Inov8 Reviews 

Where to begin? They say looks (and price - these cost £200, making them the most expensive hiking boot in the shop) can deceive and deceive these boots did! I wish I could give a better review but I can’t. Anyway, let’s start with the positives:

1. They were very comfortable and didn’t cause blisters, even throughout a 40 day hike in the Himalayas
2. They dried quickly, esp. for a Gortex boot (but see below for issues around getting wet)
3. They look good (before they fall apart, which began after the first wear!)

The negatives:

1. They began to fall apart after the first wear and after about a week of trekking the lining around the ankle (including where the top bracket for the laces was located) started coming away from the boot
2. By 3 weeks of wear the top lace bracket didn’t function any more which made the following weeks of walking a little dangerous with limited ankle support
3. The material on the front of the boot just above the big and little toes started to rip within 3 wears. By 10 wears the Gortex didn’t work anymore as it had ripped through and the boots often became sodden wet - whenever walking on long wet grass, snow etc.
4. The sole at the heel started coming away after a few weeks of wear. Whilst this didn’t cause any issues whilst hiking it is indicative of the whole boot starting to fall apart
5. The grip was OK but not great, especially on loose gravel

Maybe mine was part of a bad batch but these really didn’t live up to expectations.

I bought an Inov8 Primaloft jacket, I really liked it, the styling was great, it was warm and really comfortable, unfortunately after 15 months the bottom of the zip fell apart, I had worn it probably 20 times just for walking in so it hadn’t been subjected to any overuse and quite honestly looked like new, although it was out of warranty I did expect that Inov8 would at least have an interest in perhaps repairing the jacket, I even offered to pay, unfortunately this was not to be, they really weren’t interested and hid behind reseller contracts, a poor excuse, ultimately they produced the kit, it bears their labels and they should take some responsibility if the kit is substandard, I have had numerous items from Inov8 in the past and this is my first bad experience. I won’t be using their kit again, I would expect more from an outdoor clothing supplier, a bust zip on a jacket could be disastrous on the fells in bad weather, they do also trumpet their green credentials and so I would expect them to produce kit that lasts for more than 15 month.

I have yet to fully test this boot, but initial impressions over around 50 miles are good. The boots are comfortable with great grip on snow, ice, mud and wet rocks. Within this positive context, I would mention a few points:
1. Comfort: although Inov-8 says this is max cushioned, it would qualify as 'just about adequate' for other marques such as Hoka or Adidas. I would have liked to have seen a Boomerang insole to provide additional plushness without compromising stability, especially if the boots are aimed at day-long treks;
2 Fit: I like a wide toe box, but there may be more room that necessary in this boot. I have taken to wearing thick socks in order to make my toes feel a bit more secure. Mind you, I have very ugly, flat feet, so this may not be an issue for most normal people. (The thick socks are actually a blessing, as the boot is not especially insulated, and you certainly know it when you have walked through a cold puddle);
3. Laces: yes, I know- picky or what? But, it strikes me that if you've spent all this time and money on R&D for a product, why would you then outfit it with laces that are patently not the right size or shape for the shoe? I have a size 10.5, and the laces are at least 10cm too long. It means that even when I double- or triple knot them, I always end up with the wet bunny ears at the end of a walk. If you don't care about oversized laces Inov-8, then at least provide a 'garage' or elastic chord around the tongue that allows us to store the excess. Also, the laces seem too thick for the boot, which means the lower rivets clamp the laces in place, making adjustment hard past the mid-foot. That being said, fit around the ankles is excellent; and
4. Fit and finish: for a premium boot, I was surprised that the gussets are so poorly finished, with the waterproof lining sticking out. I have not come across this before, even on far cheaper boots. I suspect it does not affect anything, but it just looks strange when tying the laces.

And that's it: really good shoe but a bit more care and attention could make it excellent in my unrequested opinion.

Appallingly bad web site. Unable to browse satisfactorily, unable to purchase gift voucher. No phone number to contact.” Will get back very soon”…still waiting.. Repeatedly asked to get an account despite having an account. 10% of next purchase…unable to make any purchase .On today’s experience would not recommend. Suspect poor management.

I've bought Inov-8 products since their launch in 2003!
Along that time I've tried other brands but always end up going back. Every product has lasted longer than expected, hence the going back!
I've recently had a slight issue with my newest pair of shoes that Inov-8 customer sevice replaced straight away, thanks to Customer Care Adviser Caitlin. Exceptional service!

Be thinking of purchasing the Trailfly for some time, when the limited edition colour came out I just had to have them. Super fast delivery(2 days from ordering). They are amazing, the upper is a fantastic fit holding my foot in place but still having room in the toe box to be really comfortable. Cushioning is great, come back from my first test run of 4 miles with a massive smile on my face,.love them…best G series so far for me(I do have the other designs to). Well done Inov8.

Not enough padding on the tongue = uncomfortable.
Laces of unequal lengths (one approx 6 inches longer than the other).
Second pair of Inov8's for me. The first pair gave me plantar fasciitis on the Camino de Santiago.
Won't be buying from this brand again - back to Salomon for me.

Purchased a pair of their black winter running trousers (~£90 in sale) and quarter-zip black top (~£49) through a reseller. Best quality items of anything I have bought in a long time. The running trousers are expensive but still good value for quality. They have been really well thought out in terms of paneling positioning and material choices. Long zips are great for taking off when clammy, water repellant around ankles, zip pocket and pouch well positioned. The quarter zip top is thin, lightweight, a beautiful sculpted shape, and ridiculously warm compared to other premium brand running tops I own. One bit of critical feedback... I won't be rushing to spend £40-£45 on a running tshirt. Would like a matching one but too expensive at £40-45.

I have pretty had most variants of Inov8 F-Lite on my feet at some point, I am currently running in Roadclaw 275v2 and I have had a pair of their F-Trains which weren't great.
I have only purchased via Inov8s website and I have had no problems with any trainers, I would say that prior to the Graphene soled trainers I went through a pair a year but their F-Lite 230G soles are holding up much longer.
I have 2 pairs of their 290s with gum soles and they are bomb proof, a really good shoe for workouts with a bit of weights and a bit of running.
Their new 245s are another level in their F-Lite range, aesthetically pleasing, really comfy and cost effective.
The Roadclaws are a great trainer for doing road runs and would highly recommend them for heel & toe or pose.
Inov8 are a great company, I really like their ethos and they are always experimenting with different materials (I.E Graphene).

INOV8 ROCLITE G370 Hiking Boots - I was an advocate of INOV8 having run in their fell shoes for a number of years. The I saw these boots a year ago I thought they looked ideal as a lightweight pair of all terrain walking boots. I used them once of Lakeland fells the week I bought them and they had excellent grip on rock and were comfortable and light on the feet. Due to Covid I've been unable to get to the fells since 2019 and have walked in the boots around my locality in Hertfordshire. A year on mild terrain wavering 2 miles a day and they are falling apart as some other reviewers have said. Splits on each side of the toe box where the rubber toe rand finishes on both boots. These splits are now almost through the inner skin and soon there will be four holes in the boot walls. Soles are hard wearing but are lethal on wet mud, they clog and have little or no grip. I have actually slipped over in them on easy terrain, could have been much worse on a wet slippery slope in the hills. Costing well over £100 for a boot that will have lasted only just over 12 months isn't good value and certainly not up tp the standard I have grown to expect from INOV8.

Inov8 TrailTalon 290. Best for: Long distance off-road
This is my ‘go to’ off road shoe. 4mm lugs, 8mm drop and grade 4 width.
I use this shoe when conditions vary, especially when mixing road and off road. The wider toebox is the same as the X-Talon, giving you that wider feel, great for ultras. Loads of room compared to a grade 3 when your foot expands on longer runs. The grip is good enough for most conditions, just not the wettest or muddiest, so you can use it on loads of different runs.
The upper is flexible, so is comfortable, the downside is that it is not as hard wearing and has worn out along the toe crease on a previous pair. Having said that, the outsole has worn at about the same rate. The shoe drys well during your runs, allowing the sweat to escape, keeping your foot dryer.
This is the 2nd pair I have bought, using them for marathons and ultras and will continue to do so.

Inov8s Hardloop re-sellers refused to honour their 1 year warranty when their very expensive Graprene shoes split after 10 weeks use. They claim that I had not cleaned the shoes properly ( they were sold as a trail shoe and tend to get muddy!) and this had led to accelerated wear.
Eventually I went to Inov8 directly who were extremely helpful and honoured their warranty despite not being under any obligation to do so.

F-Lite 195 Classic. I am on a second pair of these and of which i had bought the cream version including a third pair which remain boxed. I love sneakers that show no branding or are plain and do not particular look like "sports" footwear. This design suited me perfectly.

I am a daily walker / faster walker and tend to usually do around 20-25kms min a day with a number of days will do 30-35kms - usually half morning and half evening. I do not wear the same shoes for each walk and have around 40 active pairs of footwear - these go across all the manufacturers and also countries (as i have lived on a global basis and what is available is quite different in each city).

These inov8 F-Lite i wear more frequently than many of the others i have however i do not use them in the rain or cold weather - they clearly are not designed for the cold and wet.

They have lasted extremely well and the first pair have only recently been binned after the rear heel area and the front sole/toe area wore down (after good use and 1.5 years thats a win)

Pros:
-extremely lightweight - Vivobarefoot claim they are light but these are far lighter vs vivo's i have and also after having them in a vivo store for comparison
-unassuming and work well as a casual all-rounder
-great for summer and warm weather

Cons:
-due to the mesh style design it was hard to keep them clean of 'dust marks within the flex areas of the toe'
-the sole grip area did wear fairly rapidly and if a daily use shoe would perhaps lose the grip fairly quick ( though if a normal walker probably no issue)

Inov 8 Trail-runners destroy feet resulting in termination of trek.
Sally at Barefootinc, the Sydney suppliers, accepted return of the shoes for examination, and will hopefully provide a shoe that is fit for the purpose of trekking.