inov-8 Trail Talon GTX Review: A Versatile Waterproof Trail Daily Trainer

Introduction

The new inov-8 Trail Talon range sits between the Trailfly and Mud Talon lines in the brand’s lineup, and it is built around a simple idea: a genuinely versatile trail shoe that excels on soft ground while staying comfortable on the hard stuff. There are three versions, the standard Trail Talon, the waterproof Trail Talon GTX, and the lighter, lower-stack Trail Talon Speed, which we have not tested.

We spent time in both the standard shoe and the GTX version. Kieran covered more than 20 miles in the non-Gore-Tex model around the New Forest on road, groomed gravel, woodland trails, wild horse tracks, bogs, and icy conditions. The GTX was run over roughly 55 to 60k across the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh and a very muddy Epping Forest, including a 90-minute, 20K long run.

The Trail Talon costs £130 or $150 and weighs 310g (10.9oz) in a UK 8.5, with a 6mm drop, 31mm heel and 25mm forefoot stack height (an 18/12mm midsole plus sock liner). The GTX costs £140 or $160, so about £10 extra for the waterproof liner, and weighs 343g (12oz) in a UK 9.

Who the Trail Talon GTX Is For

The GTX version makes the most sense for runners who regularly face wet ground, cold puddles, streams or snow and want dry, warm feet for the whole run. It was tested as a winter trail daily trainer, used for everything outside of speed sessions, and that is the role it fits best.

If you are a road runner who strays onto trails and always seems to hit some mud or soft grass along the way, this shoe handles that mix very well. The waterproof liner also stayed comfortable in milder conditions: it still breathed reasonably, never felt scratchy, and the extra weight did not register as much as the spec sheet suggests.

Main Strengths

Grip is the standout feature. The 6mm lugs, shaped like a mountain goat’s hoof and made from inov-8’s hardwearing graphene material, are wide and broad enough to stay comfortable and sticky on harder ground, including wet rocks and slightly icy paths, yet they bite hard into grass, mud and deep, sticky clay. On one very steep Scottish descent where the only option was running almost sideways to stay upright, there were no slips at all, and on climbs the lugs always found a perch instead of that dispiriting backward slide.

The ride itself is direct, light and precise. Despite the 343g weight, the shoe feels nimble and well balanced, with enough Powerflow Pro foam and a 6mm Boomerang sock liner to add softness and rebound on softer trails without dulling ground contact. The foot-shaped toe box is roomy up front without feeling cavernous, there are two width options, and midfoot lockdown is easy to dial in. Stability from such an agile platform was excellent, which mattered a lot when picking through ice and bogs.

The Gore-Tex upper did its job thoroughly. Splashing through streams and cold puddles kept the feet warm and dry, and the low-profile design never let water in over the sides during testing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

If most of your running is on hard, rocky or mountainous trails, this is probably not the right shoe. The midsole is not the most comfortable, and there is not a huge amount of protection for long descents, so a more cushioned alternative from inov-8 or another brand would serve you better. The heel collar is a little soft and can bunch if you are careless pulling the shoe on, though it is easy to fix. The GTX also adds weight to an already fairly heavy shoe, so it is not a racing option; that is what the Trail Talon Speed or Mud Talon Speed are for.

On fit, the tester with narrow feet went true to size in a UK 9 and had enough room even for long runs, but the toe area felt slightly tight, so if you are a standard size or a bit big for your size, going half a size up is worth considering, especially for lots of descending. Runners with wider feet should look at the wider option, since inov-8 in general tends to run narrow.

Buying Advice

Think about where your miles actually happen. If your routes mix softer and firmer ground, if you run through UK winters, or if deep mud and steep grassy slopes are part of the deal, the Trail Talon GTX is a very good choice, and the Gore-Tex liner is a reasonable £10 premium. Road stints of three or four miles to reach the trails were perfectly fine, even if it is not a shoe for miles and miles on the hardest ground.

If you lean toward harder trails instead, options like the Hoka Speedgoat 5 or Merrell Agility Peak 5 offer more comfort on rockier ground, though they do not handle deep mud as well. Within the inov-8 lineup, the Mud Talon Speed is the pick if you want something lighter and faster for muddy, speed-focused running, while the Trail Talon Speed is the lighter, lower-stack option in this new range that we have not yet tested.

Conclusion

The Trail Talon GTX nails the versatility it was designed for: excellent, well-judged grip that works on soft and hard ground alike, a roomy and stable fit, and a waterproof liner that earns its keep in winter. It is a competent, well-balanced trail daily trainer with real character, and for runners who always end up hitting some soft ground, it represents good value at £140 or $160.