Discussion: Inov8 MudClaw 330s

I read a bit of a discussion on Sock Tech or something, and I noted that someone else has heel problems with the MudClaws - did you get it sorted.
Mine are starting to bother me when running over 10k or so but I love the shoe and it's grip - don't want to ditch them.
As I have 3 20k plus races coming up I need to make a decision soon. :(

are inov8 better than normal o shoes (like vj's or jalas)

I'm not focusing on 10-15km O events, more on the 20km -> 40km type fell running events: wearing tough O shoes on these is not practical (i've tried....)

Bit of strapping tape over the heal works fine for me, stops any discomfort.

It's a shame I have to resort to that, but i'll be off to buy some zinc oxide tape

I've had two pairs of Inov shoes (first Mudclaw 340 and now Mudroc 290). They look great and the grips are great., unfortunately they have both given me severe blisters on my heels. I had hope that they would 'wear in', but that hasn't happened. In addition I found that the metal spikes on the Mudclaw 340 ripped out very easily after running accross rocky terrain as the rubber studs are very soft. I assumed that the 340s were too big and bought a smaller pair of 290s, but the problem is the same.

It is a real shame as I think that the shoes are really well designed (apart from not fitting).

It is a real shame as I think that the shoes are really well designed (apart from not fitting).

Isn't fitting right a big part of good design, or is this only a problem for certain types of feet?

I think I have the wrong type of feet, as Walshes never really fitted me - I always fell out of the sides on long contouring.
I have very narrow feet. Probably doesn't help.

Swoops are the most comfortable fell shoe for me over long distance, but the grip just isn't the same.

I don't know anybody who tried Inovs and didn't have problems with heels. They getting better after several races, Tundra even ran 50k (?) race.

Im about to buy my 5th pair of inov8 270's. fantastic shoe. I i use if for both fell running and orienteering. never got one blister from them at all. Only problem is the forest destroys them too fast, but i guess 5 months worth of extensive use in tough terrain is ok.

I did buy a pair of the 330s but found they were far too stiff on the back of my heel. Once I go past 20mns in them I have blisters, so im sticking with the 270s. Always had problems with VJ's, Silvas and Walshes they always ate away at my heel.

div is correct. There appear to be lots of problems with these shoes based on comments on various websites. Once my blisters have healed, I'll try using them again with preventative measures (tape, compeed, etc) and see if they're any better. They seem to be OK on trails etc, but start rubbing on rougher terrain.

I've never really had a problem with blisters before, and I've used lots of different kinds of shoes.

No blisters in the 270s. They do fall apart quickly. Many heel blisters in the 330s. Blisters stop after about 2 weeks. The blisters still appear in a challenging foot environment such as the American West with lots of loose dirt and frequent water crossings, but no more frequently than in any other shoe I've worn. The last time in the 330s, I went 47 trail miles without as much as a hot spot.

I've never got a single blister from my 330s but have always had problems with pain in my arches after i run in them for a few hours (mountain marathons for example). had to play about with the lacing to stop it being too painful to run. other than that they're brilliant, but the arch pain has made me think my feet might be the wrong shape, and im looking at some olway tigers or jalas black for my next pair of o-shoes. will stick with inov8s for fell running. the red ones look pretty snazzy...

I've gone over 2hr in my mudclaws (330 and 340), no blisters, great grip, and a solid comfortable feel. Innov8s fit very low in the heel, and feel funny at first, but you get used to them. Like Jon W, the studs in my 340s tore out (at only 7 hr of use). Scarborough orienteering and Innov8 replaced them at no charge.
It's obvious that these shoes are great for some people and troublesome for others. It would be helpful if we could figure out what determines who can use them. Some posts above suggest that they should work in some environments better than others, while other posts suggests that it is more about foot size/shape/mechanics. For what it's worth, my use is mostly in midwestern hill and valley, moderately damp, almost no rock. My feet are size 13, average width front and back, neutral stance (no major over or underpronation).

My 340s gave me problems right from the start - more specifically blisters on the heel. The problem seems to have improved a bit with use, but with my wide-ish feet I don't think they will ever fit perfectly. That being said, I have continued to use them selectively (shorter, steeper, sloppier events) and have been happy with them overall.

I think I may go that way - use the 'Claws for the short muddy events, and go back to Swoops for the comfort on the mountain marathons.
Nowt worse than sore feet on long distance.

Well, to follow up on this, have spent a long weekend in the Lakes, and despite taping my heel up, developed a big blister on one heel and what feels like bruised bone on the back - all caused by the claws.
Got back yesterday and ran last night - in Swoops. No taping, just straight out.
Despite the blister and sore heel, it was like running in a pair of comfy slippers. I couldn't really feel the damage that the claws have done.
So I will be forsaking the grip of the MudClaws for the cosy feeling of wearing swoops.

I figure it's no good having all that grip if you can't run. .

Based on comments on Nopesport about these shoes, I tried changing the way my 290s were laced up, and took them on a relatively long orienteering course over a variety of terrain last night, and guess what, lots of grip and no blisters!

I'm going to dig out my 340s and see if relacing them will fix the problems that I had with those as well.

Hmm. Got a response from chap at Inov8 finally, and he has just suggested the usual "drop the footbed" and steam the heel. I'll try those I guess, but at a time when I can work through any damage to my heel - it took about 5 days for the bruising to settle after last time I wore them .

Ho hum. Might try get my old swoops resoled by the chaps in lancashire to see if the better sole is, well, better.

Are you getting them re soled with the same sole or a different one? who's doing it?
I do MM's in swoops, I find the grip useless but yes they are compfy. They ruined last year's OMM for me as I slipped and fell heavily on rock. I just tried 270's - superb grip with their sticky rubber soles, but I over pronate and they have no support - my heel roles inwards stressing knee and ankle.
So its back to swoops for this year's OMM...

I have 2 types of Inov8 shoes, the MudClaw 340s and the MudRoc 280. I find both these shoes to be quite comfortable, and I have not really had any problems with blisters, especially compared to conventional o shoes. I have narrow heels and duct tape them before each race, I imagine it would be worse for people with wide heels. The only real complaints I have about these shoes is that they wear out fairly quickly and the problem with the 340s is that the studs come out really easily, especially in rocky terrain. After Australia, I am left with only 2 out of the original 18 studs.

mhryciuk: I have tried taping my heels, but I was still left bruised. I have yet to try the steaming method, but cacn't afford the risk of injury to try them for long.

Dehydrated: Will try find details of resoling peeps.

Resoling peeps?! Chime right in here, Valerie (and maybe Cristina, Janet...).

Resoling people. Are we experiencing a cultural divide here? ;)

anyway, found them.

www.lsr.gb.com

They reckon their sole outgripped the walsh sole in tests a few years back. And they will resole the swoop. Watch this space.