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If you're after a new pair of trail shoes, look no further than those produced by Inov-8. A UK-based off-road brand, Inov-8 has been been producing trail shoes, road shoes and apparel since 2003, designed for all types of terrains and environments – but, in particular, those that are lumpy and gnarly.
Its shoes are worn by the likes of 2019 Spine Race winner Jasmin Paris (who beat the course record by 12 hours while breast pumping) and legendary ultrarunner Damian Hall, who holds multiple FKTs, has completed the UTMB four times, and came first in the 2023 Spine Race.
The brand is heavily focused on sustainability, so you can be sure any shoes you buy have been produced with the least possible environmental impact.
Our team have been running in Inov-8 trail shoes for many years now, but here's our top seven picks on the market right now for both men and women.
6 best Inov-8 trail shoes
How do Inov-8 shoes fit?
We've ran in a number of Inov-8 trail shoes over the years, and find they fit true to size. That being said, your feet expand and swell when you run, and need space and room to move. We'd recommend going up half a size from your regular shoe size.
The best Inov-8 trail shoes in 2023
Best for long distance at speed
Inov-8 Trailfly G 270 V2
- Type: Trail
- Weight: 270g (unisex)
- Heel/toe drop: 0mm
The first iteration of the Inov-8 Trailfly 270 won multiple awards, including Runner’s World’s ‘Trail Running Shoe of the Year 2020’. So the bar has been set fairly high for its follow-up. Understandably, Inov-8 is reluctant to tamper too heavily with a winning formula, so the Trailfly 270 V2 is more evolution than revolution. In essence, it’s an impressively versatile shoe with enough cushioning for long runs but with a zero-drop, fast-feeling appeal.
It’s also built to last. The outsole is made from graphene – Inov-8’s tougher-than-tough material designed to withstand the rigours of serious mileage on challenging terrain. The main mesh material on V2’s upper is also 25% more durable than on V1, while a form-fitting tongue improves padding and creates a better hold in the midfoot.
Best for ultra-marathons
Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 280
- Type: Trail
- Weight: 280g (unisex)
- Heel/toe drop: 8mm
The Trailfly Ultra G 280 is the third addition to the TrailFly range – there’s also the highly cushioned Ultra G 300 and the zero-drop fast-feeling G 270 – and they are all designed for tackling long distances. The G 280 sits somewhere in between the two. It’s a fairly high stack shoe – with 33mm at the heel and 25mm at the forefoot – which worked really well for our testers, who were mainly heel-strikers.
The shoe offers a soft and bouncy ride, while the 4mm lugs on the outsole provide excellent traction across a variety of off-road terrain (although they’re not quite aggressive enough for the thickest mud). The 8mm deep groove in the midsole creates flexibility as it allows the forefoot and heal to move independently of one another over uneven surfaces – and this helps the shoe to feel nimble, particularly when negotiating tree roots or tricky descents. The shoe fits true-to-size and our testers enjoyed the ‘wide toebox’, which allows toes to splay naturally.
Best for road-to-trail
Inov-8 Parkclaw G280
- Type: Road-to-trail
- Weight: 309g (M), 275g (W)
- Heel/toe drop: 8mm
Unusually, the Parkclaw G 280 is marketed as a multi-terrain shoe, suitable for both road and trail. It’s a great sell if you only have budget for a single pair of shoes but intend to run both on- and off-road, or if all your trail running takes place in parks, meaning a sizeable portion of your route is still on tarmac.
But can a shoe pull off doing both things well? The first iteration of the Parkclaw felt a little safe and underwhelming. Not so its successor. The Graphene outsole brings last-forever durability and they’re so comfortable you’ll want to wear them out. The roomy toe box, plush upper and G-Fly midsole create a shoe that feels both fast and luxurious. The 8mm heel-toe drop feels more like a 4mm, hitting the sweet spot that delivers both ground feel and long-miles comfort.
Inov-8 shoes are grippier than a Greco-Roman wrestling match, but it’s had to rein in the lugs to 4mm here, so they’re not your go-to on boggy trails. For drier stuff, though, they perform brilliantly and transition from trail to road beautifully. They may not be as unique as the marketing suggests – most dry-trail shoes do a decent job on road – but it’s a good multi-terrain performer.
Best for speed
Inov-8 X-Talon G 210 V2
- Type: Trail
- Weight: 210g (unisex)
- Drop: 3mm
There are times on the trails when you want to bumble along with your head up marvelling at the scenery. And there are times when you want to put the hammer down and crunch over and through anything in your path as fast as you can. This is a shoe for the latter times. It’s the lightest, fastest shoe that Inov-8 has in its range.
There are 9mm of cushioning at the rear and 6mm at the front, which is not a whole lot (for reference, a normal cushioned road shoe would have at least double that). The midsole foam is a fusion of EVA and rubber, which provides some cushioning and plenty of underfoot protection against rocks and general trail debris. The focus is very much on the latter though, so if you’re after a plush feel to go with your ‘afterburners’ speed, then these shoes are not the chaps for you. A definite firm-but-fast feeling.
A good all-rounder
Inov-8 Ultra 260 v2
- Type: Trail
- Weight: 260g (unisex)
- Heel/toe drop: 8mm
Inov-8’s X-Talon has gone through more line-up changes than the Sugababes. Since launching in 2008, the majority of X-Talon models have been both extremely lightweight and extremely grippy, making them a favourite among top fell and mountain runners. The latest iteration, the Ultra 260 v2, is a little different. Weighing in at 260g, it’s the heaviest of the X-Talon range and has a thicker midsole, making it ideal for longer runs and races.
As you might expect from a shoe named after a pair of claws, the X-Talon range prides itself on its vice-like grip. The Ultra 260 v2 is no different. It feels grippy even in thick mud, wet grass and gravel. Like other Inov-8 trail shoes, it holds up surprisingly well on concrete, making these a viable multi-terrain option if you’re looking for something that can handle road and trail. Unlike some other Inov-8 models, however, the Ultra 260 v2 doesn’t have graphene studs. So it may wear out slightly quicker – but is also £15 cheaper than most of the Graphene-enhanced models. If you’re in the market for one trail shoe that does everything well, while also looking the part, then there’s plenty to recommend here.
Best for cushioning
Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max
- Type: Trail
- Weight: 300g (unisex)
- Heel/toe drop: 6mm
If you’re looking for supreme cushioning underfoot, coupled with unbeatable durability, this shoe delivers in spades. It’s like the lovechild of a Hoka and an Inov-8, and will appeal to anyone looking to move long distances over rugged terrain in relative comfort. Inov-8 says that lab tests show that the G-FLY midsole delivers 25% greater energy return than a standard midsole, and is far more resistant to compressive wear. So, theoretically, you should be get more underfoot bounce and comfort for much longer, while also being able to maintain faster average speeds.
They’re extremely comfortable on the move, and feel surprisingly nimble for such a well-cushioned shoe. If you have deep pockets and are looking for a shoe packed with cutting-edge tech, the TrailFly is the one for you.
