We sell Inov8 footwear because we think that for off-road use there is nothing else to compare with them. Though they are originaly conceived as a shoe for off-road runners they have become particularly popular with hikers and backpackers looking for a lighter alternative to heavy traditional walking boots.
You need to experience Inov8 shoes to fully recognise their benefits. Having used them ourselves the stand out feature is the high level of sure footedness and confidence that they inspire on tricky surfaces.
Anyone who has tried trail running with road running shoes will immediately be impressed with the increased feedback with Inov8 shoes from the running surface. Think of a running experience that is more like running in bare feet.
When choosing Inov8 shoes the issues that you need to consider are:
How agressive a sole do you need? Do you need a sole with prominent lugs to get grip on muddy surfaces?
Are you going to be running on hard surfaces such as road or hardpack and therefore need a shoe with more cushioning?
How long will you be using them for and therefore how important is overall comfort?
In very simple terms we find the following:
Hikers wanting a shoe like the Roclite 315, this model also suits runners who will be running on hard surfaces
The Terroc 330 is a great general purpose shoe that suits a mixture moderately slippy surfaces combined with some harder surfaces. This is our most popular Inov8 shoe.
Hikers looking for a waterproof boot like the Roclite 390 GTX.
Runners wanting to handle slippery surfaces should consider the Mudclaw 330 or Mudroc 290
