Updated (September 2025): The TRAILTALON™ footwear series features our most versatile running shoes ever. Carefully crafted to surf all of earth’s unpredictable terrains, they master soft mud as confidently as they tame hard trails.
The five models in the series are the TRAILTALONâ„¢ ZERO, TRAILTALONâ„¢ SPEED, TRAILTALONâ„¢, TRAILTALONâ„¢ GTX and TRAILTALONâ„¢ MAX.
Each shoe features our new anatomical foot-shaped design and enhanced locked-in fit. All share a grip pattern inspired by the hooves of mountain goats, while the underfoot foam gives a perfect balance of cushioning and ground feel. The five shoes boast protective uppers that flex and breathe for an overall feel that is fast, light and natural.
- TRAILTALONâ„¢ ZERO - Zero-drop for true natural running that feels fast and connects your feet close to the terrain.
- TRAILTALONâ„¢ SPEED - Light and agile with a lesser drop and cushioning. Perfect for racing and speedy sessions.
- TRAILTALONâ„¢ - Perfectly balanced for every day running. More cushioned than the zero and speed, less than the max.
- TRAILTALONâ„¢ GTX - Built the same as the TRAILTALON, but also includes a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane.
- TRAILTALONâ„¢ MAX - The most cushioned option, providing a comfortable ride over longer distances and ultramarathons.
The TRAILTALONâ„¢ series sits perfectly between the TRAILFLYâ„¢ (4mm lugs designed for hard trail grip) and the MUDTALONâ„¢ (8mm lugs designed for muddy grip). The 6mm lugs on the TRAILTALONâ„¢ shoes give them the versatility to tackle both hard and soft ground. True all-rounders.
But how did we design them? In this Q&A blog post we go behind the scenes with Graham Jordison, our Head of Footwear.
DESIGNING THE TRAILTALONâ„¢
1. The TRAILTALONâ„¢ range replaces the iconic ROCLITEâ„¢ running series. What design DNA did you carry over?
The ROCLITE™ sole is where we’ve kept the DNA consistent but with some improvements, naturally. Lug shape, positioning, balance and proportions have remained similar to ensure the continued optimal functionality of a true all-round trail shoe that is as capable in the mud as it is on the road.
2. There are five shoes in the TRAILTALONâ„¢ range. What are the design differences?
The main differences are in the midsole - the cushioned part of the shoe where the underfoot foam sits.
As the names suggests, we use a lower stack height (less underfoot foam) and profile for the Zero and Speed with more stripped-back uppers to reduce weight and enhance performance for when racing. The Max has the most foam underfoot, making this a great option for longer runs. No matter how much foam we use, we ensure that each shoe still retains the INOV8 DNA of feeling light and flexible, while allowing for ground feel underfoot.
The Zero and the Max are the two newest additions to the series, launching several months after the other three. The Zero and Max, therefore, feature our newest midsole foam - FLYSPEED PRO. This is infused with nitrogen gas and made using a supercritical foaming process. It makes it lighter, with a slightly softer feel and greater rebound. The other three shoes feature our tried, tested and trusted POWERFLOW PRO foam.
3. Which element of the TRAILTALONâ„¢ range design did you enjoy the most?
I really enjoyed looking at how to integrate the engineered mesh upper. By having zonal areas of protection and breathability, I was able to keep the overlays focused on the toe-bumper and the lightweight structural support of the MET-CRADLE. The result is an optimal performing shoe that works not only for soft trail but is a really good all-rounder.
4. The 6mm lugs are shaped like the hooves of mountain goats. Why is this?
Cloven hooved mammals have an almost finger like dexterity. Their split hoof combines a hard outer shell with soft inner pads that provide excellent traction in their precarious habitats. By adding this feature we feel that we have been able to improve upon the classic ROCLITEâ„¢ lug design.
5. Did you use any influences from outside the running sphere in the design?
Aside from the sole unit development being inspired by mountain goat hooves, I wanted the upper of the TRAILTALONâ„¢ to be somewhat evolutionary and keep the DNA of the previous models. The main focus was therefore around keeping it lightweight, breathable and protective.
6. How did you decide the amount of foam cushioning to include?
We have a somewhat modular approach to our sole units which means we can fine tune the drop and stack to the required end use. For the midsole, we are using our POWERFLOW PRO or FLYSPEED PRO compounds, which provides really responsive rides. When utilised on our lower stack shoes, this allows the runner to enhance that feel of the terrain underfoot.
7. What is it about the design that makes the TRAILTALONâ„¢ shoes so versatile to run in?
The proportions and balanced positions of the lugs mean they are perfectly capable both on and off trail. The cleats have a relatively large surface area allowing them to grip well on smooth surfaces yet not too much so that they are still able to dig through softer ground.
READ MORE IN OUR ‘BEHIND THE DESIGN’ SERIES
RUN: MUDTALONâ„¢ SPEED | ROADFLYâ„¢ | TRAILFLYâ„¢ SPEED
HIKE: ROCLITEâ„¢
GYM: F-LITEâ„¢ MAX | F-FLYâ„¢ | BARE-XFâ„¢
