No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register

No products in the basket.

Subscribe Here
Ultra Runner Mag
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • News
  • Race Calendar
  • Podcasts
  • Free to read
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag
    • Subscribe
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Change of address
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • News
  • Race Calendar
  • Podcasts
  • Free to read
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag
    • Subscribe
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Change of address
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Ultra Runner Mag
Home Race Kit and Gear Reviews

Inov-8 Terraultra G 270 Review

Graphine Grip, which claims best-in class-traction for its native conditions

March 17, 2021
in Free to read, Race Kit and Gear Reviews, Running News
Reading Time: 8 mins read
0
Inov-8 Terraultra G 270 Review

TERRAULTRA G 270

Innov 8 Shoe Review

I am here to give an honest review, from a runners point of view, on all the things that truly matter to us, from those new to the sport, to the more experienced racers – Louise Tidbury

Inov-8 Terraultra G 270  

Expectations were high as the company has taken the widely lauded (but not often used) material, Graphene, and created Graphene Grip, which claims best-in class-traction for its native conditions: the U.K.’s wet and muddy terrain.  A big claim….so where better to put it to the test than in the fells of the Lake District right in the middle of winter.  Challenge accepted.

Louise Tidbury testing the TERRAULTRA G 270

First Impressions:

Inov-8’s latest shoe, the Inov-8 TERRAULTRA G 270 makes an immediate impression.  The neon green design is striking and certainly sets it apart and gets you noticed.  There is a range of colours available and for those of you wanting a more subtle approach; there is a full black option.  I personally love the brighter colours and I feel that when tackling the extreme terrains, there’s a safety element here; standing out and being visible is essential, so the brighter the better.

Another little detail that I immediately noticed and that I liked was that the shoe has perforations on each side where a gaiter can be affixed, perfect for added protection on those longer runs. It’s little details like that which set a shoe apart as it shows the designer is thinking from others perspectives and the design is suited to what the customers need and proves that they know their audience.

Comfort:

The comfort was, for me, the biggest surprise when trialing this trainer.  I have always been drawn to more cushioning in my choice of shoe, the more padded the better.  With the Terraultra G 270, as soon as I put it on, it felt as though it had been custom made for my foot.  There is a new cushioning foam being used on this shoe and you can definitely notice this.  The comfort was exceptional and the shoe felt like a second skin.

I have wide feet which can often mean my toes feel pinched or trapped yet these felt comfortable straight away and at no point did I feel any discomfort.  The G 270 has a wider-than-average toebox meaning your forefoot can splay and I definitely felt the benefit of this, my foot was sat in perfect positioning with no rubbing and (as can happen sometimes in ‘wide fit’ shoes) no lateral movement due to an overcompensation of space.

TERRAULTRA G 270

One of the best things, in my opinion, about the G 270’s are that they are ‘out of the box’ useable.  There’s no need to ‘wear them in’ like you have with some trainers.  Indeed, my first run in them was marathon distance and I barely even noticed I had them on.  There were no hotspots or adjustments needed, very unusual for a first outing in a new shoe.

As I ran, the weight, or lack thereof, was noticeable; they didn’t feel as clumpy as some other brands and despite being so lightweight, they were strong and didn’t compromise at all in comfort.

These shoe gave ‘all day comfort’ and I can see these being excellent for the longer ultra run distances.  I wore them for a number of full day’s to see if my feet would become fatigued; not at all.  Even on the first outing when my feet weren’t used to them, I didn’t feel desperate to take them off.  On runs, they stay securely in place, no matter the camber or unevenness underfoot.

In addition, the fully gusseted tongue stays firmly in place; perfectly laying just where it should across your foot. Not always something that you can take for granted and very much appreciated as again, it meant that rather than messing about which how your shoe was settled on your foot, you could just pop it on and head straight out with no need to adjust.  A definite time saver.

TERRAULTRA G 270 sported by Damian Hall

The heavy-duty overlay on the G 270 make it such that the shoe is very protective from moisture and mud.  I made sure to run through some nice waterlogged and muddy trails and yet the residue soon wicked away.  The durability of the overlay does not impact on comfort and there is no compromise; the shoe remained flexible and accommodating.

Grip:

An absolutely essential element of any trail shoe is how it connects with the surface to keep you upright and moving forwards, not sideways.  Again, the G 270 performed.  I felt an amazing sense of security in foot placement; over a multitude of terrains, these shoes remained consistent.  I had excellent traction when running on loose shale paths, in mud, across streams and through deep puddles.

My feet were, at times, fully submerged in water and yet I felt no deterioration of performance.  The shoes drained well and I didn’t experience any discomfort. I also had no blisters which, for a first outing in pretty extreme conditions is certainly impressive and again speaks to the comfort and the fit.

Post run, my feet felt great and didn’t experience any fatigue, unexpected with such a lightweight shoe. The only surface I felt it was not suited to was tarmac, but as this is cited clearly as a trail shoe, not a road one.  This is expected.  On this surface the grip felt almost sticky.  Should it have been icy underfoot, this likely would have made the shoe suitable for the tarmac but in normal conditions I would reach for a road shoe if you’re heading out in Urban territory.

TERRAULTRA G 270

As for the grip, this was fantastic.  I was extremely confident and my pace didn’t slow at all when traversing down inclines, even on terrain which I would traditionally be more cautious on.  I’ve turned my ankle on many an ultra and so always feel that I attack the downwards inclines with a little more reserve.  However, the traction and grip I had wearing these allowed me to channel my inner mountain goat and for the first time, I became one of those people I usually envy; bouncing down the paths with speed and skill.  I didn’t lose my footing once.  A very happy girl indeed as a result!

The weather closed in while I ran meaning the rocks and paths became slick and uneven, and the trail, which started as fairly packed and solid soon softened into a nice gloopy mud but the shoe took it all in its stride.  I felt safe and confident with every step on uneven and uncertain footing.

For me, the G 270 feels like a go-anywhere option.  Underfoot, there is a surface feel but this only enhances the confidence you have and it certainly doesn’t impact on comfort.  If anything, it increased the responsiveness for me and it’s certainly become my go-to favorite for hitting the fells.

Weight:

As a race-day option, this is a shoe you’ll definitely reach for because it’s very light at 270g and yet doesn’t skimp on material features and comfort.  I believe Inov-8 have found a very happy balance at this weight and for its intended long-distance use in the ultra world.

The Technical bit:

A midsole stack height of 12mm on these Zero-drop shoes means that your foot strike, form, and maybe most notably your Achilles tendons must be in good shape to thrive in the G 270.  The quick turnover and springiness of the super-springy Powerflow Max foam is intended to make the shoe more comfortable over longer distances and certainly works.  Because it’s so springy, this midsole is more at home on hard terrain although it performs in softer conditions as well making it a good all weather shoe.

So what about the Graphene Grip?  Not widely used in shoes, this is a carbon-based material that is claimed to be the strongest available in the world. Inov-8 has used this due to its claim to being the best for traction and I for one, would say that this has certainly proved to be correct.

The graphene really shines with grip being effortless across difficult conditions.  Another note to make is that durability is, thus far, positive as well.  Usual signs of wear are minimal which suggests that not only is the shoe responsive but looks to be a long term investment; certainly a positive when looking at what to spend your hard earned pennies on.

Cost:

At a retail price of £145, these are a little pricey for those starting off in running (whoever said that running was a cheap sport clearly wasn’t a runner) but I honestly think that they are worth every penny.  Given the comfort and security they give, it makes sense to me to spend the extra.  Ultimately you get what you pay for, and these certainly earn their keep.

Who would it suit?

It’s definitely a shoe suitable for racers but, in addition, I think this would be perfect for those new to the trails.  It allows you to feel secure and safe on a multitude of terrain and concentrate on other things.  The shoe becomes so much an extension of your foot that once you have it on, you can forget about it and trust that it will do its job, allowing you to carry on with the more important job of completing your run.  As a trail shoe, it is definitely suited to the mixed terrains (and weather conditions) you expect in ultra’s.

TERRAULTRA G 270

For racers, as the COVID restrictions look to hopefully be lifted soon, this may mean we will see a return to physical events.  For those looking to get back into races and see some good results, I would definitely suggest this shoe becomes a part of race day attire.

So there we go, overall this shoe is an absolute winner for me and I cannot recommend it enough.  My only caution would be that due to its zero drop, heavy footed runners should be careful; it may be that the cushioning will prove too minimal for some. However, as someone used to a softer shoe, I personally had no problems.  Sometimes I guess a change isn’t the risk you would expect!

Check out the range at www.inov-8.com.

 

Review by Louise Tidbury, Ultrarunner Magazine

Tags: geargear reviewsinov8race kittrainers
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

EDY BACK IN CHARGE AT INOV-8

Next Post

Ultra Everest 135 Race Report

Related Posts

Harrier Launch NEW Fixed Length Carbon Running Poles!
Running News

Harrier Launch NEW Fixed Length Carbon Running Poles!

by Alex McMunn
August 9, 2022
Wildhorse 200 Mile Rhys Jenkins
Podcasts

Wildhorse 200 Mile Rhys Jenkins

by ULTRARUNNER MAG
August 8, 2022
ITRA Trail Talks
Running News

ITRA Trail Talks

by ULTRARUNNER MAG
August 6, 2022
Next Post
Ultra Everest 135 Race Report

Ultra Everest 135 Race Report

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

  • 3.6k Followers

All Articles

Upcoming Races

Current Month

august,2022

Event Type

All

100 km

100 Miles

1000 km

120km

125km & 50km

125km/2days

130 km

135 Miles

150 - 199 Miles

164miles

19km

2 Day Option

200 km

200 Miles

21km

24hrs

250km/5days

26km

280 km

30 - 49 Miles

300 Miles

40

40 miles

43km

45km

47miles

50 km

50 Miles

500 Miles +

60km

64km

70

75 Miles

78miles

82miles

Last Person standing

Event Location

All

Abergavenny

Atlantic Coast Path

Betws Y Coed

Chester

Coed-y-Brenin

Devon Coast Path

Dorset Coast Path

Exhibition Hall

Glasgow

Grimsthorpe Castle Estate, near to Bourne in South Lincs

Jurassic Coast Path, Dorset

LLANBERIS

Malham

oxford

Portballintrae and North Coast

Portpatrick

St Johns Town of Dalry

Talybont-on-Usk

Event Organizer

All

26Extreme

ACS Super Sports Club

Always Aim High Events

Badger Trail Events

Bog Dog Racing

Brutal Events

Camino Ultra

CraggRunner

Davy Newell

Durty Events

Ely Tri Club - Events

Endurance Life

Footlesscrow Enterprises Ltd

Freedom Racing

GB Ultras

Go Beyond

Go Beyond Challenge

Grant Wilson

Himalayan Run & Trek Pvt. Ltd.

Hobo Pace

Horizontes -Turismo Desportivo

James Bingham & Quentin Brooksbank

James Bingham and Quentin Brooksbank

Limitless Trails

Longtown Mountain Rescue Team

Mad Hatter Sports Events

Marlborough Running Club

Matthew Hearne

Neil Kirby

Nice Work

Pegasus Ultra Running

Positive Steps Fitness and Wellbeing Ltd

Ranger Ultras

Runningmonk Trail Events

Sandnes Ultra Trail

Saturn Running

Severn Valley Events

The Ultra Loop

Threshold Sports

Ultra Trails

Ultra Violet Run

Votwo

We Run Wild NI

WESWIMRUN

Wilderness Development

Wildhorse 200

Youth Sport Omagh

Zone Events

Ultra Runner Mag

We take you to the heart of all the latest Ultra-marathons with Race Reviews from all over the UK and the World. Shining the Spotlight on Solo Adventures and Personal Journey's.

Categories

  • Charity
  • E-Mag
  • Elite and Athlete Interviews
  • Free to read
  • Freebies
  • Headline
  • Health
  • Injury Recovery
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition Advice
  • Nutrition Reviews
  • Other Sports
  • Podcasts
  • Race Director Interviews
  • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
  • Race Reviews
  • Running News
  • Training
  • Training Advice and Coaching
  • Training Plans
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized

Browse by Tag

Barkley Marathon bob graham charity coaching Covid19 desert events Fastest Known Time fell running FKT gbultras gear gear reviews health inov-8 inov8 Lake District marathon marathon des sables mental health mindset montane mountain runner mountains Pennine Way Race Across Scotland race director race kit race reviews Running Scotland Snowdon southern upland way Spine tips trail trailrunning trainers training UK Running ultra ultramarathon Ultrarunner Ultrarunning Wales

Links

  • Subscribe
  • Article Submission
  • Advertise with Ultra Runner Magazine
  • Change of address
  • Contact Us

UltraRunner Magazine © 2022 Website Design by DROLL

  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Interviews
    • Elite and Athlete Interviews
    • Race Director Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Race Reviews
    • Race Kit and Gear Reviews
    • Nutrition Reviews
  • Training
    • Training Advice and Coaching
    • Training Plans
    • Injury Recovery
    • Nutrition Advice
  • News
  • Race Calendar
  • Podcasts
  • Free to read
  • Magazine
    • E-Mag
    • Subscribe
    • Sustainability – the Rights of Nature
    • Advertise
    • Change of address
    • Article Submission
    • Contact Us
  • Subscribe

UltraRunner Magazine © 2022 Website Design by DROLL

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
Go to mobile version
X
X