The Inov-8 Terraultra G270 is a well-reviewed aggressive trail shoe featuring what might be the best rubber outsole I’ve ever tested. We’ll cover the graphene-enhanced rubber shortly, but first an introduction to Inov-8.
In case you’re not familiar with Inov-8, they’re a British company focused on trail running, hiking, and cross training. They also make road running shoes and apparel. Their focus on getting (away) outdoors is apparent in everything they make. It’s cool to see how humans traversing trails is in their DNA.
Click play above to watch the full Inov-8 Terraultra G270 performance review or keep reading for a summarized version of the full length video review.
You can also see the Terraultra G270 on our Best Trail Running Shoes for Hiking list.
Traction
- Graphene-Grip Rubber is amazing. It makes me feel like I could Spiderman it up the side of a building.
- Great for climbs with lots of boulders, slick wooden bridges covered in mildew, and everything in between. Useful for any circumstance where you need reliable traction.
- Really flexible forefoot despite the grippy rubber.
- Extremely durable. I’ve run a lot in my pair and the outsole basically shows no wear. If you use these on trails they’ll last until you bottom out the cushioning.
Cushion
- Powerflow Max midsole is an EVA & TPU mix.
- 12mm of cushion in the forefoot and heel. In today’s world, that’s not a lot of cushioning. That said, Powerflow Max’s good impact protection makes it feel thicker.
- It’s not plush cushioning by any means, but it gets the job done.
- The TPU pellet insole is very comfy and helps the overall feel of the cushion.
Materials
- Upper is primarily mesh and fuse that makes the Terraultra G270 durable and trail ready.
- Because of all the fuse, you do sacrifice a bit of comfort where the toe flexes.
- Feels light on foot…at least, light for a trail shoe with aggressive traction.
Fit
- The Terraultra G270 fits true to size.
- Some online reviews call it a narrow shoe but I think it’s wider than most Nikes. It does tighten up nicely at the midfoot but there’s plenty of room for toe splay up front.
Support
- There’s not a heel counter but lockdown doesn’t suffer.
- I didn’t experience heel slip and my foot never slid around, even when the traction worked really well. I could easily cinch myself onto the footbed without any discomfort.
- That it’s a zero drop shoe helps with support. You’re only 12mm off the ground and your foot is completely flat. It’s hard to roll over from that position.
- In terms of keeping you on the footbed during sideways motions, the fuse does a lot of the work to keep your foot firmly above the footbed. Fuse can be helpful on trails featuring lots of roots.
Overall
At $160, the Inov-8 Terraultra G270 is priced high for the materials used. I’m guessing the amazing Graphene-Grip rubber is part of the reason the price is higher. It’s so good that I imagine it’s not cheap to make. If you’re ok with a zero drop shoe and regularly tackle mountainous or other very technical trails, you’ll probably end up loving these. The traction is the star. Anyone who’s looking for a shoe that provides secure footing on even the roughest of trails should consider buying the Terraultra G270.
You can read our other Running Shoe Reviews here.
How to Buy the Inov-8 Terraultra G270
The Inov-8 Terraultra G270 is currently available at Amazon and Zappos (Mens and Womens).
Thanks to Inov-8 for sending a pair to test. Inov-8 was not given any editorial control of the review. This review is based on our weartesters’ experiences using the shoes for speed workouts, trail runs, treadmill training, long runs, casual wear, and more.
