Details
Brand
Inov-4
Heel To Toe Drop
8 mm
Breathability
7.3/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Dual-C rubber outsole• Unique multi-directional triangular lug design• Metaflex groove in forefoot• Mesh upper with thin X-Lock welded overlays• Wielded overlay over forefoot and diagonally sewn tongue• Lightweight double-layered toe cap p• Compressed EVA midsole• 8mm drop and higher stack height• Dynamic Fascia Band (DFB)• Met Cradle System supports the forefoot
Upper
The upper is made of mesh and X-Lock synthetic/textile material. The mesh upper keeps the foot properly ventilated and also helps drain water out of the shoe in case it gets wet. The X-Lock welded overlays lock in the midfoot to keep it stable and prevent sliding and prevent irritation and hot spots from the lack of stitching. The double-layered toe cap protects the forefoot from getting bruised when climbing rocks or running over technical terrain. The welded overlay over the forefoot and diagonally sewn tongue keep dirt and debris out of the shoe and prevent discomfort caused by a sliding tongue. The Met Cradle System wraps the forefoot with support. The thin laces help secure the fit around the midfoot and the heel counter secures the heel. The tongue, heel, and collar are lightly padded to prevent irritation.
Midsole
The midsole is a full-length 6mm layer of compressed EVA foam. It is comfortable to wear and has some memory so it can match the shape of the wearer’s foot. It is durable and does not wear down easily. It absorbs shock and helps spring the foot back into the air after each landing. The 8mm drop and high stack height make it ideal for racing or longer runs, with its good cushioning, slight forward momentum, and light stability when going over technical terrain. The Dynamic Fascia Band Shank connects the heel to the forefoot, creating great rebounds and smooth transitions.
Outsole
The outsole is made of Dual-C rubber that provides sticky traction over rocks and a variety of trail types, and is also durable enough to go over abrasive surfaces without breaking off or wearing down. There is a multi-directional pattern of triangular 5mm lugs that keep debris from getting stuck to the shoe and allows dirt to come off easily. The lug pattern matches the natural movement of the foot so it can get a good grip while ascending and descending. The Metaflex groove in the forefoot allows the toes to splay and push off easily as the foot flexes. The outsole helps stabilize landings and provides light protection and energy return.
Breathability
The Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 has great breathability and excellent drainage. The mesh covers most of the upper except the Achilles heel, a strip going around the front of the forefoot, and some thin overlays on either side of the midfoot and toes. Air flows in and out of the shoe freely. The X-Lock welded overlays still allow air to flow around them and the lack of stitching helps prevent irritation and blisters. The high amount of mesh also allows water to drain from the shoe in case there are puddles on the trail or obstacle course.
Comfort
The Terraclaw 250 is fairly comfortable to wear. The width is medium and the sizes run slightly small, so reviewers suggest ordering a half-size up. The toe box is large and roomy, which allows the toes to splay and push off naturally and comfortably. The midsole has a 6mm layer of compressed EVA foam that cushions landings. The upper has a Met Cradle System for a comfortable fit around the forefoot and X-Lock welded overlays around the midfoot. The diagonally sewn tongue prevents discomfort caused by a sliding tongue. The laces also help provide a comfortable fit around the midfoot and the light padding helps prevent irritation in the tongue, heel and collar. The main complaint that testers had about comfort was the lack of rock plate at the bottom of the midsole, which makes the bottom of the foot to feel the lugs every time they walked over a hard, flat surface.
Style
The men’s shoe is available in three colors: Black /Blue/Lime, Red/Black/Grey, and Mirage/Navy/Red. The women’s shoe is available in two colors: Blue/Berry/Black and Black/Berry/Blue. The shoe is mostly covered in mesh of the main color and has four same-color overlays on either side of the midfoot. There are X-shaped overlays over the forefoot and a toe cap in the second color. The third color is the heel counter, outside of the midsole, and logo. The outsole uses all three colors. Testers liked the style and color choices, except some of them experienced bleeding of blue dye onto their feet.
Durability
The Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 is a durable shoe. The outsole’s Dual-C rubber and lugs provide great traction and are designed to go on rocks and different kinds of trails without wearing down or chipping off. The lugs were designed to keep dirt out or so that dirt can come off easily. The midsole does a good job of cushioning and returning energy without staying compressed or coming apart. The mesh in the upper is tightly woven so that it does not wear out easily and also works with the overlays and tongue to keep debris and dirt out of the shoe. The heel counter and toe cap add durability to the heel and forefoot. The only issue with durability is that the blue dye would sometimes bleed onto the wearer’s foot.
Protection
The Terraclaw 250 has some protective features. The lugs and sticky rubber protect against sliding down rocks or trails. The midsole cushioning softens landings and absorbs impact shock, but there is no rock plate so the lugs can be felt underneath, especially when going over hard surfaces. The upper’s mesh protects against heat and water. The laces, overlays and heel counter secure the fit around the foot to protect against slipping inside the shoe. The diagonally sewn tongue and lack of stitching protect against blisters and irritation. The double-layered toe cap protects against bruising on rocks.
Responsiveness
This shoe has good responsiveness. The Dual-C rubber provides some energy return and the Metaflex groove helps the shoe move with the foot. The triangular lug pattern allows the foot to move naturally as it grips different surfaces and the Metaflex groove lets the toes move in order to gain momentum. The EVA foam helps bounce the foot back into the air with each step. The upper has a roomy toe box so the toes can push off, and the fit is comfortable but not so tight that the foot cannot move or transition naturally from heel to toe. The low weight and drop also help with responsiveness, and this is a popular obstacle course racing shoe.
Support
The Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 offers a low level of support, designed for neutral runners who do not normally need additional arch support. The compressed EVA foam supports the bottom of the foot and has a small amount of arch support, as it has some memory to form to the shape of the wearer’s foot. The upper has a heel counter and padding for support around the heel, tongue padding, laces and X-Lock welded overlays to support the midfoot, and a Met Cradle System that wraps support around the forefoot.
Terrain
The Terraclaw 250 is categorized as a trail running shoe. It was designed to go over technical trails, forest trails and paths, climb rocks and mountains, and off-road or unstable surfaces. It has good drainage so it can go over water, and is a popular choice for an obstacle course racing shoe.
Price
This shoe has an above average price, around 1.3 times the average cost of a running shoe. It is a trail and racing shoe, which generally cost a little more than average. The lugs have great traction and the fit is supportive on the forefoot, midfoot, and heel. Lots of obstacle racers purchased this shoe because of its features and thought that the price was fair. The shoe is currently available for a full price down to 65% off, depending on the retailer.
Drop
The heel is 22.5mm high and the forefoot is 14.5mm high, so the drop is 8mm. This drop is lower than a standard running shoe drop but about normal for a trail running shoe. It retains most of the responsiveness in the heel from a higher drop, but also adds stability and more evenly distributes cushioning, which helps for climbing rocks and descending trails. The drop may take some adjusting to for people who are used to the higher 12mm drop, but it is not as dramatic as changing to a zero drop.
Stability
This shoe is categorized as a neutral shoe, which means it is stable enough for most runners but does not slow over-pronation. The triangular lugs help stabilize the foot as it climbs or races. The midsole cushions landings but does not offer stability. The upper has a heel counter to stabilize the heel and X-Lock welded overlays for light stability around the arch and midfoot.
Flexibility
The Terraclaw 250 has good flexibility for a trail running shoe. The outsole has a Metaflex groove in the forefoot that allows the toes to move easily and helps pick up speed. The compressed EVA foam is flexible enough to move as the foot does and over technical terrain. The upper provides a supportive fit but is also mostly mesh, which is flexible enough to bend as the foot does.
Traction
The Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 has good grip when ascending and descending mountains and rocks, going on technical trails and racing over a variety of surface types during and obstacle course, including wet terrain, mud, and snow. The triangular lugs and Dual-C rubber have a sticky grip and the pattern works well with the natural movement of the foot.
Bottom Line
The Inov-8 Terraclaw 250 is a great shoe for someone who wants to race while going over technical terrain. It has excellent grip and is lightweight, flexible, and responsive enough to pick up speed. It has a small amount of support and stability to prevent injury for neutral runners when ascending and descending. It is durable and has a nice style with vibrant color choices. It is comfortable, has a roomy toe box, and allows for ventilation and water drainage. Areas to improve include adding a rock plate or more cushioning, fixing the problem with the bleeding dye, and making each size slightly longer so it is true to size. In short, it is a great shoe for short runs and races because of its weight and excellent grip, but the lack of rock plate can cause discomfort for longer runs.
