inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 walking boots

Dark green and yellow walking boots — Handsome and dynamic looks: the Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 walking boot. Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

RRP £210 – or see our deal-finder for a competitive price...

inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 walking boot: basics

Inov-8 is based in the Lake District and began life making trail-running shoes, before branching into walking boots. As you might expect with that heritage their boots tend to be lightweight and sporty.

The Roclite Pro G 400 V2 is a beefed-up version of its forerunner, adding more cushioning, extra protection, and – inov-8 says – more durability – to its debut iteration.
Colours are limited to the olive-green/ yellow for men (pictured here) and black/blue for women, plus simple black colour ways for both men and women.

First impressions

Straight from the box, the finish looks good, and the boots look neat, compact and rugged, with a dynamic feel to the design – as if they mean business.

They remind me of the Helly Hansen Traverse LT, but without the rubber protection on the mid-section of the uppers.

Walking boot toe cap — Protection on the forefoot is fairly light, though there is a stiffened toecap. Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

There is no rand (a protective rubber strip that runs around the lower part of the uppers) either, but a moderately stiff toe cap.

The heel is different though and has substantial external engineering to keep your heel secure on the move.

There is a fair amount of flex in the outsole where you’re the ball of your foot pivots. That is well suited to most conditions but you might prefer a stiffer outsole on rocky, mountainous ground. The heel and midfoot are stiff though – here a flexible shank inside the boot protects you from sharp objects.

The boot offers typical mid-height ankle support, which should be a match for most UK conditions, though backpackers or hikers moving over really rocky or boggy ground might prefer higher ankle cuffs.

The uppers are made from a new, tightly woven synthetic Ripstop fabric.

Are they waterproof?

The Gore-Tex waterproof membrane beneath the uppers works very well. After prolonged saturation, there was a wee bit of moisture inside the boot, probably just condensation.

Inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 walking boots — The 6mm lugs did a good job in most conditions. Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

Do they grip well?

Grip is very good. The 6mm lugs are effective in most conditions, including wet limestone, but slide a little in mud.

The outsoles include Graphene, widely touted as a super-durable wonder material, and one of in0v-8's big selling points – they use it extensively across their range.

Walking boot lacing system — A simple and effective lacing system helped achieve a close fit in seconds. Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

Will they fit me?

The lacing system is really good, with two pairs of hooks on the ankle cuff. It helps to achieve a secure fit easily. They are quick and easy to take on and off.

Width appears to be about regular to slightly wide, with a roomy toebox. My foot feels secure in the heel cup.

How do they feel?

Once moving, the gait felt fluid, with no loss of momentum in the cycle of each step.

Footbed (insole) and midsole support is comfortable. But the midsole may divide opinion and ultimately decide whether this shoe is for you or not.

The 6mm EVA foam midsole layer midsole is designed to enhance – as inov-8 puts it – ‘energy return’. Essentially this means that the delivers a little ‘bounce’ with each step, giving you a mild sense of propelling your foot off the ground. Inov-8 is not the first company to do this – Adidas, for example, use a similar feature (which they actually call ‘Bounce’ or ‘Boost’) in many of their Terrex shoes and boots; see for example our review of the Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 boot.

The downside is that, as with the Adidas Free Hiker 2, substantial and ‘bouncy’ midsole tends to rob you of what walking boot reviewers like me call ‘trail feel’. So instead of feeling in touch with the surface you are moving over, your feet feel as if they are bouncing along on two mini-mattresses.

Of course for many walkers that is great – it’s a matter of taste. But I prefer some thing that keeps me more in touch with the trail.

Are they good value?

A price over £200 for hiking boots is not uncommon these days, but is still a pretty major investment. There seemed to be few cut-price deals out there as I write this.

Longevity is obviously one measure of value, and inov-8’s use of Graphene in the outsole should make it more hard-wearing that other boots; in fact the outsole might well outlast the fabric uppers.

Either way, repairs are probably not possible – the outsole cannot be replaced.

Best used for…

These are pretty versatile boots. They excel on walks in easy to moderately tough terrain, offering a soft ride on that cushioned midsole.

They would not be my first choice for backpacking, hill walking or boggy ground, for which higher ankle support would be ideal; and on rocky trails in the mountains many walkers might prefer something with a stiffer outsole at the front end of the boot.

Facts at a glance: inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX V2 walking boot

Uppers: Synthetic Ripstop textile
Outsole: Graphene G-GRIP rubber
Midsole: Powerflow Max EVA foam
Waterproofing: Gore-Tex XCR membrane
Fitting: wide, regular, narrow?
Weight: 400g per boot

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Also consider...

Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 Gore-Tex walking boots

RRP £200

Adidas hiking boots — The boldly styled Adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 Gore-Tex walking boot. Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

If the talk of bouncy midsoles above hasn't put you off – in fact you love the idea of a well-cushioned ride that gives you a little momentum boost with each step – then you should check out this 2022 addition to the Adidas Terrex range. Like the Roclite its maker's roots are in the running shoe market, and that strongly influences the feel as well as the vibrant and sporty styling of this eye-catching boot. Trail feel is minimal but if that doesn't matter to you, these could be for you. If you'd like to read more, see our full-length review of the Adidas Free Hiker 2 Gore-Tex walking boot.

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Helly Hansen Traverse hiking boots

RRP £160

Green and orange walking boots — Helly Hansen Traverse walking boots . Image: BBC Countryfile Magazine / Joe Pontin

Like the Roclite G 400 above, the Traverse LT is compact looking, but offers quite a few wins over its rival. There is more protection on the uppers – helping it retain its structure with wear, and protecting the uppers (and your feet) from a battering. It also has a well-judged amount of cushioning in the midsole – enough for good comfort levels over long distances, but not so much that you lose touch with the trail. On the move, it feels more precise and nimble than the Roclite an the Adidas Terrex Free Hike 2. If you'd like to read more, check out our full-length review of the Helly Hansen Traverse LT walking boot.

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Still searching for the right boots? Then check out more expert reviews in our guide to the best walking boots.