative to the weight of the materials. All of our shoes have a naming system where the name is unique to the sole design followed by a number which is the weight of an average UK size 8 shoe.

Rocklite™-grip • Unique 'Fascia-band' sole design • Good stability • Lightweight registered design • Sticky rubber inov-8 sole compound • Excellent mixed terrain performance •Graded sole depth provides sure footed placement • Contoured profile provides sure footed placement • Excellent grip 2006 Best Trail Running Shoe

315 Inov-8 Roclite 315: Trail running shoe with high levels of comfort, upper support and grip. Medium profile cushioned midsole provides comfort while the patent pending fascia-band™ aids propulsion efficiency of the running cycle. Ideal for Training and Long Distance Racing, Mountain and Trail Running on hard pack trails. $89.95 Meta-flex™ Metcradle™ Met-shank™ Fascia Band High Breathability, No Waterproofing Endurance Rubber Endurance Last Recommended uses: *Mountain Running *Trail Running Adventure Racing Trail Walking Long Distance Walking Climbing Approach Lifestyle Recommended Terrain: Steep Loose Rock Hard Compact / Dry Rock *Hard pack trail Mud Peat Bogs *Ideal / Recommended As you would expect from an Inov8 shoe, the Roclite 315 offers great traction and superb stability. The low-profile helps you stay nimble and there is extra padding in this model to provide comfort on hard surfaces. Another award-winning trail shoe.

Unisex Inov-8 running shoes come in unisex sizing. Order in US sizes Size Chart

Note: the Roclite series runs 1/2 size small

f-lite 250 | mudclaw 270 | mudroc 280 | roclite 285 | mudroc 290 | f-lite 300

flyroc 310 | roclite 315 | terroc 330

posted by Perry Dau  # 7:35 AM 0 comments