inov-8 MudRoc™ 290 SKU: #7310090

Sherry

from Indiana

Wanted to luv these shoes! I really wanted to luv these shoes - but as the other review stated – narrow… and the tongue seemed to extend too far up the front of my ankle. The shoe is very light and looks great... but have returned it... thanks for the speedy shipment Zappos...!

Anonymous

from New York, NY--and So. California mountains.

Great trail running shoes! I got these shoes to run in the California Mountains for 4 months. They fit perfectly and I do not have a wide or narrow foot--just average. Though I did get a 7.5 rather than my normal size of 8.5 based on online reviews. They are light and very flexible-perfect for xc racing but also great for everyday long runs in the woods (which I used them for). They don’t slip on rocks, woodchips, and various other terrain and they allow you to keep moving when reg running shoes cause you to slow down (yes I ran the same trail numerous times with these shoes and then reg. running shoes...these win) I def highly recommend these...just wear old socks when you run with these in the heavy dust and ultra soft, deep dirt. And try not to run with them on pavement...they are light racers. They are not supposed to have all the comfort of reg running shoes but of trail shoes where grass and dirt are your comfort.

Anonymous

from Racine, WI

MY FIRST LOVE - I have to begin by saying that this is the 1st trail shoe that I ever completely fell in love with. I’ve always found trail shoes to be nothing more than a road shoe with a tougher upper, a stiffer sole, a bit more traction and a lot more weight. In order to justify spending the extra $$$ on another shoe specifically for trails, it had to be low profile enough to “grab the ground” so as to avoid ankle rollovers on roots, large embedded rocks and just uneven terrain. Then it had to have SUBSTANTIALLY more aggressive tread than that of a road shoe so as to fly through the mud, grass, and loose gravel uphill or down like a human ATV. Though secondary, a tough upper and a REALLY cool design would probably win me over. INOV-8 read my mind and delivered a NEAR perfect trail shoe with a brilliantly simplistic lug pattern on a well-cushioned forefoot and a lower heel for ultimate control. So when I first put them on, I was so excited that I ignored the fact that my arch hung completely over the narrow last. Then when the skin around my Achilles heel area blistered on longer wet runs, I alleviated the problem by taping my upper ankles. After researching feedback on the shoe (which included steaming it over a kettle), I concluded that the heel cup was designed too low and it angled in too sharply at the top with minimal cushioning. I first replaced the insoles with the thinner ones the company offers but eventually had to settle on an extra-thin set from another anonymous shoe I had. Minor inconveniences for the “ultimate trail shoe”. (Incidentally, this is the only reason for a lower rating on comfort. The 290 is still offers superior flexibility and feel for technical terrain than any other shoe I know of). My only complaint is that INOV-8 has continued to broaden their line of shoes without tweaking the shoe on which their company was built. Sure, they’ve come out with some other nice shoes that have either compromised the lug pattern or their classic looking upper design for a cheesy flashy look that better fits in the “geeks are cool too” running shoe market. Fortunately, with the increased popularity in fell type trail shoes, the options have grown as well. With the emergence of great shoes like the New Balance 800 and the Montrail Highlander, it’s really hard to justify taping up ankles and changing insoles for a trail shoe anymore. I’m waiting for INOV-8 to tweak this shoe to perfection but by observing their strategy for growth in the past couple of years, I just don’t see that happening. So now I’ve retired my MudRoc 290s and will always hold them dear to my running heart as my first love. I’ll even take them out for a spin once in a while for “good ole time’s sake”, but am now very content with my latest flings. I just hope a marketer from INOV-8 happens to read this review and is inspired enough to reissue this shoe that was almost perfect. It would be ashamed if they didn’t, because everyone else seems to be determined to perfect what INOV-8 started.

Brands I'd also recommend: NB 800 or Montrail Higlander (though meatier)

Anonymous

from New York, NY

These are great looking and super light. They have a very strong arch support which makes them feel extra comfortable. I used them for trail running, so far so good! They were however my second choice in color, I wanted a pair in indigo blue as my first choice.

Mike G

from Lewisburg, Pa.

Great shoes. They stick to everything, are light, and feel good when running offroad. The price is right too!

O. T

from Laramie, WY

These shoes hug a foot like a glove! Great tread pattern and \'stick\'. Made my son feel absolutely buoyant on the balls of his feet. \r\n\r\nUpon close inspection these shoes are elegant in design and beautifully crafted. \r\n\r\nI can\'t imagine anything thus far to dislike or be wary of.

Anonymous

from haddonfield, nj

I just rain the Chilly Cheeks 7.2 mile trail run in these shoes. They were great in the ice and snow and provided excellent traction. Only problem was the heel of the shoe digs into the back of my right foot a bit causing some pain. Hopefully once they break in a little more that will go away.

Brands I'd also recommend: nike

Colin

from Illinois

This is my first foray into minimalist trail running shoes, and I think I managed to strike gold right out of the gate with these. These shoes are nothing short of amazing. The highlights to me are: exceptional grip (the best I've ever experienced with any trail shoe), lightweight, close-to-the-ground stability and exceptionally quick drying. I have put in a little over 100 miles in them so far on terrain ranging from hard packed single track trails to grassy cross country trails (in both wet and dry conditions for both types of trails) and I am simply amazed by how these shoes just seem to provide the right level of protection, traction, agility and confidence in all trail environments. They've provided a surprising level of comfort as well. However, they provide minimal support at best, so if you're a long distance runner used to a stability shoe, you might want to look for something else or at least ease into it. My runs are usually on the shorter to midrange length (anywhere from 5-12 miles) and I've had no issues whatsoever. In terms of size, I wear a Men's 13 and found these to run true on size to maybe a 1/4 size smaller than marked. In general, I'd say true to size, depending on the shoe you're used to. However, they definitely run slightly narrow compared to other shoes (I believe this is by design). I have a medium to medium-narrow foot and they fit absolutely perfectly for me. In my opinion, the narrower fit is a real bonus for trail running as the foot really locks into these shoes and you don't slide around the shoe when changing direction, scrambling downhill, etc. However, if you have a wider than average foot, these shoes may be too snug even keeping in mind that they should fit snugger than a high volume running shoe. Finally, these shoes are most definitely for trail or xc only. On pavement, the rounded heel shape and large lugs feel awkward. The rubber is also comparatively soft and would probably not be durable over the long term if used on pavement consistently. However, after more than 100 miles on trails, the tread on mine still look like new and the shoe itself is holding up great under my 200+ pounds. Bottom line: In case you can't already tell, I really like these shoes and would whole-heartedly recommend them to any trail-runner looking for a minimalist shoe that is a solid all-rounder.

Brands I'd also recommend: Saucony Grid Kinvara

Brian W

from PNW AK HI CT

A great spring shoe! Handles mud and wet surfaces well. Rides nicely on pavement, but it is clear the tread will wear very quickly here and not the intended use. Beginning in 2010 Inov-8 revamped their line and changed their shoe sizing a bit. I am a measured 10.5 and used to fit the Terroc 330 and MudRoc 290 perfectly (as though it was made for my foot). I now find the 10.5 slightly long, but doable for long runs. I would recommend downsizing a half size for a short distance racing shoe.

Anonymous

from Arlington, VA

These are very comfortable trail running shoes. I really like the look of them, too. I normally wear either a 6 or 6.5 in running shoes, and for this brand I needed the larger size.

Anonymous

from Minneapolis

I'm liking these shoes. I ordered them for a hiking trip to Yosemite and have been wearing them around for a couple of weeks to get used to them. The first pair rubbed my left heel terribly and when I looked I could see that the back of the shoe was slightly different then the right. Called Zappos and they exchanged them free of charge even though I had worn them outside! Awesome! So the new pair is perfect. I can tell that the technology behind this shoe is bit different because I am sore (in a good way) in my ankles and legs in muscles that weren't getting the use they needed. I might even dare say that my legs look more toned having walked and ran in these vs. my normal running shoes. Great gripping on all terrain too.

Anonymous

from Knoxville TN

Comfortable out of the box. Good traction. Breath pretty well. I wear the exact same size as my other shoes.

Lori W

from Decatur, Alabama

This is my second pair of Inov-8's. I love my first pair, and that's the reason I bought these. This pair was nothing like my other pair. I have somewhat narrow feet, and these were so tight they hurt immediately after I put them on. I noticed that they were laced very tight, and on further inspection, the laces in the shoes were too short (and I guess why that's why they were laced so tight). I bought a longer pair of laces to put in the shoes, and that solved the problem. They are now as comfortable as my other ones. I wanted these shoes in this color combination, so it was worth it to buy longer laces, but the shoes should have laces in the appropriate length.

Anonymous

from New Hope, PA

Took them out of the box, and ran 5 miles on a trail right away...very comfortable.

Todd W

Just wore these for two laps in freezing mud at the World's Toughest Mudder. I could not be happier with shoes for very wet and muddy conditions. After miles of mud, pavement, roots, rocks, no sign of wear. Five stars all the way.

Anonymous

from Gulf Breeze, FL

Just completed Tough Mudder Georgia in these and let me say, these are the perfect shoes for mud adventure/obstacle race. I had great traction on the obstacles when everyone else was sliding all over the place. While I stayed wet the whole time, water seemed to drain out of the shoes pretty well and my feet did not feel heavy. I wore them with Darn Tough brand socks and my feet actually did not get too cold either. I hosed them off the next day, threw them in the washing machine and they look good as new.

Anonymous

from Appleton, WI

These shoes are awesome. I bought them to use in mud races. They fit tight, but are not uncomfortable. They just snug your feet and feel right. Keep in mind, they are a minimalist type shoe. I went from VFF to these and had no issues. Also, get a half shoe size smaller, otherwise you'll have too much in the front.

Brands I'd also recommend: LA SPORTIVA, KEEN