It is getting warmer here in Finland, yesterday we had 7°C and it was raining - reason enough for me to take out the
Inov-8 Roclite 295 from the cupboard and go for a run around Pyynikki, the green area behind my house. It was a great feeling to get rain on your face, it is a sign of spring and I am looking forward to the time when the snow is gone.
Inov-8 Roclite 295 are great trail running and backpacking shoes - comfortable, light, breathable, and very grippy.
I got the Roclite 295 as my spring till autumn backpacking shoes, and the pair is 602 g. If you have been lightning up during the winter months and got your base weight down to 10 kg or less, you might be ready to make the next step, and use lighter footwear like trailrunners for backpacking. The Roclite 295 is very comfortable, and the unique Inov-8 support system will hold your foot down and give you that great grip which you need on the trail. Lighter shoes mean less stress for your feet, walk in more comfort, and strengthen your feet and leg muscles. Considering that usually trekking boots are usually upwards of 800 g a boot, that is half a kilo less per foot when you use trail runners.
In the snow...
... and on wet rock - no slipping.
I've been wearing my pair for my training runs and on a trip last autumn, and you'll see them on my feet during the coming warmer months. They have no Goretex lining, I prefer breathability and quick drying shoes, and if it is wet - like yesterday and today - I wear my
TrekMates Amphibian Socks
and Voilá: Dry feet for 72 g. Multiuse and better than lined shoes, it is the way to go.
Front view of the Roclite 295.
Check the Inov-8 website for a Retailer near you!
It is getting warmer here in Finland, yesterday we had 7°C and it was raining - reason enough for me to take out the
Inov-8 Roclite 295 from the cupboard and go for a run around Pyynikki, the green area behind my house. It was a great feeling to get rain on your face, it is a sign of spring and I am looking forward to the time when the snow is gone.
Inov-8 Roclite 295 are great trail running and backpacking shoes - comfortable, light, breathable, and very grippy.
I got the Roclite 295 as my spring till autumn backpacking shoes, and the pair is 602 g. If you have been lightning up during the winter months and got your base weight down to 10 kg or less, you might be ready to make the next step, and use lighter footwear like trailrunners for backpacking. The Roclite 295 is very comfortable, and the unique Inov-8 support system will hold your foot down and give you that great grip which you need on the trail. Lighter shoes mean less stress for your feet, walk in more comfort, and strengthen your feet and leg muscles. Considering that usually trekking boots are usually upwards of 800 g a boot, that is half a kilo less per foot when you use trail runners.
In the snow...
... and on wet rock - no slipping.
I've been wearing my pair for my training runs and on a trip last autumn, and you'll see them on my feet during the coming warmer months. They have no Goretex lining, I prefer breathability and quick drying shoes, and if it is wet - like yesterday and today - I wear my
TrekMates Amphibian Socks and Voilá: Dry feet for 72 g. Multiuse and better than lined shoes, it is the way to go.
Front view of the Roclite 295.
Check the Inov-8 website for a Retailer near you!
First Look: Inov-8 Roclite 295
They are great shoe but wear out fast. I like mine but the 320 offers the same tread pattern and more comfort and will last longer as it has the endurance sole instead of the sport of the 295. Ever way you cant go wrong with them.
ReplyDeleteThe best tread pattern bar none. As Martin says, buy a pair with the Endurance sole or you'll be throwing them away in a few hundred miles ;-)
ReplyDeleteStarted with 315s for running, bought some 310s for hiking and replaced them with 330s after a warranty issue on the sole. Tried Montrails but didn't lik the fit so I'm back in Inov8s. I love the sole pattern and barely-there support that promotes natural foot fall.
I agree with the use of waterproof socks and breathable shoes, much cheaper to replace than a WP/B boot when the lining fails - which they always will!
I don't fit into/onto the Roclite sole - but this looks remarkably similar to the Flyroc 310 that I've been using over winter. It's a great shoe, but I've found that the stitching at the little toe seems to fail first - I put it down to my wide feet causing rubbing in this area and causing the failure. An application of SeamSeal helps to prevent and repair this isssue.
ReplyDelete+1 on Phil's SeamSeal idea, works a treat. Skurka put me on to this. Would be a great idea before a long hike.
ReplyDeletealso +1 on Phils's comment about fit. I wouldn't use my Roclites for hiking (too narrow for me on long days) but they make a great short distant trail running shoe.
I had a pair of 288 but I had to return them because they hit my feet all kinds of wrong.
ReplyDeleteMy 295's only lasted about 200 miles before the uppers gave up. I was using them for everything though, including scrambling on rough granite. Very comfy whils they lasted. I thought the 295's were built on the Endurance last?
ReplyDeleteI'm now using a pair of Mizuno Wave Harriers. They have a much wider forefoot area.
Mike fae Dundee
"I thought the 295's were built on the Endurance last?" No Mike they are sport sole with very sticky rubber. Hence 200 miles of use is about right.
ReplyDeleteJust checked the website. The 295's are built on the wider Comfort (used to be called Endurance) Last. The sticky sole is nothing to do with the last Martin.
ReplyDeleteMike fae Dundee
We were talking about the soles wearing out. Hence the reference to the sticky sport sole. I see on the site what you meant now Mike.
ReplyDeleteAre these bellows tongues?
ReplyDeleteGreat tip with the gore-tex socks, I'm just back from an weekend in a cave and the three people in our group who had trail runners all had soaking wet feet. I'm sending them a link to those socks now :)
ReplyDeleteApril is a wet time for camping.
Dear Inov-8, please fix the navigational lottery on your website. Horrible, unusable JavaScript hell. :(
ReplyDeleteI do love this sole unit though, super grippy!
Martin, I have worn them now for about 80 km and so far can't see any wear on them - reason might be that the majority of that distance was on snow!
ReplyDeleteJoe, so true with the lining which will always fail - except you wear rubber boots, but don't expect any breathability then! So far they are fine, and I am sure they will last for the coming season - I'll report back in time!
Phil, I got narrow feet, so no problem for me. Might put a drop of SeamSeal on them, nevertheless - thanks for the tip!
Mike, as Martin said, it is the Sticky Rubber sole and the comfortable style fitting. I'll report back at the end of the season (or when the shoes give up!). They will be put to the test, so we'll see.
harttj, no, no bellows tongues.
Tomas, glad to give that tip! Have used those socks since last summer, great fit and still keep my feet dry! April is indeed wet, happily I go up north where it hopefully colder!
Fraser, lets see if Inov-8 hears your call!
Good choise Hendrik! I have had the Rocklite 315s since last summer. They got some 200km behind them on trails and forests and have some wear.
ReplyDeleteThe lining and padding has worn out from another heel cup and there is some wear and tear between the softer grey midsole and harder black sole. But they are still going strong. I think I could get around 500km out of them.
But they are really comfortable shoes. I'd like to have little more arch support on them but I can't use thick insoles because they take too much space from my heel. I'd need 2-3mm thick insole with arch support... and I quess that is impossible.
PS. I also use Inov-8 Prosocs and Debrisgaiters. Light, effective and comfy.
The sole never wore out on my 295's. It was the uppers that got trashed. The thread used didn't seem to be up to scrambling and was easily torn by being wedged in granite cracks. Probably not Inov8's fault, as they weren't designed for rock scrambling. :)
ReplyDeleteI use Rocky Goretex Socks with my trail shoes, but they are difficult to get hold of now.
Mike fae Dundee
Still looking for the perfect shoe to cross the Alps during our summertrip.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about Inov8 or Salomon.
These are the shoes that I have been using for hiking the last year. The first time I went for a hike in them, my foot muscles were very sore as I was not used to such a low support shoe like these. I loved the idea of allowing my feet to work the way they are supposed to instead of providing all kinds of support for them. I had been wearing orthotics up to this point and started to strengthen my feet by walking barefoot around the house and yard. This strengthened my feet enough that I could go hiking in these shoes without soreness and without orthotics.
ReplyDeleteSince last fall I have been running in Vibram fivefingers which has strengthened my feet and wearing orthotics in any of my shoes is now uncomfortable.
If I could offer some advice to anyone reading this blog, if you are used to a lot of support, transition slowly into these shoes!!
I probably have only a 100 miles in them, so I can't say much for durability yet.
Have tried to find a shop nereby who sells Inov-8. Wasn't easy. Will try during my Stockholm-visit this week.
ReplyDeleteLooking for some of the GTX shoes. Have problems with my feet :-(
Roger, try ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk and get a pair of Roclite 318 GTX, they are great and get very good reviews.
ReplyDeletetreklightly, that is good advice (which I should have mentioned, but for me it was under "common sense" which seems not to exist anymore today). Thus, if someone is going to try trailrunners for hiking, best to first try it on day walks, and then transition slowly towards more use. Thanks!
Basti, Inov-8 or Salomon, both get good reviews. I favour Inov-8 because of the weight, breathability and grip, but I haven't tried Salomons. Good luck!
Thank you Mike for the clarification. Jealous about your Rocky Goretex socks, those are hard to get, I'd really like a pair of them.
Lightening up, have you tried the Superfeet insoles? I use them and they're very good. I see already, when we meet we'll be the Inov-8 guys :D
I've seen reviews for Innov8s around everywhere, they might be a good replacement for my joggers. Muddy uphills won't be nearly as fun though.
ReplyDeleteHamilton, I think the Inov-8s are great - if they suit your feet. I know that some people want to like them but because the shoe doesn't fit them they use Salomons or Adidas shoes. Also New Balance make some good trailrunning shoes, so have a look around!
ReplyDeleteI've seen reviews for Innov8s around everywhere, they might be a good replacement for my joggers. Muddy uphills won't be nearly as fun though.
ReplyDeleteRoger, try ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk and get a pair of Roclite 318 GTX, they are great and get very good reviews.
ReplyDeletetreklightly, that is good advice (which I should have mentioned, but for me it was under "common sense" which seems not to exist anymore today). Thus, if someone is going to try trailrunners for hiking, best to first try it on day walks, and then transition slowly towards more use. Thanks!
Basti, Inov-8 or Salomon, both get good reviews. I favour Inov-8 because of the weight, breathability and grip, but I haven't tried Salomons. Good luck!
Thank you Mike for the clarification. Jealous about your Rocky Goretex socks, those are hard to get, I'd really like a pair of them.
Lightening up, have you tried the Superfeet insoles? I use them and they're very good. I see already, when we meet we'll be the Inov-8 guys :D
We were talking about the soles wearing out. Hence the reference to the sticky sport sole. I see on the site what you meant now Mike.
ReplyDelete