Inov-8 TrailFly Ultra G 280 - honest rant & review of new Nitrogen-infused bouncy trail running shoe
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- Опубліковано 11 січ 2023
- This is my review of the Inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 280 which I've worn for 100+ miles now - Inov-8's first trail running shoe to feature their new nitrogen-infused midsole foam, which I think brings them much closer in comparison to the impressive Hoka cushioning like you see in the Speedgoat 5’s. Find out what I'm ranting and raving about in this honest review and let me know in the comments if you agree with me!
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To be honest I'm fine with the way they name shoes. Helps you understand what terrain and use etc they'd aimed at. Other brands with random names take a lot more working out.
Glad you understand it Peter! :)
Thanks for the review! I've been wanting to find some of these to try on to test width, but I've struggled with their wider fit models before so this has made up my mind to skip them. I'm also used to altra and topo, but have been enjoying the saucony xodus ultra this winter! They could do with being ever so slightly wider, but I'm liking everything else about them!
Yes I feel exactly the same about Inov-8 shoes as a whole Angela, I feel they could go wider, like Altra and Topo for one range at least, I'll ask them if they would ever consider this. Good that you have found a good shoe in the Saucony Exodus, it's a good one that. Claire
@@wildgingerruns oh it would be great if they could as their shoes are always so highly regarded! But my wide feet have no chance 😂
Agree with the naming. I have to refresh myself with the names and drops, etc, when buying a new inov8. I normally wear a 2EE width and still had to go up a 1/2 size from my normal size to stop the little toe rub.
Interesting, thanks for the comment, I'll try going up a size and see if that helps...especially for ultras when feet swell anyway. Thanks!
I don’t mind the names but I wish they’d sort the sizing. I have 4 pairs of Inov8 and they are all different sizes.
Yes that's very interesting, these come up normal in my view but Vicky my colleague on here has found she needed a half size up for a different pair and in the past I have needed different sizes for different models for sure.
Couldn't agree more regarding the confusing names. This is what has stopped my buying Inov8! I know where I am with a Speedgoat 5
Lol, yes, I'm just so confused by them, great shoes tho!
One thing I like about inov8's shoe-naming approach is that the name always tells you the weight of the shoe. For me weight is a key point so that helps. I agree with you that recently the names have become a bit overlong. I don't have this shoe but I have the G270 which I like and I think it does a very similar job, excellent for trails and also OK for some road stretches. The key difference is the zero drop and yet that doesn't feature anywhere in the name 🤷♀
Hey Petra, that's interesting that you say that - but what about the fact that the size of shoe that the weight refers to is not given in the shoe details and every size will weigh differently? For that reason I don't think it's really that useful - it would make more sense to categorise them as ultralight, lightweight, cushioned and super robust or something like that to indicate the pros and cons of the weight of the shoe. What do you think? And yes, I agree it would be very useful to have zero drop in the name. Claire
I think it is an average weight and generally would relate most closely to whatever the standard men’s size is. So whatever number it is I know it will be less for me (size 6 woman). My fave shoe is the XTalon G210 and mine only weigh 186 grams. But I agree with you that some categorisation would be mightily handy. With their more recent shoes they are obviously trying to corner a piece of the ‘cushioned’ market which is a bit of a departure of their previous emphasis on rather minimalist shoes. Still, as someone else pointed out in the comments, compared to some other manufacturers they’re pretty clear. None of the HOKA names give you any clue what the shoe is for.
I bought this brand sneakers at a local shoe store. My biggest complaint is these are not as grippy as advertised. I slip on only a small amount of mud, wetness and other surfaces that a true trail runner shoe should not be slipping one. My second complaint is that although the are real comfortable, I had to buy an insole as well to make them that way. The price you have to pay for this sneaker they should feel like you are walking/running on a cloud without buying anything else.
This one is not super grippy, for proper mud you need more like these amzn.to/3FNtj30 Hope that helps! They also don't fit my feet properly, I wear the Saucony Xodus Ultra 2s and Dynafit Ultras mostly atm.
Charming video :)
I've only ever worn New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v7 and similar - with lots of foam and cushioning. I run between 10-15k a few times a week, about 30% of this is on road getting to the 'trail'. The trail itself is a lot of grass and fairly worn paths with few rocks in the way.
Would you recommend something like inov-8's shoes for my purposes? They seem to be for hardcore people, I run casually, slowly just for fun. Any specific shoes you'd recommend?
These would be ideal for you, as long as they fit your feet comfortably, they're really bouncy and a really good intro to Inov8 shoes, hope that helps, Claire
the number is the average weight, the ultra etc refers to the discipline it is meant for and the other names generally stands for a feature or USP
Ta K, I do know this, but still find it confusing I think possibly because the names seem quite similar with only small changes. The weight also I find not that helpful because only one shoe from the range will actually be that weight due to different sizes, and they don't specify which size that is on the shoe info on the website. There's quite a big difference in weight between a size 5 and size 11 shoe. :) Claire
@Wild Ginger Trail & Ultra Running Completely agree the names are confusing, especially if you have no idea about why they are named that way. The weights are weird too. I have g300 trail ultras and they are not 300g even in the average men’s size! But let’s remember Inov8 shoes are good at what they meant too do, even if a bit confusing at times. Loved your review of the 280’s, I am thinking of getting some for doing Race to the Stones this year!
You're a million percent right with their naming conventions - it's quite off-putting to be honest. I now know what they are all referring to but only because I spent a fair bit of time researching things, but for years I've just not bothered and looked elsewhere. Not only that, if they stuck to the same model names for more than quarter of an hour you'd stand a chance of following along, but we now have Mudtalons as well - do they replace something? Do they sit in between two model ranges? Are they essentially the same shoe as another model but with zero drop?! It's madness..
Yep it’s sooo confusing!
Their naming convention is very confusing, I agree completely
Agreed. It's supposed to help by explaining what the shoe is used for, I can see the logic but as there are just so many shoes it gets really confusing with so many similar names used!
The Trailfly G270 is their zero drop trail runner but it's not part of their ultra shoe line for whatever reason. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me either. Also there is some confusion because in the middle of the run they changed the terra ultra name to trailfly. As far as Inov8 naming convention is concerned it's basically stating the weight in grams in the name (I'm probably stating the obvious) but some of the names are a bit long winded beyond that gram rating lol.
I am v pleased that their latest shoe (review coming soon) appears to just be called the TrailFly! That I can cope with!
should we go for 1 size large or purchase the exact size?
I use my usual trail running shoe size for these
They actually did have a Terra Ultra 270 though, exact same shoe as the Trail Fly 270 just a name change, crazy! But I do agree, it’s a frustrating naming scheme other than the number which represents the weight.
Cool review!
Thanks WB! Oh did they! Ha ha ha I should have checked for a Terra Fly! I think the weight is equally silly though as they don't ever put which size shoe this weight refers to and there's a good bit of difference between size 5 and size 11 so it kind of makes it irrelevant, just say if it's light, mid-weight or 'robust' maybe?
@@wildgingerruns You're totally right about the differences. I think I read years ago it was based on a mens size 8 or 9 for the weights. Been a big fan of their F-Lite series shoes for years which uses the same naming convention. They're too far in now to ditch the numbers/weights in the name ;-)
Where is everybody?
No idea, where are you?
Are you sure the grip will last, as the wear you showed has lost the line already just for 100 miles that's heavy looking wear. Another 100 at that rate half the lug will be gone. It's also about time manufacturers gave men more colours to choose from women get loads more normally
I'll keep you posted, it does seem like normal wear to me even though it uses Graphene, but I've done a lot of carrying Finny to nursery on pavements in the backpack in them which makes them wear quicker for sure.