INOV-8 PARKCLAW 275

Is a shoe targeted for road and trails too good to be true?

Gear brands walk the line between communicating a cutting-edge advancement and sinking in hyperbole. The Parkclaw 275 sadly flounders in the latter, with the key sell being that you can seamlessly flow from trails to pavement and back again thanks to the trail-style stud pattern.

Presumably, Inov-8 have the ParkRun community in their sights with many courses tearing up a mix of road and off-road. But there’s nothing extraordinary about the stud outsole. Yes, it’s shallower than a true off-road thoroughbred like Inov-8’s Talon range, but it’s barely perceptible and not a groundbreaker; in fact, whether it’s the stud outsole or the Powerflow+ midsole, pavement pounding is a muted experience, delivering a ride that lacks flow.

Inov-8 claim the Powerflow+ midsole delivers 10% better shock absorption and 25% better energy return, both of which feel absent in use. We’d also question the validity of that energy-return statement as Inov-8 states 25% on the product description but only 15% in its FAQ section. Ultimately, a shoe wins or loses on its ride but inconsistency of stats is a surefire way to raise the sceptical stakes. It’s also a touch wide for this tester but I do have particularly narrow feet.

The positives? Highlighting Inov8’s heritage, the Parkclaw is swift off-road, while that outsole extends up the toes to deflect stones. Neat and effective. But ultimately, there are better Inov-8 shoes out there designed for more specific running remits. JW inov-8.com