Buying running shoes for off-road and the fells

The main things to bear in mind when shopping for shoes for off-road and fell running are:

1) they have decent GRIP - compare off-road with road shoes and you'll see the amount of grip you need. Off-road trail and fell running challenges your feet because of the uneven ground and slippy nature of mud, grass, heather etc.

Comparison of the grip on fell shoes - Inov8xtalon 212s (left) and Inov8 Roadx 238 shoes (right)

Grip (and mud from today's run!)

No grip

Mudclaw 300s with more aggressive grip

2) they FIT *YOUR* foot.
You will only know this if you try them on.
Unless you've worn a pair or tried on a reasonably new pair from a friend, avoid buying online. Some shoes suit narrow feet, others are broad fitting, but our feet are unique. It's also worth looking in the other gender's shoe section too...many men wear 'womens' shoes, and vice-versa. There really isn't any need for the separation, with the exception that 'most' men have larger feet than women, and vice-versa, there isn't a biomechanical need for the separate departments. This can be especially useful to know if you are a 'small' shoe size man, or a 'large' shoe size women. The cross-over tends to be around size 6-7. I know a few small shoe sized friends who also find shoes that fit them in the kids section.

Buying in a shop ***beware of the sales person***
Ask them what running they do....do they in fact run? Do they give you confidence? Do they they know what they are talking about? If not, trust your instincts.

Also, ***do not get baffled by anatomy and science***
As I said above, the key things for off-road shoes - grip, and fit. When the assistant starts talking about pronation, over-pronation, neutral fit, etc....remember one thing - they are a SALES person, NOT a biomechanical specialist (unless they actually do have a degree in that subject - it is worth asking). I'd go as far as saying you should avoid running on their treadmill to have your gait assessed unless they are actually qualified (eg degree/PhD level) in biomechanics - most sales people will have been trained in-house, by someone else trained in-house....and their job is TO SELL you things. That means it's in their interest to baffle you with the fancy words and scare you into thinking you need custom made orthotics. The vast majority of people don't need them. I'm not saying everyone working in shops are out to get your money, but they are there to make a profit, and sometimes commission.

Key thing to remember - everyone's foot pronates - yes, that's right. Pronation is a natural part of the gait cycle and you'd have a bit of difficulty walking/running if the bones in your ankle and feet didn't pronate.

"the body absorbs the impact of the foot by rolling in pronation" http://www.physio-pedia.com/Gait_Cycle

"Pronation is a normal part of the gait cycle"  Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine,  edited by Lyle J. Micheli, M.D.

The trail shoes I've used and been happy with for comfort and grip are the Adidas Kanadias. I know a lot of people who wear them, and you can probably grab a pair for about £40, or less maybe.

My current trail shoes are the New Balance WT110 LD33 NB Trail. so far so good after 80km in them.

Any questions?
Drop me an email and I'll do my best to help you or point you to someone who can answer better than me. All information in this post is obviously my opinion based on my experience.

Bumbag review: OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L: UPDATE

Back in August 2013 I wrote a review of the OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L bumbag. Since then the bumbag has been my main pack for carrying stuff on the hill. I still love it. It's versatile, has enough room for most days out fell running (even in winter with extra kit), is still just as comfortable and I've learnt to live with the niggles. I've recommended it to loads of other people and loaned mine to others to try before they buy themselves. I know others have bought one on my recommendation.

But, I am wearing a vital component of my lovely yellow OMM bumbag out. I first noticed the issue about a few months ago. The stitching on the right hand strap is slowly coming away from the main part of the bag. Oh no! I have used it tentatively since, keeping a watchful eye on it whilst also having my sewing kit on standby. In the last few weeks however I'd refrained from using it and have reverted back to my Osprey 5.5ltr rucksack - I just can't have the strap fail on me, especially if I'm out leading a group or private client on the hill. I do wonder what has caused this issue - me adjusting the straps regularly perhaps? (they have a slight tendency to work lose as you run, but this would be the case for any strap that doesn't have a locking system). But then surely adjusting a strap is something that is going to happen all the time, so it should be robust enough to cope. Could it be I have a bag with faulty stitching?

Sewing seems like the only option...I've had it too long to return it to where I bought it from, and no doubt OMM won't deal direct just like most manufacturers. So, I reckon it's a hand stitching repair that's needed as my little domestic sewing machine wouldn't cope with going through the fabric of the strap plus the material of the bag. I'm a reluctant-not-very-good-sewer, so the needle and thread have sat to one side waiting patiently. It's either that or I'll have to pay someone to spend about two minutes stitching it for me on a commercial grade machine. Any local offers?

All those lovely positive things I said about the bag last year still stand. It will get repaired one way or another, and soon; I miss using it.

Inov8 X-Talon212s

Pair #1 nearest....#4 at top

My first ever fell shoes were Inov8 X-Talon212s and I really got on well with them. I've had a few other models of fell and trail shoes, but I keep reverting to the 212s. The fit is good for my feet and I love the responsiveness with the ground underfoot. Since doing more barefoot running (in vibram fivefingers) I've learnt to tolerate the minimal soles on tarmac too, especially with my first pair which have much less rubber on the studs now! I've managed to not destroy any of this model, despite doing over 700km in my first pair, unlike the Mudclaw 300s

Pair #1 - 665.5km (though I suspect there's easily over 100km not logged from my time pre-strava)
Pair #2 - 552.5km
Pair #3 - 129.4km
Pair #4 - 0km

The third and forth pair were recent purchases, still the old yellow/grey model, which I found online at a knock down price. I'm all for rotating shoes anyway, so getting two pairs at a bargain price was super....I probably now have over 18 months of life in these four pairs still. Here's photos showing the various states each pair are in:

#1

#1

#1 - stitching coming apart ever so slightly

#1 upper degrading slightly but still holding together

#2

#2

#3

#3

#4 so far unused and still in box

#4

It's pretty hard to tell much difference between pairs 1 to 3 - so much so that I have to be careful not to put odd pairs on when I go out running as the grip is different, especially between pair #1 and 2/3. I've heard there are differences in this old model and the new blue/orange one....Tim has reviewed this on TestedToDestruction if you want more about his thoughts on that. I would imagine at the rate I wear shoes out there will be an even newer model out when I come to replace pairs #3 and #4.

One thing I certainly advise is proper care of shoes, to prolong their life. I reckon its the care of shoes after I've been out running in them that helps to keep them in such good condition. If the shoes are dirty they get a wash, if they're wet they get stuffed with paper and dried out naturally. More about shoe care on this blog I wrote a while back.

pair #2 saw me round the Edale Skyline in June, 34.5km in 4hrs 16

The run around Edale Skyline in the 212s was a good choice, and it was only towards the end of the run that my feet were starting to hurt, mostly because the distance was my longest to date and due to the heat on the day.

What's in my bag? Part 2

A short while ago I posted a blog "What's in my bag?" showing you what I take out with me on a run....well here's the reasons why I take those things. I'd like to think that most would be self-explanatory, but here's my thoughts on why these items go out with me.

Windproof hat - it can be chilly on the ears without a windproof hat, and this beanie keeps a good deal of wind and rain off my head. Heat loss through your head, according to a report I read in the British Medical Journal can be between 7-10%, so protecting against that loss is important (take note, it's not the 50% claim that's often made, but still a significant loss).

Gloves - I get cold hands, and amazingly I find the one-size-fits-all-thinnies work really well at keeping my hands warm, that is until they get wet. Then I bring out the thicker windstopper mitts and waterproof/windproof overmitts. It's simple really, cold hands = inability to function properly = quality decision making deteriorates = danger zone.

Handwarmers - see above. I have only used these a couple of times but I highly recommend them. On the runs that I have used them they have made the difference between a cold and bearable return home in gnarly conditions, and the potential for hypothermia to set in. Depending on the ones you use they will last from 4-8 hours, but in an insulated pocket I've known them to be still kicking out warmth the following day.

Buff - multi-purpose, amazing bit of kit. I've usually got a spare one with me as well as the one I wear as neck warmer/headband/balaclava. More about The Humble Buff on a recent post.

Emergency Bivi Bag -  I keep mine in a
waterproof bag to keep it in top condition

Emergency Bivi bag - what it says, a bivi bag, for emergencies. I've never needed to use mine but I would never go out without it. Body temperature drops significantly once you stop, so should I become injured I would need to protect myself from the elements. Using this really would be a last resort while I waited to be rescued. Tim (my other half) has written about this bit of kit on his blog, TestedToDestruction.

Identity card with emergency contact details - if something happened to me and I was unconscious when found then my rescuer needs to know who I am, if I've any allergies or medical conditions, and who to contact. All this information is kept on a business card that I've laminated - I have one in each bag. There are emergency tags you can pay for, but a self-made one is just as good.

Business cards - you never know who you're going to meet on the hill.

Tissues - for blowing my nose. I rarely use them, so maybe they are like a comfort blanket type thing as I always have tissues in my pocket.

Mobile phone in waterproof pouch - I'd never rely on having signal out on the hill, or the battery holding charge. There are a lot of areas where I know there isn't any signal. However, I always ensure the battery is fully charged before heading out, and if going for a long run I'll turn of mobile data to preserve the battery life.

Map & compass - self-explanatory?! I do have Viewranger (ordnance survey map) on my phone but haven't yet needed to fire that up in anger. I know the Peak District hills where I run really well, and I'm happy to follow where my feet lead me sometimes so although technically not lost, not knowing entirely where I am is part of the appeal when out exploring. That said, when out with groups I'll always have a map and compass and know the route we're taking, plus options to cut short a route. This type of knowledge comes from hours and hours on the hill.

Drink - dehydration is not fun, even on cold wet days we still need to hydrate our bodies otherwise vital functions begin to deteriorate. Small errors on a hill because of dehydration could be disastrous.

Food - this is the fuel that keeps our bodies working. You'd not set off in your car without enough petrol for the journey, so therefore don't go onto the hill without food. It's reckoned (by various sources) that we need 30-60gm of carbohydrates to fuel the body when being active. So, depending on the length of run I'm doing will depend what I carry. Typically it will be fairtrade chocolate geobars because I know I can eat and digest them on the go. Any run over 1-1.5hrs and I will start eating at the 30-45min point, and then every 30mins thereafter. This strategy has worked well for me and so far I've not yet 'bonked'. Whatever you are doing, make sure you practice your nutrition strategy lots and lots to find out what works for you.

Jacket - either the Mountain Equipment Ultratherm or OMM waterproof smock on rainy days. The OMM smock often goes out as well, and if I go out wearing that then the ultratherm will be in the bag as a spare warm layer should I be forced to walk or stop. Even on hot days I still carry a windproof jacket as minimum. I also have a windproof smock but rarely use it - even though it's a small size it's so baggy on me I find the rattling and flapping of the fabric too annoying.

Compeed & plasters - the only time I've ever needed compeed was when I didn't have any. I won't make that mistake again because on that run it forced me to cut it short and abandon the run in Hayfield, then hang about as I'd just missed the hourly bus back to Glossop.

Inhaler - I have very mild asthma and hayfever. Although I don't always take the inhaler out on short runs it's in the bag on long runs, hot summer days, cold winter days and high pollen days. It's in the bag a fair amount of time!

Bag - more on bags to follow in a later post, but the choice is determined by amount of kit being carried.

Additionally, on rainy days or when I'm out with a group I will also carry my waterproof trousers (Berghaus paclites), a torch (it goes dark every day!), spare gloves, buff and a first aid kit (not pictured).

If you've any questions about the gear I use just add a comment on here.

Shoe care

Unless you've got loads of money you are going to want to look after any shoe you buy to prolong it's lifetime. Here's how I do that:

1. If they get muddy I always wash them, either in a stream at the end of a run, or with the hose pipe in the garden. It's important to spend a few minutes giving the shoes a thorough wash. A small stone wedged somewhere will rub the fabric and could eventually lead to a hole forming. Some foot beds have tiny holes in them and mini-pebbles can get lodged in those - that could easily lead to a blister. Mud and peat pressed into fabric will abrade, so washing all the minuscule particles out can reduce that risk.

2. Dry and air shoes every time they are used. Take out the foot beds and dry those separately. Then stuff the shoe with newspaper - push it right down to the toes. I tend to get three pieces of paper in each shoe. For particularly soggy shoes, remove the paper after an hour or so and replace with dry paper. Repeat that every few hours to keep drawing the moisture out of the fabric.

Even if you've not got particularly damp feet on a run, moisture will have come off your feet so shoes should be aired anyway. No newspaper needed if they're virtually dry, just don't shove the shoes in a closed cupboard or bag until your next run.

3. Air dry the shoes away from direct heat - i.e. do not place on a radiator. However tempting it is to dry shoes quickly this will only cause more harm by drying out the fabric and stitching too quickly. Your feet are likely to get wet on a fell run anyway, so putting on damp shoes is something you quickly get used to if you only own one pair! Drying your shoes out naturally allows all the fabrics to dry evenly and they won't have that stiff crispy toasted feeling when you next put them on.

Mountain Equipment Ultratherm Jacket: review

Ultratherm in action on a Welsh beach at Easter

I wrote about the Mountain Equipment Ultratherm Jacket not long after I'd bought it, back in June 2013. Since then, it's been used on virtually every run I've been on. Based on my strava activity (which is likely to be fairly accurate), since buying the jacket, I've done 284 runs and 2322km. Each time I use it I'll be wearing either a bumbag or a rucksack. It's been washed numerous times too. It's still going strong.

So why have I worn it so much? Quick answer: it's bloomin' great. That's why.

I really don't like feeling cold when I'm out in the hills. In fact, I'd rather run hot than feel a slight chill. So even on warm days I still go out with the ultratherm on. In summer I'll still set off running with a windproof gilet on, unless it's balmy hot. Over the past 6 months I reckon I've only headed out a handful of occasions without wearing the jacket from the offset. A couple of times in recent weeks, because it really has been warm enough for just a t-shirt, and other times because it was raining so heavy I needed my waterproof OMM smock. I've only used the hood a handful of times but have been happy with how it's performed. For a lightweight garment, having the draw cords to rack it in tightly on a windy wet day is a bonus.

I do a good variety of runs - some fast paced, some slower guiding and with runners new to off-road running, some hill reps where I'm pushing hard on steep climbs, getting sweaty, then waiting during the rest period. I'm impressed that the ultratherm jacket keeps me warm when I need it, yet not overheating when I'm pushing myself on hill reps or a fast paced run.

What's it like?

microfibre lining

Comfortable. The microfibre lining is really comfy. I mostly just wear a vest or t-shirt under it and it's lovely and snug. No cold feeling on my arms as the wind buffets it. The collar fits fairly snugly, enough room for a buff worn as a neck warmer when needed, but not too roomy that it flaps around.

Windproof. To a point, but I often forget it's not totally windproof as it acts like it is. There are panels in the arms and sides which aren't windproof, but it does take a very windy day for it to penetrate when you're moving. It's only really when I pause or stand around for a while on a breezy day that I feel the wind blowing through the non-windproof panels.

Hard-wearing. As mentioned above, I always run with a bumbag or rucksack. On close inspection the jacket is still looking almost like new. These next few photos show the condition after almost a year of use:

side panel - just a few ruffles but not really noticeable that a bumbag/rucksack worn on every outing

cuff, showing no signs of wear

inside collar - a tiny amount of balling-up showing

front panel, a few minor 'pulls' on the fabric
I had to look hard to find these!

no signs of wear and tear the back either

Niggles? (I really am picking at tiny little things here)

zip in collar to release hood

• The zip fastener on the hood rattles. Such a minor point. But it niggles and rattles in my left ear. After a while it annoyed me so much that I tucked the fastener in so it didn't rattle. A few runs later and the heavens opened big time, I was in panic mode with gloves on really struggling to unzip the collar an reveal the hood. Lesson learnt the hard way. A very soggy neck and back. I now have the fastener rattle rather than risk a cold wet head on the hill. I should just put some tape over the fastener, see if that quietens it.

• The vent panels on the arms. Noted above - not designed to be windproof. I'm not sure how much extra weight or breathability you'd lose by having the whole garment windproof. To me it would be worth giving it a go because there are occasions when I still carry my OMM smock in case it gets really windy/rainy/cold on the hill. I've been out in some gnarly weather in the ultratherm and it's performed great. However, I wouldn't want it to be the only jacket I took out on a longer run, or when I'm heading out on gnarly wet weather days.

• Sizing. I tried a size 10 but it didn't seem to give me enough freedom and room in the arms, so I ended up with a size 12. In reality I need a size 11. The 12 is baggy around my body; just a small niggle. If I didn't wear a bag of some sort I'm sure the bagginess would bother me more.

Best test: a few weekends ago in the Lake District...heading up Kirk Fell from Ennerdale YHA. We had a 6km run along the valley bottom to Blacksail YHA before heading up the hill in anger. It was drizzly when we set off, so ultratherm not waterproof weather. Part way along the track the rain started in earnest. By the time we reached Blacksail I had water dripping around my elbows, that really soggy feeling through all my clothing. Knowing I'd be on the hill a good few hours to come, and climbing up another 500m+ to the summit, I put my OMM smock on over the ultratherm. I could have taken off the ultratherm, but the thought of needing the warm layer later on, and having to put it on wet didn't enthuse me. I chose to be damp inside the waterproof layer, and hope I didn't get a chill.

Climbing up we were gaining body temperature, and luckily sheltered from the wind for a good part of the ascent. Topping out I'd vented the OMM smock but not unzipped the ultratherm underneath. At some point on the run (maybe on the way up) I had started to dry out on the inside. I no longer had that soggy wet feeling inside and was even starting to feel warm and comfortable once more. The rain put paid to any decision about removing the OMM smock, but had it cleared I would have been back to just the ultratherm - and a pretty dry jacket too.

Overall opinion after this run: blinking fantastic piece of kit. I will replace it (when necessary) without a moments doubt. I had no doubt prior to this run that it was a great jacket, but this run proved it's worth in really gnarly conditions.

Ultratherm mountain running in Switzerland, Aletsch Glacier up ahead

Thanks to Vicki for this photo, on Bleaklow at the B29 plane wreck

New the jacket RRP is £120. Expensive but definitely worth it. I have seen them at half that price online, but in tiny or XL sizes only. From a quick look around the internet it seems you should be able to get one for £90.  For all the technical info head over to the ME website.

For Tim's review of the same jacket, well his jacket...the men's is orange inside whereas womens is red, head over to his blog, TestedToDestruction.

Shoes for the hills and fells

There are several items of gear that are essential (for safety reasons) for off-road running. But, there is only one item which is by necessity very different to road running. That's the shoes you wear. I'll write about what I take out in my bag - the essentials - in another post soon.

On the road you don't need grippy studs on your shoes. Off-road, it's vital or you'll be slip-sliding all over the place and putting yourself at greater risk of injury.With that in mind, it's a common question for runners new to off-road running - which ones to choose? There's as much choice for fell as there is for road running and plenty of places to go shopping for them. The main thing to look out for are off-road shoes are suitable studs or grip for the terrain you'll encounter, once you leave the road and trails behind.

Whether you want minimal shoes or some with a heel-to-toe differential is entirely personal choice. As with any shoe fitting, you need to try them on to see if they suit your feet. Although there are obvious commonalities in foot structure, we are all unique. We also have personal preferences about how shoes feel when we wear them.

Here's the shoes I've been using over the past couple of years, and a few thoughts on how I find them to run in:

Northface Hedgehogs:

I've mainly used these as 'around town' walking shoes in winter to keep my feet dry - they're goretex which causes my feet to overheat when running. I can run in them quite comfortably, but paradoxically would only do so on dry trails. That's because when you're out running in the hills you are going to get wet feet. There's no way of avoiding it. Goretex only serves to hold wetness inside them as far as I have experienced, whereas shoes designed for fell running allow water to come out as easily as it enters. When I say they hold water in, I'm talking about the volumes you encounter in bogs, deep puddles or crossing a stream. I think that these are in fact sold as approach shoes, not running shoes, so perhaps not a fair choice to include. However, you've got my thoughts on goretex and running shoes.
My overall opinion: good for town and trail shoes, walking only.
Distance run in to date: not applicable

INOV8 Roclites:

My first fell running shoes. Essentially a trail shoe but they served me well when I initially started running off-road. I now only use these on trails, and as the grip has worn down they really don't work well on mud or wet grass any more. After wearing XTalons (see below), I also find these too broad around the toe area.
My overall opinion: great starter shoe for trails and easy, dry fell runs.
Distance run in to date: unknown, I owned them way before I started logging runs on strava.

INOV8 Xtalon212s:

Pair number 1

Pair number 2

Side by side view of soles on first pair of xtalons (left) and second pair (right)

Side by side view of uppers first pair (left) and second pair (right)

The XTalon212 was my only fell shoe for quite a while. I did get a pair of Mudclaw 333s for winter running (which are more robust and have better studs for wet, winter running) but I could never get them to feel comfortable around the heel (the 333s are in fact the only pair of fell shoes to niggle and routinely give me blisters, despite all tactics to soften the heel cup). In comparison, the xtalon212s are like slippers, and while my feet may have felt the cold a litter sooner than the 333s in winter I just preferred the fit. The 212s are snug and never leave my feet feeling sloppy, even when drenched wet through. They are responsive on all types of terrain and I am constantly on the look out for another pair to replace pair number 1...if only they were cheaper! The latest model is a snazzy blue and orange colour, which matches nicely with the Glossopdale Harriers club colours.
My overall opinion: my fell shoe of choice.
Distance run in to date, pair 1: 547.3km + what wasn't logged before I joined strava - could be another few hundred km?
Distance run in to date, pair 2: 314.4km, I reckon the studs on this pair have worn down quicker than pair #1

INOV8 Mudclaw 300s:

These are a close second to being my favourite fell shoe. I only noticed taking this photo that one of the studs has started to rip away. A lot of runners have this happen fairly regular but perhaps I'm light enough on my feet, or don't run hard (read that as fast) enough for this problem to arise. This pair has started to disintegrate a little around the toe box, on the medial side the stitching has started to come away and some of the plastic rand has come away from the material. They still feel good to run in though. A couple of minor gripes with this model: firstly when traversing I find that the fabric under my ankle bone digs in. It's never caused me any issues with rubbing skin or blisters, but it's quite uncomfortable. Secondly, when they get really wet I find the toe box feels much roomier and my feet feel sloppy in them. Tightening the laces does help with this, but not entirely.
My overall opinion: Great shoes, a few minor niggles. I'd buy them again.
Distance run in to date: 537.9km

Adidas Kanadias:

A decent and cheap trail shoe that I used for quite a lot of fell runs when it was dry, especially if I had sections of road, trail or hard packed ground to cover on longer runs. The material which the studs are made of is pretty useless on wet ground, especially grass. After over 400km they are now showing obvious signs of disintegration (I can poke my finger through one of the holes) and I suspect they will catastrophically fall apart sometime soon. The studs are also quite worn down from the combination of terrain (road to reach trails, trails and rocky paths). This means that I really can only wear these now on trails when it's dry. I might buy these again if I did a lot of trail running, but since getting these I've done quite a bit of running in minimalist shoes (including vibram fivefingers) and I think the Kanadias give too much cushioning for my style of running now.
My overall opinion: decent and reasonably priced trail shoe
Distance run in to date: 419.6km

Walsh's

Not sure which model of Walsh's these are but I got them very cheap, like a tenner, in a sale. I've used them on a few runs but I find the fit a little odd. It feels like I could twist an ankle in them very easily (I haven't done so in these yet) because the soles/studs aren't as wide as the uppers. They also feel very stiff, and in comparison to xtalons they just aren't all that comfortable. The soles are quite stiff so you don't get very much feedback from the ground underfoot, this adds to the feeling of instability. Perhaps they'd be really good on very wet ground - I shall try them out again.
My overall opinion: wouldn't buy again but ok as a spare pair.
Distance run in to date: unknown, very little

Orocs, pictured new, and still look like this

I've also got a pair of INOV8 Orocs, winter fell shoes with metal spikes that poke out of the rubber studs and give you grip on ice. Almost disappointingly we've only had one day over this last winter that I could wear them, and rather foolishly I did a long run in them. I suffered with a blister forcing me to cut my run short. This isn't a true review of them, less than 20km is not sufficient distance to give a fair go.

As you can see, I've got a fair collection of INOV8 shoes (small in comparison to some people). I really must try a different type, but then I really do like the fit and grip from them, especially the XTalons. It makes it hard to switch to other brands, especially when shoes are as expensive as they are. Buying a pair of £90+ shoes to find they don't suit you is an expensive mistake. Hence the need to try on shoes, rather than go by what other people say. Shoes featured here are what I've used...there's still lots of others out there to go and investigate.

Here's a random selection of photos showing the shoes in action:

xtalons (first pair) climbing out of William Clough on Kinder Downfall Fell Race

xtalons (unsure of which pair) running in the Rhinnogs, Wales

xtalons (second pair) in Grindelwald, Switzerland

xtalons (second pair) in Bettmeralp, Switzerland

Mudclaw 300s having fun in the peat bogs, most likely on Bleaklow

Mudclaw 300s on a snowy winter night run

Mudclaw 300s having a wash in the stream

xtalons (2nd pair) on a Welsh beach