Figured some of you would like a real world trail shoe review as they are hard to come by. I know shoes pretty well and I’ve “tested” quite a few (like Demerly does bikes) FWIW.
Background: tester (me) male 37, 5-10, 157 lbs, run 40-60 miles/week
About $89-95 online. check out www.inov-8.com for details about some of their other shoes, design philosophy, etc.
These are the FlyRoc310. I like their design principle in that they want their shoes to basically move with the foot and not try to “control” it. Might not be for everyone, but should be good for the vast majority on this forum. They tend to name their shoes based on weight (i.e. the RocLite315 or MudClaw270 based on size 9 U.S.) in grams. ALL of their shoes are extremely lightweight! (which is important to me) especially for trail shoes (and aggressive ones at that). My scale pegged these at 335g (11.7oz) at size 9.5 for some reference values, all size 9.5 except the type-A and racing flat are size 9.
Asics Gel Kayano XII: 344g (12.1 oz)
Saucony type-A: 244g (8.6 oz)
Old Nike Zoom racing flat: 212g (7.4 oz)
Previous Keen trail shoe: 448g (15.7 oz)
Most manufactures are WAY off on their “published” weights I’ve found. I had some Brooks Cascadia trail shoes briefly (Christmas gift), but didn’t get a chance to weight them before shipping them off. Way too built up like a stability running shoe with more tread for me.
Here they are after 3 runs in some light mud, lots of grassy hills (on a golf course), concrete and asphalt.
They are very flexible in the forefoot (as advertised) right out of the box. Top looks like open mesh, but it is not (but this would not be a warm or waterproof shoe though - I’d wear a waterproof/Gore Tex sock if needed for that). They do have a GoreTex model as well. Very low heel height (nice) with nothing fancy in the midfoot. Basically this is a VERY neutral shoe which is hard to find in a trail shoe. You are riding nice and low like an “off road racing flat”. Nice protective toe cap/rock shield. Very low hee counterl I also like as my achilles gets easily rubbed on steep trail runs. Laces tight and even with no hot spots. Runs perfectly true to size based on my other shoes. Tread is open and aggressive, but VERY hard rubber (by design per their site as well). Their others shoes use a softer rubber for some on road running. Worked perfect on wet, slippery grass. But, on roads/concrete, these shoes are VERY hard. There is little to no arch support and absolutely zero “cushioning” type materials built in. The upper goes right into the sole. But, that is also the genius behind them as this is NOT needed in a trail shoe, running off road. The grass/dirt/mother earth does that for you. You can/will feel this though when you hit the road. In fact, what little road/sidewalk running I needed to do on my path, I found myself “searching” out the devil strip to stay on the grass. These shoes were built for a specific purpose, like snow tires. If you are looking for a shoe to run just a little off road and on, this is NOT for you. I like the Asics Gel Trail attack or the new NB 852(?) for that. Of note, there is also little to no ankle support with the very low heel - also a good thing in my book. You will either gain strength and proprioception or sprain your ankle with these. I did see that they garnered a best pick on some off road trail running magazine that I’ve never heard of, along with many of their other models. Inov-8 is apparently the current “hot” shoe in Europe (from Britain) where fell running is more popular.
Conclusion: this shoe hits a much needed niche - off road racing really. If you like lightweight, no nonsense running shoes (and train in performance trainers or racing flats), this is your off road companion cat’s meow. Don’t plan on really hard pack or road running with these puppies though as they are brick hard on the bottom (yet they flex right with your foot perfectly with no “motion control” gizmos, posting, variable density foams, etc).