Inov-8 TerraUltra G270 is the trail shoe for the runner who wants an innovative, minimalistic, soft and comfortable shoe which is insanely versatile in terms of terrain an distance.
TerraUltra G270 is the successor to the award winning model, G260 – and actually, TerraUltra G270 has also already won a number of awards. E.g. it was named running shoe of the year (both in terms of performance and innovative technologies) in 2020 by Runner’s World.
Read why in the video-review below.
Video-review of Inov-8 Terraultra G270 here
Terraultra G270 is perfect for all kinds of trail - especially ultra marathons
Thanks to an amazingly strong outsole grip, great comfort and midsole return energy, G270 is a perfect shoe for all kinds of trail, especially ultra marathons. I didn´t have the chance to test it on really long trail runs but during the short runs it was nothing short of incredible.
Terraultra G270 vs. TrailFly G300 Max
I also just tested its "big-brother" TrailFly G300 Max which in total is an amazing trail shoe going all-in in terms of providing comfort and even more return energy. But this model also has a really high stack height and a 6mm drop, so TerraUltra G270 is a completely different experience.
G270 has a 0mm drop, so in terms of the drop, its already a different experience. BUT! That doesn´t mean that it is not comfortable. It certainly is!
Updates from Terraultra G260
The successor G260 was praised for having the toughest and most durable grip in the world thanks to the graphene which is scientifically proven to be 50% more flexible, 50% stronger and 50% more durable than regular outsoles.
But unfortunately it was also criticized for its fit and midsole. The upper was short of comfort due to a fit that was too narrow and the midsole was blamed for being too hard and not very responsive bearing in mind that the shoe was intended for ultra-distances.
Inov-8 have certainly responded to the criticism. Now they have produced a shoe which still has the impressive graphene-outsole but more bounce, padding, comfort and an updated grip - just more of everything. I didn´t try G260 myself to experience its shortcomings but G270 is truly a cool trail shoe.
New ADAPTER-Fit upper in G270
G270 now has the widest fit within the Inov-8 ranking thanks to its ADAPTER-fit upper. It gets 5 out of a possible 5 in terms of the fit and for someone with a narrow foot (like me) it will be too wide. Fortunately I was able to tighten it enough for it to work really well in terrain. The rest of the upper feels light and as minimalistic as the rest of the shoe. A great protective toe box and a couple of flexible layers across the midfoot for extra support and stability.
More midsole padding and responsiveness
3 mm additional padding has been added to the midsole in G270 along with the POWERFLOW MAX-foam which is enourmously responsive and soft. I almost bounce from step to step.
And as an extra ingenious feature, G270 doesn´t just have a random inner sole. Inov-8 have named it their Boomerang inner sole which is 6mm thick and produced in the same material as Adidas’ Boost foam and Sauconys PWRRUN+ midsole.
Its noticably softer than regular inner soles and on paper it provides up to 40% more return energy compared to previous versions of the shoe. Totally win-win!
G270 provides a superb touch with the surface
I was quite sceptical about the 0mm drop, which feels quite substantial when you´re just just standing still or running on asphalt. But once you get into the woods, you don´t think so much about it. In my optics the non-existent drop provides an excellent touch with the surface.
It reacts very easily to the surface. Even if I land on a branch or a rock, I really feel like the shoe is very comfortable and enormously forgiving in terms of keeping you protected.
The shoe doesn´t have a rock-plate but I also didn´t think about its presence in shoes like Saucony Peregrine and Columbia Montrail which I have previously tested. I didn´t miss it probably because the outsole is so efficient and flexible that I somehow avoid landing in the wrong way.
Terraultra G270 has the toughest outsole in the world
I will end this review with the most impressive part of G270, the innovative outsole. The 4mm lugs have been re-designed into a T-shape with tiny incisions to provide a better grip on wet and softer surfaces.
The incisions are not deep enough to make the shoe ideal for muddy and soft surfaces but for solid and loose surfaces, I think it provides a great grip.
Terraultra G270 is great for long distance and/or for versatile trail runs
If you are mostly into trail shoes with max. comfort and sense of protection, G270 might be a little to minimalistic for you. And if you are not used to running shoes with a 0mm drop, then you will definitely need to get used it gradually. It certainly makes greater demands on your calves, the Achilles tendon and your feet.
But! If you are up for it G270 is an absolute must-have trail shoe for long distance trail runners with its impeccable return energy and comfort. And it also does really well as a very versatile trail shoe as it feels light, fast and energetic for short, racy trail runs.
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