inov-8 now also has a Graphene Hiking boot

Following closely on the release of the first-ever graphene sole in sports shoes, British brand inov-8 has just unveiled the ROCLITE with G-Grip, the first hiking boot with a graphene-infused sole.

Collaborating with graphene experts at The University of Manchester, inov-8 is the first brand in the world to use the Nobel Prize winning material in sports shoes and now hiking footwear.

Before graphene, you could either have a very sticky rubber that would wear-down fast, or have a longer lasting sole but with less grip. invo-8 says the new ROCLITE hiking boots has an outsole scientifically proven to be 50% stronger, 50% more elastic and 50% harder wearing.

The ROCLITE 335, with Primaloft insulation

Working with the National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester, we’ve been able to develop rubber outsoles that deliver the world’s toughest grip. The hiking and outdoor footwear market has been stagnant for many years and crying out for innovation. We’ve brought a fresh approach and new ideas, launching lightweight, fast-feel products with graphene that will allow hikers, fast-packers and outdoor adventurers to get more miles out of their boots and grip to all terrains, no matter how gnarly.

Michael Price, inov-8 product and marketing director, said: 

The two new ROCLITE pairs are the 335, with Primaloft insulation for cold weather, and the 345 GTX with Gore-Tex waterproofing. As in all inov-8 shoes, the number is also the weight of the shoe in grams. Retail prices are €175 and €180 respectively.

The ROCLITE 345 GTX

We’re big fans of the normal ROCLITE already and the G-Grip versions seem to use the same design so this has the potential to become one of the best hiking boots on the market. Both models are available in Men and Women specific versions.

We’ll try to get our hands on a pair for a complete review, stay tuned!

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