“I brought a pair of the red X-Talon 190's a few years ago as a last minute purchase on the eve of a fell race, having recce'd the route in some worn fell shoes which slipped all over the place.
Out of the box they were brill, i was new to minimalist fell shoes, though they provided grip and good terrain feedback.
A few years on they have served me well, but they were disintergrating before my eyes and the Helvellyn Triathlon loomed large on horizon, with its 9 mile fell race run leg to Helvellyn peak.
The X-Talon 190's had moved on, the blue/black/yellow a second upgrade of the red original. I took the plunge and ordered a couple of weeks before the race untried, but hey how different can they be!
The answer, the now stated 'Precision fit' was more snug, Inov-8 tend to be a true size and so they were, even in my 6th decade i still think about growing room! In fell shoes the there shouldn't be much movement in the toebox nor significant space beyond your toe. I exchanged the laces for some elastic version, quick transitions being part of triathlon.
Come race day i hadn't raced or run in them at all, in truth i wasn't certain about them, but my older pair were further worn and didn't want a total meltdown on the run.
So out of the box into the run, whether it was the newness but they were terrific to run in, the rocky paths were barely noticeable, the grip on damp swirrel edge scramble was excellent and i had nothing but confidence in the X-190's. No blisters, comfort excellent, good solid build with slip like comfort in a 190 gram package.
Now looking at some trail shoes for longer trail run.”
“I bought this shoe as it is on the same upper as the f-lite and so should fit the exact same way.
I purchased it in the same size as my f lite and they came up horribly small and give me very painful blisters on both heels. The f lite I have is also precision fit so I can only asvise to try these on!”
“bought for my son
as older x talon 190 on the way out, precision fit bought, first time used for a run up moel eilio llanberis, 4 miles and 2000 ft climb he forgot they were on his feet excellent fit and no blisters timed running down at 16 mph so confident in his footwear, would recommend, welsh trials coming up end of month will be running in them.
used last night in portmadog moel y gest mountain race wet slippy under foot , course record under18s broken, say no more!”
