Thinking about buying a pair of Inov-8s for my first trail runners to be used for hiking.

What is the difference between the different models (285-315)?

Just how "minimalist" are these shoes?

Thanks!

285-315

This is not precisely true, but in general the model number is supposed to indicate the weight in grams for a pair.

--B.G.--

I find them to run pretty narrow, especially for hiking. Many of their shoes are designed as fell runners with a tight performance fit, which is ideal for short technical races, but not so much for backpacking. they let you sort by the "fit" on their website, I would lean away from anything in the "performance" category and check out the comfort category. I have no experience with their anatomical shoes, but I imagine those would be good as well.

I have the Roclite 295s. they are definitely pretty minimal, very flexible sole, no rockplate, great traction. it has a shock zone of three, which is their measurement for the cushioning. I think this is good for a hiking shoe, a one or two is not enough (for me) for long days.
of the range, I think these are your main contenders:

roclite 295 - level three cushioning, toe heel differential of 9 mm
309 - more cushioning, greater heel toe differential of 12 mm
312 - goretex
315 - looks like they just beefed up the upper material, sole is more durable, so less 'sticky'

Edited by wjsawyer on 03/10/2012 18:47:31 MST.

which has the wider toe box? My right foot gets painful in anything more than sandals and someone has pointed me to Inov8.

Of their lasts (the mold the shoe is made around) I think the anatomical last is the widest, followed by the comfort last. you can search by the fit (last) on their website

I wonder if I should be looking to another shoe for my first trail runners.... I don't know if I should jump right into a minimalist shoe. After hearing so many people on here mention the Tnov-8s, I just assumed they had a rock plate. I thought that's what made a shoe a trail shoe... am I missing something here?

A "three shock zone" from inov8 isn't minimalist at all. Sure the materials tend to be minimal, ie light, but they 3 shock zone has plenty of cushioning. They're pretty much just a regular tennis shoe with lighter upper materials and a tread designed for various off road terrain.

I have the roclite 315s and they are great for hiking, and I have medium to wide feet is climbing shoes are any indicator.

The 315s have a fairly beefy upper and their "endurance" outsole which is less sticky but more durable than the "sticky" outsole.

With trail runners though, pretty much fit is the key and under 14oz/shoe is ideal (you can go much lighter). Once you're comfortable then start shopping around for a lighter and more minimal shoe if you want.

I just bought pairs of 295's and 315's.

I had an older pair of 315's, and these new ones feel much the same. Very "hard" feel to the soles, but still comfortable.

The 295's feel absolutely fantastic. No question which pair I'll be hitting the trail in come June. They feel very light, yet with more cushion in the soles than the 315's. Both great shoes, but I'm very excited about these 295's. Size on both seem about right...maybe a half size small.

What about the rock plate issue? When people talk about using trail runners as hiking shoes, aren't they talking about using "trail" shoes with a plate? Otherwise, isn't a shoe just a tennis shoe? If these Inov-8s do not have rock plates, I am wondering if I should start with a trail runner with a plate... any suggestions?

Thanks!

I have the same concern, it could be painful on rocky surfaces to have a flexible sole. Interested!

As Dustin said, the 3-arrow shock zone shoes (e.g., most Roclites) will be fine. See their transition page.

Nigel, I need fairly wide shoes and get on fine with Terroc 330's for hiking/backpacking.

•Endurance Last is a generous fitting designed for comfort over long distances.

+1 for the 330. Mine always wear out at the heel inside the shoe first. Don't forget to mold the heel cup for a better fit.

Ugh, Inov8's website used to VERY informative. They've dropped some of the specs lately (although browsing the site is better) unfortunately. Check out runningwarehouse for more indepth specs. But basically if the shoe is over 250g, it'll likely have a rock plate.

The nice thing Inov8 does is they give you a 3/4 rock plate. Basically the plate protects your heal, arch, and ball but it ends at the meta-flex joint (the groove under the toes). This lets your toes flex naturally for better biomechanics yet still provides some protection from the terrain in the more sensitive areas of your foot.

I'll have to look into the 295s if they do have more comfortable midsole than the 315s, although I'm tired of the 3 arrow and want to drop down to 1.

The thing that drew me to the Inov-8 line is the fact that there are interchangeable insoles that can be used to "customize" the fit of the shoe. My right foot is larger volume than my left foot. In my left shoe I use the typical 6mm footbed, but in my right shoe I use the 3 mm footbed, and can use the same size shoes for both feet.

I thought it odd their new site didn't even mention those footbeds or how to mold the heel counter. I had to pull up a cached page.

Last week, before a hiking trip in a gorge, I decided to ditch my boots and go for shoes. I went to Foot RX in Asheville, NC and did some searching around. I went in with the mindset of buying a pair of Inov8s after all the reading I've done and hearing life changing stories about the shoes. I tried on the 212s, the 295s and 315s. The worker at the store suggested a couple of other shoes, La Sportiva, Montrail, etc. I shirked a bit at them but tried them all on. I was really set on Inov8s. Well, After trying on a pair of Montrail Bajadas (yes the ugly purple/orange ones) I was sold. I even put the Inov8 315s on the other foot simultaneously to compare comfort- the Montrails just fit the bill. While the Inov8s look cool and aggressive (and ultralight), they are really narrow and just don't have the room to contour my foot (I have a wide foot). The Montrails, on the other hand, where soft (the body of the shoe), conforming (like a soft sock), nice medium tread (Inov8 were like baseball cleats) and twisted with the direction of my foot. I ended up buying them (yes, the ugly colored ones- my trail buddies loved them haha). After a week in Linville Gorge over all sorts of terrain here is the synopsis: only slipped once (wet mud on 45 degree incline), encouraged strategic foot placement, no fatigue (the Inov8s would have hurt after a day or two), I wore them in camp while others took off their boots and midtop hikers for crocs, no blisters (just bought Injinji toe socks so may be a draw), feet were not moist (I have sweaty feet) and the funniest part was when I slipped into the river on a wet moss laden rock while Tenkaring (no shoe or boot would hold on this rock, my buddy slipped in too, my feet came out soaked in upper-20 degree weather- who knows hold cold the river was) one of the girls said "arent you going to be freezing in those shoes?". I replied, "naw, they'll dry out hiking". I was hoping it was true, but after 45 minutes beating the (lack of a) path they were dry. Best part- I became the "scout" for the group, meaning I had to wait for everyone to catch up. The biggest inquiry? Not my 11lb winter baseweight but my ugly ass shoes! Even my buddy who went to the store with me complimented on choosing comfort over gnarly looks. Sum it up- try on different pairs of shoes. Go with what fits and feels best. Yeah, I had a good bruise on my foot after the first day, but I settled real quick in my Montrails. Have a funny feeling Inov8s would have made me regret my decision if I got them.

Shoes are one of those things I refuse to get mailorder.

So I'm in the peninsula area of the bay area, the only store with Inov8 is specialising for runners and they don't have much of an Inov8 range

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/search/search-celebros.jsp?isLoggedIn=&isClubMember=&from=searchBox&Query=inov8&x=0&y=0

Probably the only one there possibly for hill walking is the Roclite 295.

Something has happened to my right foot, if I wear regular shoes the insole wears a hole under the ball of the big toe, I get pain there in a shoe. I'm ok in Keen sandals, I think because they are wide and stretchy around that part of the foot. I did break that foot 5+ years ago so scars may be making it bigger.

Edited by nigelhealy on 03/11/2012 21:34:21 MDT.

Matt, you bring up a good point on the tread. Inov8 is a british company and they designed their shoes for fell running. That's their lineage. What this means is basically their shoes are great on cross country treks through loose or muddy terrain.

Here in the US we seem to think hard packed trail is "off road" when really it's just dirt road. So really aggressive tread has the "cleat" feel for us. You'll notice many of the Inov8 advocates also tend to do a lot more x-country travel similar to what you find in the UK (or myself in AZ where we don't really have "trails" like the rest of the country).

That said, Inov8 is looking to remedy this and has developed a new outsole, the "trailroc" line that has medium tread and all sorts of funky stuff for the US type trail hiking. They look promising, and with the new anatomical last they may have fixed the "narrow" fit issue (these are race shoes so the narrow fit is needed for lateral stability in fell running).

Nigel - I hear runningwarehouse offers free shipping and free return shipping... what do you have to lose? I wouldn't go shooting in the dark because of the footprint/energy used for shipping back and forth, but if you've done your research and know your foot and style, maybe branching out and ordering online will work for you.

Dustin - I can't seem to find these trailrocs... have they come out yet?