Fetch Fell Runners

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K5 Gus 25 Feb 12:11pm, 25 Feb 2026 6,647 posts	K5 Gus The original Trailfly got a lot of bad reviews for poor heel hold, it seemed to be quite low around the heel. There's a V2 out now, hence the sales on the v1, not read any reviews of the V2 to see if they've fixed the problem
larkim 25 Feb 1:58pm, 25 Feb 2026 28,450 posts	larkim Thanks all. It was mostly the mudclaw vs mudtalon that was confusing me, and the trailtalon look "ok" for lug depth as I'm not racing. It's really the long day out confort that I'm interested in, the roclites (if that's what I've got / had for the last 10 years) are really harsh on anything other than soft ground so I'd like to change that. Maybe the trailtalons are the right pick as they should be more versatile for someone like me who doesn't really run fell races so much as occasionally takes part and often spectates out on the course. Will be up at Black Combe in 10 days as son and wife are back again out in the fell champs races. I'll get out on the fells ahead of them for my morning run, just don't want to be too compromised in footwear!
paulcook 25 Feb 2:00pm, 25 Feb 2026 9,859 posts	paulcook I was going to say I think the mudtalon replaces the X-talon, but it's not quite that simple. Whereas the mudclaw much more aggressive. Some more info here perhaps that might help: inov8.com
jda 25 Feb 2:10pm, 25 Feb 2026 19,892 posts	jda I have a pair of old roclites and I have to say they are quite exceptionally harsh on firm surfaces. I did the 3 peaks in them and took quite a beating. Subsequently reserved for parkruns! Basically all my other shoes (with the possible exception of old mudclaws which have big lugs and not a lot else) are significantly more cushioned.
Northern Exile 25 Feb 2:42pm, 25 Feb 2026 11,648 posts	Northern Exile K5 Gus wrote:The original Trailfly got a lot of bad reviews for poor heel hold, it seemed to be quite low around the heel. There's a V2 out now, hence the sales on the v1, not read any reviews of the V2 to see if they've fixed the problem I guess that just goes to show how subjective this is, as my wife absolutely loved the original TrailFly and bought a further two pairs!
flyingfinn 25 Feb 4:11pm, 25 Feb 2026 3,814 posts	flyingfinn Different shoe NE. I think we are now on the 3rd version. The original which Bobs and I both loved. Then V1 of the rehash which got roundly panned and now V2 to try and rectify that. Which just illustrates the main issue with Inov8, they can't stop **** tinkering and screwing up good shoes. All shoe companies do it to an extent but they seem to be out to be world leaders at it.
flyingfinn 25 Feb 4:13pm, 25 Feb 2026 3,815 posts	flyingfinn Fortunately I still have a boxed pair of the originals in the cupboard. I bought several pairs cheap when they went end of line 😀
flyingfinn 25 Feb 4:20pm, 25 Feb 2026 3,816 posts	flyingfinn And just to show how much they mess about with their shoes. I just had a quick look in the cupboard and realised that those I have boxed were actually V2 of that iteration of the Trailfly 🤷‍♂️
flanker 25 Feb 6:07pm, 25 Feb 2026 21,679 posts	flanker We're now on the 4th version of the Trailfly. The original 270 models which I loved, and the slightly revised v2 which I found slightly inferior, but still good. I also have a couple of pairs stashed away We're now on v2 of the new Traifly. The v1's were OK but not as good as the 270 versions, and the Speed was to be avoided at all costs. I had 3 pair, and on all of them the upper parted from the sole in under 10 miles. Inov8 swapped them without question and the guy in the shop said it was a v common. I'm hoping the v2 Speed is better as I still have a pair of v1 to take back, and I do love them for dry trails. I'd definitely avoid the Wide fit; even with my fat feet it's too wide and just won't hold the foot in the shoe, likely leading to turned ankles. And they are not the shoe for anything vaguely muddy! I do like the new TrailTalon, especially the Zero, and it's become my long Ultra shoe for anything but the gloopiest of terrain. It seems to take the best bits of the roclite and 270, and build on them. Again avoid the Wide (same reasons) and the Speed as again they aren't at all robust (I managed to kill a brand new pair of Inov8 test shoes in a 16k easy trail race). And while I'm in story mode, I've also been using the MudTalons Speeds since they came out, and I think they are the best fell shoe Inov8 have made since the Bare Grips, combining the best of the xTalon and MudClaw. The V1 Mudtalon Speed, even the precision fit, had too much volume and couldn't hold the foot when contouring or landing off-camber. I got a pair of the v2 MudTalon Zero's for this winter's races and they have far less volume and hold my feet perfectly. They have also changed the rubber on them - I think they were worried about iRoc - and it now grips wet rock better than any other Inov8 I've had while still ploughing through mud like a racing tractor.
Derby Tup 25 Feb 6:35pm, 25 Feb 2026 75,467 posts	Derby Tup What are you wearing for the Hobble @flanker ?