If you look at the Team Muddy Race Facebook and forums, one question that always comes up is “which shoes?” whenever a slightly less muddy race appears on the schedule. The River Rat Race events, the Men’s Health Survival series and the urban setting of some of the Zombie Races which dominate at this time of year have all sent weekend warriors into a minor panic. Road shoes are often weighty and drain slowly and not very well. Trail shoes are too aggressive and may wear down too fast on the road. It is a conundrum.
The Tri-X-Treme 275 is designed specifically for triathletes and I bought a pair this year as my road shoes (ON Cloudsurfers) were totally unsuited to any urban OCR’s and not quite fast enough for Aquathlons. They’ve turned out to also be a perfect fit for the River Rat events and road running around my local town in some very wet conditions. They are my go-to all rounder due to their speed and versatility.
Key Features:
- Footbed: 6mm
- Weight: 275g
- Drop: 8mm
- Fit: Standard
- Injected EVA midsole - provides cushioning while also offering minimalist running
- Tri-X-Treme sole - sticky compound with dynamic fascia band promotes grip without aggressive tread
- Quick release toggle system and wider opening for easy on/off
- Full length drainage system - keeps foot dry even after full submersion
First Look
If these shoes were a human, they would be Ryan Reynolds - sexy looking, a little bit cheeky and stripped bare. They weigh a respectable but still lightweight 275g, slightly less than my 319g Cloudsurfers and so are robust enough that you feel supported but light enough that you can up your speed over sprint distances.
The ladies fit is very snug, as they are designed to fit well with or without socks, the mesh lining moulding to the foot as soon as you slide it in. Unlike many Inov-8, the toebox is relatively wide meaning that your toes can spread out more.
The shoes boast a slightly wider opening, making it fast to put on and quick release toggle laces which are very secure indeed. The trump cards, however, are the full length drainage system and the sticky sole.
Full length drainage systems aren’t unusual, nor is a sticky style sole. What is unusual is seeing them in such a light shoe. They are more commonly found in specialist river hiking footwear and rely on the weight of the rest of the shoe (which is considerable) to push the water out. The Tri-X-Treme relies on the force of you running to achieve the same, with excellent results. As soon as I had left the water at River Rat, my feet were bone dry saving me weight and heat.
The sole, although at first glance seeming grip free, is actually “sticky”. I have tested it on wet grass, wet roads, wet races, vertical walls, slippery walls, ladders and all sorts in between and the grip is excellent. The only thing I can compare it with is a rock climbing shoe, which grip through generating friction. Inov-8’s dynamic fascia band system also allows a very natural movement which lets you keep your foot relaxed as you run, reducing the likelihood of injury.
The Tri-X-Treme are by no means a necessity, but with the urban OCR on the rise and their versatility to train in they are a great luxury item to have in the arsenal, especially at this time of year when Inov-8 are getting ready to bring out their newer models (meaning that like a box of chicks, the old style are going cheap).