The place where the rubber meets the road is really the heart and soul of a good trail running shoe. Thankfully, the outsole area of the Inov-8 X-talon 212 doesn’t disappoint. The material is an extremely sticky rubberized material that is fairly soft, allowing the outsole to perform the double duty of both protection and cushioning as the runner moves through the paces. Since the shoe is designed to be lightweight and extremely flexible, Inov-8 has made the decision to forgot the rock plate in the shoe. And while this proved to be somewhat uncomfortable, especially on extremely rocky terrain, the deep lugs- nearly 1/4” in depth did a fairly nice job of keeping the debris at bay.

The mid-sole area of this shoe consists of injected EVA material with Dynamic Fascia Band Technology, which adds a bit more spring and bounce back in the step than would be normally seen. In addition, there is a significant heel drop of 6mm, which allows for the minimal cushioning to be felt where it is needed the most.

While most trail running shoes have a much lower heel to drop, the greater amount in this shoe actually serves to add a bit more comfort and stability overall. It allows the foot to flex and roll with a much more natural gait, even over rough terrain. While the cushioning may not be the best we’ve seen, there is no question that the mid-sole helps to distribute the weight evenly and smoothly over long distances.

When it comes to flexibility, fit, and breathability, the synthetic mesh upper material in these shoes are hard to match. In addition to allowing for great ventilation overall, the upper portions of these shoes also allow for a significant amount of drainage through the sides and bottom of the shoe when needed. While we certainly wouldn’t recommend wading through copious amounts of water any time soon, you can be assured that the occasional puddle or small stream won’t keep you bogged down for very long. In addition, the DWR coating provides some protection from water, but Inov-8 has found a nice overall balance between protection and ventilation.

Not surprisingly, one of the areas where the upper falls a bit short is in the protection area. The toe bumper is relatively thin, and the upper portion doesn’t offer much material between the runner and the environment overall.

It should come as no surprise that these shoes, with their lightweight construction and mesh uppers, provide phenomenal ventilation overall. Even the DWR coating, which would normally hinder the exchange of air between the inside and the outside of the shoe appears to be added with the lightest of touches.

Unfortunately, when you have a minimalist approach to the trail running shoe you create, some sacrifices need to be made. One of the areas where Inov-8 decided to cut back was in the overall cushioning and overall shape of the shoe. While both the 6mm heel to toe drop and the injected EVA mid-sole offer some cushioning and stability, they offer the minimal at best. And while this is fine for shorter runs overall, when it comes to longer distances, foot fatigue can certainly become a significant issue with these shoes.

In addition, quite a few users found these shoes to be a bit too narrow, especially in the midfoot and forefoot areas. The relatively small toe box also left some wondering if slightly more room up front would be a good addition for their cramped feet. Simply put, if you have feet that are slightly wider than normal, you might want to consider other options.

They say that variety is the spice of life, right? Well, when it comes to the Inov-8 X-Talon 212, you really don’t have a lot of added spice. There are three basic styles available on the market today, which vary mainly in the overall color schemes. There is a blue/green combination, a red/black, or a gray/black combination available. That is not to say that they don’t look nice. Their classic design and complementary color schemes work very well together. However, if you’re looking to make a fashion statement with your running shoes that are a little more avant-garde, these shoes probably won’t make the cut.

Given their lightweight construction and the minimal amount of material used, these shoes proved to be remarkably durable. The uppers hold up surprisingly well, even in inclement weather and rough terrain. Regular trail running doesn’t seem to phase the outsole rubber too much, but heavy use does seem to take its toll on the shoe overall. If you’re looking to do some serious trail running on a frequent basis, be prepared to either replace these shoes or re-sole them sooner than you’d like.

When it comes to protection overall, these running shoes from Inov-8 offer somewhat of a mixed performance. The DWR coating provides fantastic water repellent features for the upper portion, and the rubberized outsole helps to keep most moisture from seeping in through the bottom of the shoe. In addition, the snug fit overall and the significant heel-to-toe drop does offer a moderate amount of protection from ankle and foot instability.

However, because of the lightweight construction, there really isn’t much in the way of protection from abrasions and rocks or debris underfoot. And while the deep groove tread does offer some relief when it comes to gravel or sharp rocks, over time the individual rocks and debris do make themselves known, sometimes painfully so.

Perhaps the one area where these shoes really outshine the competition is in how well they respond to the environment around them. Unlike shoes that provide more cushioning then flexibility, the X-Talon 212 allows the runner to truly feel and grip the ground beneath his feet and make on the fly adjustments when needed. A simple shifting of the weight or a slight turn of the foot allows your foot to re-grip and adapt quickly, allowing you to move in a new direction at a moment’s notice. Simply put, these shoes offer the ability to move, run, sprint, or walk to your heart’s content on a wide range of running surfaces.

Overall the support in these shoes can be considered adequate, but minimal. They have what can be considered neutral arch support, and the moderate heel to toe drop does provide a fair amount of stability overall. Finally, the combination of the EVA injected mid-sole and the softer rubberized outsole helps to provide some level of cushioning and weight distribution over long trail runs.

If you’re looking for a pair of running shoes that can handle nearly any type of terrain, these shoes from Inov-8 should certainly make your short list. The relatively durable outsole, extreme responsiveness, and flexibility make these shoes an ideal candidate for mountains, forested areas, fells, and even obstacle courses. They perform extremely well in areas of loose rock, a significant amount of mud, or pretty much anything in between. About the only two terrains that we can see having a slight amount of trouble is in the rapids of the class 4 river, or in the Arctic tundra.

Depending on where and when you buy these shoes, the price for them can vary quite a bit. The lowest price we found was $78 USD before taxes, and the highest we found was $130 USD. However, most of the prices fell somewhere around the $100 range, making these shoes somewhat affordable, especially for the budget minded runner.

Despite it’s lightweight and minimalist construction, the tread is one area where the manufacturers of these shoes certainly splurged on. The lugs are impressively thick, nearly 8mm in depth. This creates a number of grooves that help to keep the shoe nice and grippy, even on wet or slippery surfaces. The traction also doesn’t let up in mud, grass, dirt, or rocky terrain.

Have you ever watched a balloon animal being created? If you have, you’ll begin to understand the sheer amount of flexibility found in these shoes. And while that amount of flexibility does decrease the overall support and stability somewhat, it allows your foot and ankle to move in a much more natural, and comfortable manner. Traveling over rough terrain isn’t that hard at all, and you can easily and quickly adjust your movements as needed with these shoes.

As far as trail running shoes go, the Inov-8 X-Talon 212 falls squarely into the minimalist approach to the sport. There are plenty of other brands out there with much more padding and cushioning overall, such as the Salomon Speedcross 4 and the Prio shoe by Xero, but few match the Inov-8 when it comes to tread performance and versatility. Perhaps the only shoe that can beat it in a head to head is the Merrell Trail Glove 4, which is at the top of the game in most cases. The Inov-8 X-talon 212 is also one of the lighter shoes on the market, with each pair weighing in around 16 ounces total. While it certainly isn’t the most comfortable to wear and is probably not the best choice for ultra-long distance running, their lightweight construction and ground-hugging form does win these shoes quite a few fans.

Given the lack of material in these shoes, they have proven to be remarkably stable. Very few people reported problems with ankle or foot instability, and the shoe's foot-hugging nature makes overpronation somewhat less than expected. Still, if you’re needing a shoe that provides the maximum stability for you, there are quite a few other choices out there that may be a better fit. The Inov-8 X-talon 212 is clearly created for those who have strong ankles, legs, and feet overall.

The Inov-8 X-Talon 212 definitely wins some major points when it comes to overall performance and versatility. The minimalist approach to the construction and the quality materials used means that these shoes feel right at home in nearly every running environment that you can imagine. Simply put, if you want to run through it, chances are these shoes will help you do it, and at a fraction of the weight of normal trail running shoes.

However, their lightweight and minimalist nature are not without some drawbacks. The overall support and stability in the shoes are somewhat lacking, especially over longer distances. Also, the shoes don’t stand up well to heavy and frequent use. And finally, for those with wide feet, they may be a bit too restrictive.

If you’re looking for a trail running shoe that can handle the swamps just as well as the rocky mountain foothills, and you don’t want a heavy mid-sole or outsole weighing you down, put the Inov-8 X-talon 212 on your list of prospects.