SQUIRREL_13211229
Three things to know:
- Versatile and surprisingly nimble, with responsive midsole foam and a parkrun-friendly road-to-trail feel.
- Highly breathable mesh upper, but limited protection in wet or rocky conditions.
- Available in wide and standard fits, though the supplied laces are quite short.
Jump to specs...
Our rating:
Grip and traction
Cushioning and comfort
Durability and weather resistance
Weight and responsiveness
Fit and support
Check availability at SportsShoes, Amazon
In contrast to the maximal shoe likes of Hoka, the Lake District-hailing Inov8 are famed for their minimal and stripped-down shoes trail-tested in the fells above their Staveley, Cumbria, headquarters.
The Trailfly is Inov8’s most populist (and popular) trail shoe, with a 29mm heel height and unspectacular weight of 274g (UK7) that’s positively maximal by Inov8’s slimline standards. With a wide and well-padded tongue and excellent internal construction, the result is a hugely comfort shoe, and I’ve happily worn these for casual wear and for hiking on the driest of days.
The heel-to-toe drop is 6mm, which sits in the middle ground of the low and high drop worlds and should appeal to a wide array of runners. Even with that standard 6mm drop, I found the Trailfly, like much of Inov8’s offerings, promotes at least a midfoot strike and I’d suggest that some heel strikers might want more stability (or look at the alternative Trailfly Max option).
The springy, bounciness of the Powerplay midsole foam helps with forward propulsion, and these certainly feel nimbler than the 29mm stack height and 274g weight suggests. The result is a versatile training and racing contender for summer running.
The mesh-dominated upper and less considerable grip than Inov8’s MudTalon and Trailtalon shoes, for example, ensures they’re not for the muddiest of conditions or wet trails, though. Even with a rock plate included, you’ll still feel the trails beneath your feet, and the toe area is less protective than rival contenders (and Inov8’s own MudTalon) on rocky terrain. There’s also little here in terms of precipitation protection, but they do dry quickly. The significant mesh areas impress when it comes to ventilation and breathability as well.
The less aggressive outsole lugs might struggle on muddy terrain, but it makes the Trailfly more enjoyable for running on concrete than most trail-running specific shoes. In fact, these work as a rare trail/road running hybrid with plenty of parkrun-appeal. I’m always happy to see a heel loop, but I found the supplied laces far too short and near impossible to do a double-bow in.
Worth noting is that the Trailfly look far better in person than they do on Inov8’s website page, and these feel as happy worn casually as they do on off-road trails. Men get five colourways, this being my pick, and broad UK sizing from 6 to 14. Female runners get six colourways and sizes UK3 to 8.5.
Both a Wide and a narrower Standard fit options are available for the Trailfly, which is appreciated – it still baffles me that more brands don’t offer this. Beefier, higher Trailfly Max and leaner and lighter Trailfly Speed variations are also available.
When it comes to sustainability, Inov8 make no claims about recycled materials used, but they are pushing their RENOV8 project to repair, refurbish or responsibly recycle used Inov8 products.
SQUIRREL_13211229
