A lot of companies now seem to be going with flat bottomed lugs, not the traditional pointed stud. The only reason i can think of for this is longevity; customers prefer an outsole that lasts longer. The x-talon was almost a great shoe, i always thought the flat bottomed studs let it down. Fortunately the old PB racer, a bofra favourite, is still as was, so i'm going to accumulate a few pairs and rotate them round in a use-resole-use again pattern. The only issue with this is that i can't get any 212s to have an LSR fell outsole grafted onto.