INOV-8 Flyroc 310

After a few years of rave reviews, Inov-8 trail shoes have finally arrived in Canada! Having read about the trail shoes for years and wondering what all the fuss was about, I finally bit the bullet and bought a pair of Inov-8’s. I assumed that training for the 125km Canadian Death Race would give me a real indication of how the shoes would work.

Instead of the North American idea of adding more and more to a product trying to achieve perfection, Inov-8, a U.K company, goes out of its way to keep it simple and succeeds. The Inov-8 philosophy is to protect your foot from the elements while allowing your foot to act (or react) as naturally as possible. The shoes are designed to cradle the foot instead of using thick midsoles and heavy strike plates, which for trail running actually cause more ankle and foot injuries then they prevent. For example, if your foot is raised off the ground, it follows that you are more likely to roll your ankle, much like wearing flat shoes versus 6 inch stilettos (or so I’m told)!

Taking the Flyroc 310’s out of the box, it was obvious this wasn’t your normal trail shoe. Weighing in at 310g (11.5 ounces), “unbelievably light” was the first thing that came to mind. The technical design is evident in the exterior look but the real difference is how the Flyroc 310 excels on the trail. As the shoe of choice for the Pacific Coast and Appalachian Trail speed records as well as winning numerous trail shoe review awards, Flyrocs are meant to get dirty. The Flyroc 310 is a versatile shoe for a variety of conditions from short distance trail runs to mountain ultra races and multi-day adventure races.

Lightweight and built low to the ground, the Flyroc 310 gives you the confidence to fly through technical terrain and pound steep technical down hills. I was impressed by the feeling of the shoe as an extension of your foot, with the heel secure in the footbed and confidence in the grip of the sole. The unique lacing system allowed a custom fit, to accommodate foot swelling during runs. The porous material allows breathability and dries quickly. I wore my Flyroc 310’s for most of my training runs on varied terrain in all weather, from hot and sandy to snow in the Rocky Mountains. After numerous hours in them, it is my first choice for reliability and comfort.

Also check out Inov8 Debrisoc Gaiters (Shown Above). These innovative socks/gaiters keep all kinds of ground debris out of your shoes and away from your feet preventing blisters and discomfort for all kinds of outdoor activity. Find out more here