The RW Takeaway: This hybrid running shoe is ideal for transitioning from road to trail, and has a new lightweight knit upper with an ergonomic, secure fit.
- A breathable, lightweight upper made of anti-microbial, fast-drying knit.
- Aggressive enough for trails, forgiving enough to switch to road.
- PowerFlow+ midsole provides shock absorption and rebound.
Price: $140
Weight: 9.2 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)
Type: Road and trail
The Parkclaw 275 is an introductory trainer for those who love the road yet have an increasing desire to venture onto the trail. The knit version has a new lightweight and breathable X-Protec upper, which has an ergonomic fit that snugly hugs your foot; so snugly you’ll find that the tongue and heel tabs are a major bonus for easing the Parkclaw on. The upper pulls off an astonishing feat: It keeps your foot warm on cold runs, as well as ventilated and cool so your foot doesn’t get swampy. Said one tester who previously tested Hoka One One’s Arahi 2 and Brooks’s Caldera 3, “My feet never felt overheated and actually felt warmer in freezing temperatures.”
A reliable shoe on muddy trails, the Parkclaw 275 Knit has a stable platform; an external heel counter and secure fit around the arch provide support running on uneven surfaces. It’s an ideal shoe for runners tired of traversing through concrete jungles, but who aren’t yet ready to commit to a more aggressive lug pattern on their sole.
Stiff and Responsive Midsole
The Parkclaw 275 has Inov-8’s new PowerFlow+ midsole, which Inov-8 claims to have 10 percent better shock absorption and 25 percent more energy return compared to standard midsoles. Lab measurements aren’t yet available, but from what we can garner running in the shoe, the midsole is responsive and fit for speedwork, with firm cushioning to support your legs on long runs. One of our testers planned to run her next half marathon in the Parkclaw. Runners who prefer a more flexible shoe, however, may find the Parkclaw more suitable for short to mid-length runs due to the trainer’s stiffness.
Hybrid Outsole
The 4mm lugs on the outsole help you get a firm grip on muddy trails—one tester raved, “So reliable in mud,” adding she was also quick on her feet rock climbing. The lugs are designed to be smoother than the average trail shoe’s tread, which makes them more forgiving on the pads of your foot when you transition to pavement on your run.
The outsole has a Dynamic Fascia Band (DFB) shank, which is structured to mirror your foot’s plantar fascia structure and, according to Inov-8, converts the Parkclaw into a “rigid propulsive lever.” Pair the DFB with the shoe’s stiffness and you get a responsive hybrid trainer set for racing.
Snug Upper
The shoe’s toe box has ample room to splay your toes. The upper has a snug all-around fit on your foot, especially around the heel, which tends to be loose in women’s shoes. The heel collar of the Parkclaw is padded and cushy, yet some runners described ankle pain and rubbing due to the high cut on the inside of the collar. Another small pet peeve was the spaghetti-like laces, which had a tendency to untie and were unnecessarily floppy.
Wear-Tester Feedback
Kristin H., tester since 2017
Arch: High | Gait: Neutral | Footstrike: Midfoot
“This is one of my favorite pairs of shoes I have tested. It is fairly lightweight but provides a good amount of cushioning and support. It has a nice size toe box that allowed my toes to feel like they had space to move, but not too much space that it felt like they were swimming around.”
Amanda is a test editor at Runner’s World who has run the Boston Marathon every year since 2013; she's a former professional baker with a master’s in gastronomy and she carb-loads on snickerdoodles.
