When it was first released in 2003 it was Inov-8's first entry into the market place which they described as the 'ultimate off-road running shoe'.  Things have moved on a bit since then but the Mudroc 290 has benifited from a recent change to Inov-8s sticky rubber compound.  I think a more accurate tag line would be 'the best all round off-road running shoe'.  This is because the 290 can handle anything a fell can throw at it (they are particularly awesome on wet rock due to the large surface area of the sticky rubber stud pattern) but also can handle tracks and trails well due to a lower profile stud and slightly more cusioning than some other shoes in this catagory.  Pleanty of randing on the upper means the shoe tends to last really well also.  Yes you don't get quite the grip and security on wet grass and mud as a Walsh or Mudclaw (but it still isn't half bad having raced Borrowdale in it - think about the last descent of dale head!) but it does deal with tracks and trails better, making it a great versatile all-rounder.