The Trailroc 245 review was done after a few months of testing in various conditions. Inov-8 have been known for some time now to provide great footwear for trail running and hiking. They focus on minimalist shoes and promote natural running and biomechanics. Their products tend to be lightweight, simple and functional, keeping you foot close to the ground.
The Trailroc range is composed of 4 different pairs each with a different heel-to-toe drop and cushioning: Trailroc 255 6mm drop 6mm cushion, Trailroc 245 3mm drop 6mm cushion, Trailroc 235 0mm drop 6mm cushion and Trailroc 150 0mm drop 0mm cushion.
They all share the same last and outsole construction and all come in bright and funky colours. We’re not going to complain about nice looking and great performing gear right?
Most of the testing have been done during various hikes on the Spanish coast, one of our favorite places in summer around here. There are more trails and paths that you can count, all providing amazing views, decent outdoor experience and a lot of fun.
I’ll leave you with this view from the Camins de Ronda before getting down to business: the review.
Comfort, fit
The lightweight mesh upper has some good stretch to it and has a nice and comfortable fit. It is very breathable, I could feel fresh air on my feet while running, but does not provide total protection against dust and tiny rocks. The Trailroc 245 shed water easily and dry fast. While in motion the whole upper of the shoe follows and provides total range of foot flexion. For long runs and hikes, it leaves plenty of freedom for the feet to swell as well.
The Trailroc range is built around the Inov-8’s Anatomic last. This means they have a roomy toe box, even for someone with wide feet like me. The front of the shoe is protected by a small rubber pad for those times when your foot bumps on a rock.
Grip
These are trail running shoes and as such come with grip. The Trailroc outsole is made of three different rubber types and three different cleat sizes. At the front, in green are large cleats made of soft rubber. They provide great grip on steep slopes and hard surfaces. Under the arch of the foot, in black, are smaller and slightly harder cleats. The rest of the outsole, in blue, is made of medium size, stronger and harder rubber, to last longer in those hard wear areas.
I’ve put the grip to the test in various conditions, steep coastal trails, dry and dusty, full of tree roots and sharp rocks. Slabs of wet stones washed by the sea and some city walking and running. The mud test is still pending but so far I have been more than happy with the Trailroc 245 outsole. They bite into the dirt and don’t slip on wet rocks like my VFF. They give great confidence when scrambling and running.
In more than one occasion have I seen other hikers in my group struggling to walk up a very steep slope due to their feet sliding down on the dust. Not a problem for me though thanks to the great outsole. Now although the soft parts provide the best grip, I can’t vouch for their durability just yet. I’ll try to update the review when I have more kilometers on the Trailroc.
Last words
They are not heavy nor light at 245g for the size 8. There are lighter options available from Inov-8 and others but the Trailrocs strike a good balance between weight and protection. I find them really ideal for hiking, which I do more often than trail running. If you are thinking about dropping the heavy boots and trying some light trail runners I have only recommendations for those. Last variable, the price. The Inov-8 Trailroc 245 retail for around $120 / £99, like most of the others models in the same range. Competitors like Vivo Barefoot, Merrell, New Balance and Vibram have products slightly cheaper in the same segment. The Trailroc are very new though and the price might go down a bit later this year.
More Inov-8 models on their website.
[note]The Inov-8 Trailroc 245 were given to us for the purpose of this review. We try our best to not let this affect our views in any ways. Our gear tests are done in real life, during our own outdoor activities.[/note]
