UK runner here. I can confirm that the X-Talon Ultra 260 v1 is a mad durable shoe, and is holding up well after 400+ miles. This was a bit of a dream shoe for a wet and slippery Wendover Woods 50 miler a few years back. The sticky grip outsole rubber was perfect for descending with confidence.
QotD: Deciding to move from the Netherlands to Spain in 2015. Life changing: another job, met my wife, started mountain running (no mountains in the NL), etc.
QOD: my former boss went on pregnancy leave, the company had zero intention of letting me take over in her absence. The guy who they wanted to cover for her quit, so they were backed into a corner and forced to let me man the ship. Our company owns 380 store, at that time we were ranked 125th nation wide. In 6 months I had the store at number 6 in the Company nationwide, and number 2 in Colorado. I finished last year ranked 9th in the company, and still number 2 in CO. I always knew I could do it, they never had faith in me.
You deffo have to come to the Lake District some time Seth. Racing or running it is a beautiful place and i am sure you would get a very warm welcome. Have you ever looked at the Bob Graham Round? the Lake Districts classic challenge. We live on the western edge and it is or stomping ground most weekends but the fell running community is something special. Love to all the family bud. Life changing events? Nursing my Mum when she was dying of cancer and wanted to die at home. This was the event that started me running as a way to cope and find that mental peace that i needed. It was a cathartic experience and the birth of my love of running.
Life changing moment: being made redundant during the pandemic. Rather than seeking out another job, I took the plunge and started working for myself, and i'm now a busy self employed graphic designer, this after 25 years of working for other people. Sure, it's a challenge, but the freedoms that come with working for myself now allow more running time. I'm just back from a 50 minute run with the dog, in beautiful spring sunshine.... that would not have been possible previously, and I value that more than any amount of money.
Butter the bread, glad you’re back in the mountains!!! QD: Meeting my wife was also a pivotal point in my life! I was going to college in Hawaii, but falling in love and marrying her convinced me to leave my island lifestyle and move to the cold mountains of Utah. I’m still not used to the cold, dry climate, but I have come to love mountain running! Keep on keepin’ on! Onward and upward DGR!
QD: My life changing moment was my sophomore year in college when I tore my shoulder while wrestling. I was no longer able to compete and had to find a new purpose in life, wrestling was the center of everything I did. A few years later, I found running wasn’t as bad as I remembered in my wrestling days and have been running ever since!
My first impression when I picked up the 260 V2 was similar, seemed like it was too firm, not very responsive, but insane grip. However spring came around, a few more miles loosened up the shoe a bit, and it registered that this shoe truly is designed for softer surface running. At first on the hard, frozen winter ground I didn’t think I’d be able to run more that 5-6 miles in them, but the firm midsole and claw-like grip mixed with soft, muddy terrain balances it out. Took 2nd in an 18 mile muddy single track race here in Wisconsin in them and despite all of the slick hills, I didn’t have a single moment of unsure footing the whole run.
QD: a pivoting point was quitting a civil engineering program and thus for the first time of my life getting time to reconsider and reflect upon my future and future profession, and reflect upon my psychological issues. Now studying physiotherapy which is super fun. While I've still got a fair way to go mentally I've taken the first steps toward healing but I'm still somewhat unsure of how to proceed.
We ran the Leathermans Loop in Pound Ridge NY yesterday. It’s a trail 10k, but ! They pride themselves on the their mud. There was mud, 2 wall scrambles, 2 river crossings and yet more mud. It’s not a trail 10k you run for time. That said, I wore the La Sportiva Bushido. We were talking to a guy who said this Inov-8 shoe was the best in the deep mud. It all came down to which shoe drains the water and mud. Plus, the toe box has to be able to protect the toes when kicking rocks..
Nothing like it, I’ve ever run in, when it comes to handling mud, wet conditions. Amazing and great “bite” as you say! My go to shoe for those conditions in Scotland where I live. Only gripe I have is its a very tough upper and a tad uncomfortable on forefoot and toes. Helluva durable though.
Life changing moment: an "older" one, from farther back... deciding to stay in Atlanta, when I was 19 years old. I was between my sophmore and junior years of college, went to visit friends for the summer... and decided I didn't want to go back to Wisconsin. It was time to live big!
This is a soft ground shoe - a great fell running race shoe. It does Inov8 no good sending these shoes for Seth to test when they're not being tested on the terrain they're made for.
QOD: in 2008 my marriage came to an abrupt end, I started to spiral into a bad place, lost my job, lost my home and things looked pretty bleak. After a few years things started to pick up, started a new job, settled into a new home and changed lifestyle at 40 years old. 8 years ago I met the most amazing lady who is now my wife, she showed me the way back, took me out on gentle runs which got me into running, she`s given me so much more than I could ever put into words, supports me in whatever crazy event I enter and is this year supporting me at UTMB......goes to show that things can always turn around, never give up, and be grateful for those who enter your world and make life worthwhile again.
QOD: My life changed in June 2016 when I started a daily routine of reading the Bible and lifting weights first thing in the morning (4:30am)... transformed me from weak to strong spiritually and physically.
QOD: The day I got my letter from the Naval Academy that I did NOT get in. Without that denial I would never have pivoted to the University of North Dakota and met my true love, Brighid. The heartbreak that day turned into a massive blessing.
Yo Seth, I'm so happy to see you running in the mountains again! I,m following you since 2018 but I loose a bit of interest in your vlog during winter time when you train for road marathon's. Sorry about that..😔 I did see you in real life at the rotterdam marathon though!!💯👐
SHOE DEAL ALERT! I went to a Nike outlet store, in Phoenix, and they had the Vaporfly Next% 1 shoes marked down to only $96! If you need a marathon racing shoe on the cheep, this is your chance.
UK runner here. I can confirm that the X-Talon Ultra 260 v1 is a mad durable shoe, and is holding up well after 400+ miles. This was a bit of a dream shoe for a wet and slippery Wendover Woods 50 miler a few years back. The sticky grip outsole rubber was perfect for descending with confidence.
I've seen this shoe completely thrashed after about 200 miles but trails are rough here in Guam.
QotD: Deciding to move from the Netherlands to Spain in 2015. Life changing: another job, met my wife, started mountain running (no mountains in the NL), etc.
QOD: my former boss went on pregnancy leave, the company had zero intention of letting me take over in her absence. The guy who they wanted to cover for her quit, so they were backed into a corner and forced to let me man the ship. Our company owns 380 store, at that time we were ranked 125th nation wide. In 6 months I had the store at number 6 in the Company nationwide, and number 2 in Colorado. I finished last year ranked 9th in the company, and still number 2 in CO. I always knew I could do it, they never had faith in me.
You deffo have to come to the Lake District some time Seth. Racing or running it is a beautiful place and i am sure you would get a very warm welcome. Have you ever looked at the Bob Graham Round? the Lake Districts classic challenge. We live on the western edge and it is or stomping ground most weekends but the fell running community is something special. Love to all the family bud.
Life changing events? Nursing my Mum when she was dying of cancer and wanted to die at home. This was the event that started me running as a way to cope and find that mental peace that i needed. It was a cathartic experience and the birth of my love of running.
Life changing moment: being made redundant during the pandemic. Rather than seeking out another job, I took the plunge and started working for myself, and i'm now a busy self employed graphic designer, this after 25 years of working for other people. Sure, it's a challenge, but the freedoms that come with working for myself now allow more running time. I'm just back from a 50 minute run with the dog, in beautiful spring sunshine.... that would not have been possible previously, and I value that more than any amount of money.
The mud provides the cushion for the ride with that shoe.
Butter the bread, glad you’re back in the mountains!!! QD: Meeting my wife was also a pivotal point in my life! I was going to college in Hawaii, but falling in love and marrying her convinced me to leave my island lifestyle and move to the cold mountains of Utah. I’m still not used to the cold, dry climate, but I have come to love mountain running! Keep on keepin’ on! Onward and upward DGR!
QD: My life changing moment was my sophomore year in college when I tore my shoulder while wrestling. I was no longer able to compete and had to find a new purpose in life, wrestling was the center of everything I did. A few years later, I found running wasn’t as bad as I remembered in my wrestling days and have been running ever since!
My first impression when I picked up the 260 V2 was similar, seemed like it was too firm, not very responsive, but insane grip. However spring came around, a few more miles loosened up the shoe a bit, and it registered that this shoe truly is designed for softer surface running. At first on the hard, frozen winter ground I didn’t think I’d be able to run more that 5-6 miles in them, but the firm midsole and claw-like grip mixed with soft, muddy terrain balances it out. Took 2nd in an 18 mile muddy single track race here in Wisconsin in them and despite all of the slick hills, I didn’t have a single moment of unsure footing the whole run.
Hi from the UK, these shoes pure ROCK When it gets muddy and slippery.
QD: a pivoting point was quitting a civil engineering program and thus for the first time of my life getting time to reconsider and reflect upon my future and future profession, and reflect upon my psychological issues. Now studying physiotherapy which is super fun. While I've still got a fair way to go mentally I've taken the first steps toward healing but I'm still somewhat unsure of how to proceed.
We ran the Leathermans Loop in Pound Ridge NY yesterday. It’s a trail 10k, but ! They pride themselves on the their mud. There was mud, 2 wall scrambles, 2 river crossings and yet more mud. It’s not a trail 10k you run for time.
That said, I wore the La Sportiva Bushido. We were talking to a guy who said this Inov-8 shoe was the best in the deep mud. It all came down to which shoe drains the water and mud. Plus, the toe box has to be able to protect the toes when kicking rocks..
Would love to see some VJ reviews, for you I'd suggest the Spark and Ultra
I have a pair of X-Talon 255s, brutally stiff, insane grip.
Yeh the first, greets from the netherlands
Nothing like it, I’ve ever run in, when it comes to handling mud, wet conditions. Amazing and great “bite” as you say! My go to shoe for those conditions in Scotland where I live. Only gripe I have is its a very tough upper and a tad uncomfortable on forefoot and toes. Helluva durable though.
Hello from Joshua tree, CA. Come on by and hit some of these really cool trails with these bad boys.
Great review as always, thanks for the Scotland mention!....
I am looking forward to seeing your review on the Inov-8 Parkclaw 280.
I guess I can call Pivotal moments, migrating from Bolivia to Brazil and then years later from Brazil to England 😅 My life is full of them!! 😁
Would love to see your thoughts on the Norda 001. An expensive shoe but said to be durable due to the dyneema upper.
Life changing moment: an "older" one, from farther back... deciding to stay in Atlanta, when I was 19 years old. I was between my sophmore and junior years of college, went to visit friends for the summer... and decided I didn't want to go back to Wisconsin. It was time to live big!
This is a soft ground shoe - a great fell running race shoe. It does Inov8 no good sending these shoes for Seth to test when they're not being tested on the terrain they're made for.
QOD: in 2008 my marriage came to an abrupt end, I started to spiral into a bad place, lost my job, lost my home and things looked pretty bleak. After a few years things started to pick up, started a new job, settled into a new home and changed lifestyle at 40 years old. 8 years ago I met the most amazing lady who is now my wife, she showed me the way back, took me out on gentle runs which got me into running, she`s given me so much more than I could ever put into words, supports me in whatever crazy event I enter and is this year supporting me at UTMB......goes to show that things can always turn around, never give up, and be grateful for those who enter your world and make life worthwhile again.
Looks like an interesting one.
I picked up the Trailtalon 235... nice light weight shoe, but the durometer on that shoe is very firm. My legs can't handle it.
Will you be picking up either of the METASPEED+ series shoes
Are you going to try the salomon pulsar trail pro?
QOD: My life changed in June 2016 when I started a daily routine of reading the Bible and lifting weights first thing in the morning (4:30am)... transformed me from weak to strong spiritually and physically.
When I had my daughter. Run on
They should have put there boomerang insoles in them... would have give them I bit more comfort.
QOD: The day I got my letter from the Naval Academy that I did NOT get in. Without that denial I would never have pivoted to the University of North Dakota and met my true love, Brighid. The heartbreak that day turned into a massive blessing.
Yo Seth, I'm so happy to see you running in the mountains again! I,m following you since 2018 but I loose a bit of interest in your vlog during winter time when you train for road marathon's. Sorry about that..😔 I did see you in real life at the rotterdam marathon though!!💯👐
These trail shoes for Inov-8 are not commuting shoes, I got an injury wearing them on the roads, too hard for the roads!
SHOE DEAL ALERT! I went to a Nike outlet store, in Phoenix, and they had the Vaporfly Next% 1 shoes marked down to only $96! If you need a marathon racing shoe on the cheep, this is your chance.
Tanger Outlets, orange color way
I found them too short true to size. Black toenails on the descents! I'd size up by half a size for sure. Very firm and not really an ultra shoe IMHO.
Are threshold and tempo runs the same thing?
It depends who you talk to 🤷🏻♂️
LeTtTtTtTsSsSs GoOoOoOooOo