inov-8 Roclite G275 V2 reviewed by Sarah Barber. inov-8 is an American Trail Running Association corporate member and provided the footwear to review at no charge.
Sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the bug. As much as it’s true in life, the old cliché also applies to trail running: it can beat you up. Unlike the limited range of motion offered by cycling, or the repetitive rhythm of road running, scrambling over boulders and bogs can lead to bruises and strains—even if you manage to stay upright. After a long winter of limited trail access, an overzealous approach to logging mountainous miles this spring left me feeling a little pulverized. So I did what any kid getting pummeled in the schoolyard would do. I went looking for a bodyguard.
Robust yet Cozy
My recent and still ongoing fling with the inov-8 TrailFly G270 V2 had me confident that any shoe from inov-8 could have a place in my life, but I was most intrigued by the TrailFly’s bigger, beefier cousin: the Roclite G275 V2.
Convincingly robust in appearance, the Roclite is still quite svelte for a trail shoe. The slipper-like upper is deceptively soft, cuddling the foot so cozily that a fuzzy bathrobe and flannel jammies would seem appropriate accessories. But nothing else about the Roclite is soft. The velvet hammer of footwear, it punches the ground into submission, allowing its wearer to glide over even the craggiest surfaces.
Sarah Barber shares a photo of the Roclite’s tread pattern.
Chiseled Tread
With chiseled tread boasting 6 mm lugs, the Roclite’s uber-durable sole is infused with Graphene, which is rumored to be the world’s strongest material. Meanwhile, a protective rock plate sits beneath the bouncy foam cushion that promises energy return like a fully inflated basketball. Still, for being Terminator tough, the Roclite’s sole is surprisingly compliant, encouraging the runner’s foot to develop resilience through the arch and actively engage in each ground strike. Though perhaps unusual in a shoe with an 8 mm heel-toe drop, the modest stack height maintains a friendly rapport with the trail—so much so, in fact, that I almost wondered if those 8 mm were fictional. I didn’t dig out a measuring tape to verify, but once on my feet, the Roclite felt more like the zero drop of its slender TrailFly cousin. As I tend to prefer kicks with a lower drop, this sensation was a welcome surprise.
Test Runs
For my first test run in the Roclites, I left my fuzzy bathrobe at home and navigated the most technical trail in my hometown. Studded with granite outcrops and ledges, this trail always challenges my sure-footedness, but the intrepid Roclites threw down without hesitation. I took the opportunity to practice “airplane arms” for a speedier downhill, but I needn’t have bothered—the Roclites were chewing through the trail clutter like it was a crunchy snack. I felt light, agile, and coordinated. Yum!
Through an unfortunate #epicfail in planning and packing for travel, my next outing with the Roclites was borderline heretical in that the entire route was paved. Sneakers designed for mud, sand and dirt generally feel clunky at best on sidewalks, but the Roclites remained astonishingly nimble. My jet-lagged legs could claim no credit for the snappy acceleration I felt as I worked into an interval set. Had I discovered a trail shoe that was nearly as effective and efficient on asphalt as it was on turf? Maybe. But there’s no question that the rowdy Roclite is happiest and scrappiest wherever the scene is untamed to outright harsh. It’s nice knowing that a shoe can handle a concrete jungle when circumstances require it, but I’ll stick with actual jungles—or at least forests—in the future.
inov-8 Specs
As is the case with inov-8’s entire footwear line, the Roclite G275 V2 fits true to size and proves that its designers understand the anatomical shape of a human foot. Running in the Roclites, however, makes me feel a little bit superhuman. I couldn’t help myself: the last time I kicked them off after a dozen miles and a couple thousand feet of vert, I addressed them with my best Schwarzenegger imitation: “I’LL BE BACK!”
Weight: 275 grams
Heel-toe drop: 8 mm
Midsole stack height: 16 mm
Suggested MSRP: $150
