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Inov-8 Roclite 315 Running Shoe Review
Inov-8 is a recent addition to the US trail market whose product mix borders on the extreme. This British company's target audience includes off-the-beaten path variations of trail running such as orienteering, fell, and adventure racing. While other shoe companies design their trail shoes to protect the runner from the environment with thick midsoles and plastic protection shields, Inov-8 takes a completely opposite view in their designs. The Inov-8 philosophy is to design the shoe around the natural function of the foot, allowing the foot to function as naturally as possible and offering protection from "the harsh external environment experienced by off road runners while maintaining the feeling and function of a bare foot running." It's not surprising that the vast majority of the Inov-8 shoes have been of the high performance, lightweight variety featuring great comfort, support and grip. Inov-8 has developed quite a following among the extreme, gonzo off road racers in the sport, and for good reason. There are no other companies in the industry that make a specific elite off-road racing flat, or another company that produces a model which features non-removable metal spikes in their outsole for added grip in snow or icy conditions. Inov-8 has garnered a number of awards for their designs, including Trail Magazine's Best Trail Shoe Award in 2005 for their Flyroc 310 and the same award in 2004 for the Terroc 330. Inov-8 knows how to make trail shoes for those runners who live and breathe trail running, particularly those who run trails with abandon and little regard for their general physical well being. The unfortunate aspect of the US market for Inov-8 is that the vast majority of trail runners in this country tend to be conservative. They like the idea of Inov-8 products, but when push comes to shove the US consumer will generally opt for a less aggressive, safer bet when it comes to buying a trail shoe. Enter the Inov-8 Roclite 315. This model comes to market with a beefier midsole, a wider fitting upper and an outsole designed to be used both on and off road. This model is the SUV of the Inov-8 line and is targeted specifically at the more lucrative US market. Our wear testers are all experienced trail runners, each armed with multiple years of competitive running and racing. They took the Inov-8 Roclite 315 through several weeks of training on a variety of off-road surfaces, logging in excess of 100 miles each in the shoes. Here's what they had to say:
100 Mile ReviewFit:The initial fit of the Inov-8 was fairly well received, although the one tester with narrow feet found the fit too wide. Average Wear Test Score: 3 out of 5 Chris: These shoes are very comfortable, with a very neutral, cradling fit. I like them better than my current trainer Jonathan: A bit roomy in the midfoot. Heel stayed in place well. Although I would have preferred a snug fit, the shoe fit did not cause any problems. Joe: The Inov-8 toe box is wider than most of the other shoes I've run in in my career. That's fine for walking around, but whenever I'd descend on a trail my foot would slide forward that quarter to half inch and my big toe would toe-butt into the shoe's end. Cushioning/Flexibility:Trail shoes can afford to be firmer given the softer surfaces they are run on. Still, the Inov-8 provided plenty of cushioning regardless of surface. Flexibility, an Inov-8 hallmark, stays true to form with the 315. The shoe is very flexible. Average Wear Test Score: 4 out of 5 Chris: The heel is firm but bouncy, and seems to return a great deal of energy without sacrificing protection. The forefoot is also well cushioned. It's protective yet bouncy. The flexibility of the shoe is remarkable. Because they can flex and move naturally, my feet feel fresh and relaxed after a run. No other shoe in recent memory has done this for me. Jonathan: Trail shoes do not need a lot of cushioning, but the Roclite 315 provided more than expected. It felt reasonable on the road, but certainly would not feel good for more than a couple of miles. I could feel the ground on the trails, which is good. The flexibility is awesome. The shoe is very nimble. Cushioning is decent on the road and transmits a great feel for the trails. Joe: The Inov-8 had good cushioning. The tread pattern of the inov-8 can be described as broad waffles about half inch square with an equal sized spacing between waffle knobs, allowing rocks to penetrate the midsole. On smooth dirt trails the tread gripped well, and the shoe has good flex. Stability/Support:The Inov-8 315 offered protective support and stability. The only negative comment from the wear testers came from one who owns a pair of Inov-8 310s, which he felt was a superior model in this department. Average Wear Test Score: 4 out of 5 Chris: Support is entirely adequate. My mechanics in this shoe feel better than in my regular trainer. The only concern is that the shoe is tall and narrow, and prone to roll-over on very rough surfaces. Jonathan: I felt very stable on the trails. The only reason I deducted a half point is because the Flyroc 315 is perfect and this shoe is only excellent. Joe: Very stable and supportive. Heel/Toe Transition:This was probably the most liked aspect of the shoe for the group having to do with the outsole design features and relatively thin midsole. Wear Test Average Score: 4.5 out of 5 Chris: This shoe redefines the heel-toe transition; it returns energy like a well-cushioned pair of track spikes. Jonathan: The ride is very smooth and nimble. Great on any terrain. Great traction on soft and hard surfaces. Shed mud once on dry terrain. Joe: Very good heel to toe transition SummaryThe Inov-8 Roclite 315 is a trail shoe for the runner who likes the idea of an extreme off road shoe, but would like a transition shoe to see if they like the fit and feel of these types of shoes. The Roclite 315 fits this bill nicely. It provides many of the benefits of a minimalist trail shoe while still appealing to the more conservative trail runner. As long as the runner has a medium to wider foot, the fit and function of this model should serve the owner well over miles of moderate to extreme terrain. Overall Rating: 3.77 out of 5
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