Facts

  • Terrain

    Road

    Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.

    Trail

    Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.

    Good to know

    As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.

  • Arch support

    Neutral / cushion / high arch

    Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.

    Stability / overpronation / normal arch

    Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.

    Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet

    Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.

    Good to know

    - Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
    - More about arch support in this video.
    - Find your arch type by following steps from this video.

  • Use

    Daily running

    Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.

    Competition

    Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.

    Good to know

    If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.

  • Price
    $130
  • Weight
    Men: 7.4oz
    Women: 7.4oz
  • Heel to toe drop
    Men: 3mm
    Women: 3mm

    The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.

    There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.

  • Heel height
    Men: 9mm
    Women: 9mm
  • Forefoot height
    Men: 6mm
    Women: 6mm
  • Width
    Men: normal
    Women: normal
  • Release date
    Jan 2018
Show more facts

Expert Reviews

Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.

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95 / 100 based on 3 expert reviews

  • 96 / 100 | Northern Runner

    I have been running in these shoes about six weeks now and have been deliberately driving out to get onto soft ground so I could run in them. This is because they feel great to me. The feedback you get helps me run with good form and the shoes are so light and flexible that it feels like you haven’t got any shoes on.

  • 93 / 100 | Ian Corless

    The 210 is a winning shoe for efficient runners who want to be low to the ground feeling the terrain as though running barefoot without the discomfort. The combination of the light upper, precision fit and new sticky outsole makes them really stand out as a shoe distance racing shoe for fell, mountain and OC races.

  • 99 / 100 | The secret fell running diary of Ben Mounsey

    In truth, there wouldn’t really be much I’d improve about the X-Talon 210. Perhaps the only thing I would change is the width, to a ‘1’ instead of ‘2’ on the fit scale. It’s a personal preference and not a huge issue at all...

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Updates to Inov-8 X-Talon 210

  • The Inov-8 X-Talon 210 is a lightweight running shoe that’s meant for the neutral pronator. It’s also optimized for events that involve swimming as it doesn’t have a substantial façade or a sizeable sole unit. The outsole has aggressive gripping lugs that can handle both soft and hard terrains.
  • The midsole unit makes use of an injected EVA foam that’s fused with the same rubber compound of the external pad. The close-to-the-ground construction of this part allows the wearer to feel the surface and move fast.
  • A non-water-absorbing upper ensures the preservation of 8 X-Talon 210’s lightweight nature. Visible breathing pores drain water and accommodate airflow. The Met-Cradle fit system is also present, which means that a secure coverage isn’t out of reach.

Inov-8 X-Talon 210 size and fit

The Inov-8 X-Talon 210 was designed using the standard measurements, which means that it follows the natural sizing preferences of consumers. When it comes to width, the available profile is D – Medium. It has a unisex design, but it follows the foot-dimensions of men.

Inov-8’s Precision Fit profile is employed in this model; it’s a design element that prioritizes a form-fitting design in all areas of the foot-chamber, including the toe box.

Outsole

STICKY GRIP™ is a rubber outsole that’s designed to deliver traction on both dry and wet surfaces. It’s also made to last long.

The X-Talon 210 has aggressive 8-millimeter gripping lugs to heighten grip over the terrains. These square-shaped protrusions also make it easier to traverse upward and downward paths.

Midsole

The cushioning system of the Inov-8 X-Talon 210 is made of injected EVA that’s fused with the same rubber compound that graces the outsole. Its purpose is to deliver mild cushioning and proprioception in a package that’s protective and long-lasting. Moreover, it doesn’t have a substantial thickness. Such a profile allows this shoe to tackle swim/run events.

Upper

A layered, non-water-absorbing mesh is used for the upper unit. The purpose of this configuration is to prevent water-retention and allow fast drainage when getting out of the swimming portion of an event. The open pores of this silhouette also permit airflow into the foot-chamber.

The Met-Cradle is a set of printed overlays on the façade. These thin add-ons support the foot, giving it a secure fit as they adjust in conjunction with the lacing system.

The gusseted tongue wards of fabric scraping and material deviation. It also prevents debris from entering the interior of the X-Talon 210.

Comparison