Australian Hiker

Weight per pair US 15 701 grams
Sizes available (US) 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5,12,12.5,13,14,15
Colours Blue-Red

Cost $249.90

Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Knit Wide Fit Men’s Trail Running Shoes

Men's Footwear

Rating

Rating:	8.4 / 10
Comfort	1.6 / 2
Durability	1.7 / 2
Support Stability	1.7 / 2
Weight	1.7 / 2
Value for Money	1.7 / 2

Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Knit Wide Fit Men's Trail Running Shoes Review

I’ve been eying off Inov-8 shoes for a number of years both as a gym and a hiking shoe but whenever I’ve tried them in the past I’ve found that like other European companies, they were on the narrow side. More recently I noticed a range of wider fitting models had come onto the market so thought I would give the Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Knit Wide Fit Men’s Trail Running Shoe a try. Having now used this shoe in a variety of conditions from concrete and bitumen paths through to grassy plains and hiking trails for over 400km, how did they go?

First lets talk sizing. For me my decision to test a shoe is based on being able to get a size 15 US (size 14 UK) and this model of shoe was, and still is at the time of the review, available in my sizing. That in itself is a rarity where many other brands only seem to bring a small number of this size into the country. Width wise is a different issue as I have a very wide forefoot. While I find this comfortable and wide for this brand, I would still prefer an even wider fit. This preference has grown from having used brands that cater for my wide feet. Weight wise my size 15 US shoes weigh in at 701 grams. Most of the shoes I’ve used over the past few years have been heavier, if not by much so these shoes won’t weigh you down to much.

I will happily wear shoes of varying construction ranging from zero drop to shoes with in this case with an 8 mm drop from front to back (the heel is 8 mm higher than the toes). This might sound a lot but that number is very typical of both running and trail running shoes. For those who have issues with plantar fasciitis, you may find zero drop shoes unusable so a shoe with this height difference can work really well.

One of the things you will notice with this shoe is the aggressive tread on the sole. While the lugs are only around 4 mm in height which is low for many of the shoes I’ve tested and which often have 6 mm lugs, I found the pattern of the sole and the material very durable and exhibiting very little wear. This sole is grippy in a variety of conditions from steepish powdery slopes to wet muddy tracks. Having now worn this shoe for over 400 km the support in the mid foot region hasn’t really changed at all which is ideal and this is often the weak point in many shoes. I have worn shoes that are more comfortable but I typically find that they aren’t durable and that’s the trade off.

The front toe guards are sturdy and provide plenty of protection for your feet in all but the most abusive treatment. The rear doesn’t have a specific guard like other trail runners but is instead well padded provided plenty of protection. The material is a heavy grade weave that breathes well but in using them in colder water conditions they kept me reasonably dry in most conditions and at no stage did I get cold.

Cosmetically this shoes come in two colours but as far as I can tell the colour choice in Australia is the blue colour shown in the images below. Its a fairly neutral colour that isn’t going to upset anyone.

These shoes have a RRP of AUD $249.90 which is typical for trail and outdoor shoes. You can find them regularly on sale so if you’re not in a hurry, you could snap a bargain!

So what’s the verdict? Really what it comes down to is how wide is your forefoot? For most people this won’t be a major issue but if you are like me and have a really wide forefoot then you may find them a bit narrow. Despite my wide feet I still find these a great shoe for an average day hike and I am more than happy to use them for that but they won’t make the grade for a long distance hike where I average over 30 km a day over multiple days where my feet swell.

This shoe is also available in a women’s model and apart from the colouring, they are pretty much the same shoe.

We Like

These are a comfortable hiking shoe with long lasting midsole cushioning that still feels supportive even after 400 km of hiking over a variety of terrain
Comfortable cushioned tongue adds to the overall comfort
Robust toe guards and well padded heals that provide good protection for both the front and rear of the foot
Great long wearing traction lugs that last in a wide range of conditions from wet to dry
They breathe well so your feet don’t overheat. They also dry reasonably quickly in warm weather if they do get wet
Robust but lightweight construction which reduces the impact on the legs after long day of hiking

We Don't Like

As a shoe at the widest end in the Inov-8 range, I still find them a bit narrow for my very wide forefoot

Would I Use These Shoes for Hiking?

Yes, definitely! But not for multi-week hikes where I hike average 25-30km a day

Best Use

For hikers who want a comfortable and hard wearing shoe on the trail
For hikers with a narrow to medium wide forefoot

Buy One

You can purchase the Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Knit Wide Fit Men’s Trail Running Shoes at Wildfire Sports

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If you have used the Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Knit Wide Fit Men’s Trail Running Shoes or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below