Trail shoe review, and I finally got up onto the South Downs again!!! 🤩

[roseabi]

I had started to think it would never happen, but I finally got a chance to try out my new trail shoes on Friday!!

I had a bit of a meh run really, but it was very very warm, and I was coming down with a cold. But I do so love this route - and I saw a hare!! 😍 Relive below - yes I do go up somewhere called "Fulking Hill" 😆

But anyway, onto the shoe review, ahem, I present the Inov-8 Roclite 290: amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01...

For Sqkr and anyone else interested, here's my first impressions! Spoiler: I like them

✦ Sizing: In these shoes I thought my usual size could get a bit tight, so I went up half a size. I have seen a number of reports that echo this.

✦ Fit: For me they are excellent, really comfortable - straight-lasted, so they are the right shape for my stupid Greek feet ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morto... ), wide toe-box, heel cups hug my heels so they don't move about in the shoes - and I didn't get a single stone in them!!! Also, the heel counter is nice and low so it doesn't annoy the Achilleses

✦ Ride: They have only a 4 mm drop, and are not particularly cushiony, so they have quite a minimalist feel. I am not sure if they would be OK for really long runs, but I didn't get any blisters at least, and I am not used to such low drop shoes on trails, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now. The soles are pretty firm, and have quite big lugs on them, but I could feel the terrain through them.

✦ Outer shoe: They've got tough toe-caps, which I really like after having stubbed my already-blistered toes repeatedly during the London 2 Brighton run! They are nice and airy, and although not the lightest shoe out there they are plenty light enough.

✦ Downside 1 - the shoe tongue: They're padded enough, but basic - I found they slip sideways, and for a fairly expensive shoe I am not impressed!

✦ Downside 2 - the colour!: OK, it doesn't really matter, and if I'd spent more I could at least have had a grey pair, but let's face it, they're pink!!! Although I've decided to call them my "Rosé Shoes" on Strava, which sounds a bit more cred 😎 Actually, by the time I'd run up all those dry chalk trails they were very dusty Rosé shoes! I have hoovered them now, though

✦ But still, I'm looking forward to wearing them again soon!

WE'D LOVE TO SEE MORE EQUIPMENT REVIEWS LIKE THIS!!! Also don't miss ju-ju- 's recent post about her Salomon vest: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

Relive my run: relive.cc/view/1730758397

[Maddee_6333 Half Marathon]

I recognise bits of that route - not that I’d ever do them linked up like that 😆

The tongues on my 295s slip sideways too, it is a nuisance, especially after being used to Salomons where it’s not an issue.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333]

I did get the bus home from Shoreham

Yes, it's annoying! My old trail shoes have the same problem and I managed to fix it with some fancy lacing, so am trying the same with the Inovs - but I wonder if a couple of stitches in the right place would do the trick?

Btw - Hi! How are you doing? x

[Maddee_6333 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

It’s amazing what you can do with some strategic lacing.

I’m fine thanks - the dogs not so much - the hot weather really doesn’t agree with me though.

I am such an old lady 🤪

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Maddee_6333]

Aw x

Hope the dogs are ok?

[GoogleMe]

Love those lugs! (Was going to say they look lugly but you might have taken it the wrong way)

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to GoogleMe]

Lol!

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Thanks for that roseabi! A lot of folk in my trail running group love innov8 shoes , glad your are good too but I'm with you on the pink front!!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to aliboo70]

Soppy girly pink

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

Oo excellent news, lucky because I already accidentally bought the Roclites I'd been looking at (though mine are the 305s, not sure how much they differ)! Mine seem quite well suited to my Egyptian feet too, but I've not tried them in the field yet so time will tell...the 305s are quite narrow which suits me perfectly. I have to admit I could have got them cheaper still if I'd gone with their pink edition, but I am just not a pink runner at all. Dithered for ages between pink ('it's not really pink...it's raspberry, isn't it?') and black with red highlights, and got the latter for an extra fiver. I'm probably not allowed to call myself a proper runner if I'm making decisions based on colour ☹️ That sucks about the tongue too. One of the things I noticed and liked about the 305s as I stamped about the house in them is the tongue is sewn right down the sides so it's almost more of a slip on shoe, presumably to help protect against stones and other intruders, I wonder if there's a way to hack the tongue that moves about with a needle and thread so it behaves a bit better? All in all though, delighted to hear that you got on well with them, and what an incredible blue sky too 😄

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Sqkr]

It was so bright! I regretted my decision to go without sunglasses 🤔

Excellent, I think yours will be better for longer distances, but I was concerned about the width of them for me - what did the Greeks do anyway?? 😋

And yes, I may try a couple of stitches - cue sore finger and mucho swearing...

[Anniemurph Half Marathon]

Fab review - but best of all for explaining my hobbit feet to me! Never realised that they aren't just odd, they are medically described

And btw I love rose shoes

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Anniemurph]

I noticed recently that my Mum has the same sort of feet, and commented. What a mistake - she set off on a big tirade about my grandfather, from whom she'd inherited them! Oops. Bloody annoying feet though!

Well, I'm glad someone does

[Anniemurph Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Ha ha! I may not be able to find nice heels any longer, and it may take ages to find the 'right' running shoe (starting to doubt my lovely Hokas ), but I am grateful to my feet because they carry on carrying me on! One foot in front of the other, mile after mile. Thank you, feet!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Anniemurph]

Hokas look too narrow in the toes to me - not that I've ever tried any on!

Yes, hurrah for feet!!

[Anniemurph Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

The Clifton 4s are surprisingly wide in the toe box (men's, of course) and because they have a knitted upper they are very forgiving. The Speedgoats are slightly more rigid on the upper but are still wide enough to accommodate my bunions

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Anniemurph]

Interesting!

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

Now, that’s proper review. Normally when people ask me about my shoes l tend to say they are ‘grey and comfortable’!

That scenery looks calming and beautiful. I ran along a pine forest in Croatia yesterday evening at sunset and the colours were stunning, except l literary felt the ‘oven effect’, l must’ve overheated massively but the run back offered me a gentle forward breeze which was a life saver.

Of course, l treated myself with a chilled glass of local brew at a local taverna after the run but why on earth was the waitress giggling when she saw me?! Nothing to do with my looks, the looks of a melted runner in funny gear, ultra red in his face and shaking with exhaustion? Hope not....

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to mrrun]

I like 'grey and comfortable'

I was in a similar state in the cafe I went to after my run. The guy behind the counter said "Have you been... running or walking or something??" with a look of horror on his face I had to drink up my coffee (which was making me even hotter) and leave quickly, because sweat was dripping off me and onto the furniture!

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

Imagine a whole bunch of us walking into a bar like that? This morning l was preemptive and simply jumped into the sea afterwards. I learned lots of tricks from my local friends, ran in my swimming trunks, ditched the top and the trainers and dived in. Cooling down and the shower for the price of one. I think I’ll somehow miss this in London...

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to mrrun]

I should do that really!

My god, the poor bar staff would probably think it was apocalypse time!!