inov-8 Roclite™ 295

Got these shoes for trail runs and day hiking, they are lightweight and rugged. Love these! I have narrow feet and appreciate the fit on these, also like the fact that they come in a half size. I like the color, for hiking/trails it doesn't show the dirt as much as the lighter colors. I was so tired of my clunky hiking shoes that seemed to feel like bricks by the end of my longer hikes. Very pleased with this purchase, and will definitely own a few more pairs of Inov8 shoes.

Great shoe with great technical features. Very light and easy to get your foot into. Laces fit snugly all the way down the foot so you feel very secure. I have metatarsal problems, so the design of the soul to protect metatarsals in motion is great. Also, the facial band on the bottom helps those prone to plantar fasciitis, also something I deal with. Out of the box, the only thing the shoe needs is arch support. I put in a $20 basic insole with some arch support from Sports Authority, and that made the shoe feel great. The shoe itself has good cushioning and good pebble/root shock protection for trail use. The tongue is very good and doesn't get pulled into the shoe. Also, the material in the heel/achilles section is very nice and doesn't seem to create friction causing blistering. The cushioning under the heel is good and provides a lot of shock absorption. This is a great trail running shoe. I don't run in a lot of water, so I can't speak to it, but this shoe was also designed to stay dry and wick out tons of water if you run through really wet conditions. I haven't experienced it, but I wouldn't be surprised that it performed quite well in this arena also. I buy a lot of shoes to deal with the arthritic and other issues in my feet. For a shoe to perform to this level is unusual, but oh so refreshing.

I'd also recommend: New Balance, Vasque

I love these shoes!!! I am very tough on my footwear and have sweaty feet syndrome, so I am constantly looking for a durable shoe that breathes well. So, far the Inov-8 fit the bill. They are very comfortable and airy, but have a monster tread(almost too much tread for me- like a cleat in some ways) that makes trail hiking and running amuck a no slip issue. I also should point out that the tongue of the shoe is just as breathable as the rest of the body, too many times have I had a 'breathable' shoe with an over-padded tongue that nearly negates the circulation but collecting heat on the top of my foot. These shoes got it right. The laced support on the sides of the shoe make them ultra comfy and a true fit to your foot. I wear these for everyday use. I get lots of comments about their cool design and foot logo on the toe and heel. I will totally buy these again.

I bought these for myself when my old Salomons gave out (actually it was the hi-tech laces that gave out). I really love the Inov-8 shoes. It took a while to get the right fit--I found they run about a half size small. And even though I (female) have a narrow heel, these gender neutral shoes fit. So if you're a guy and you have wide feet these might not work for you. What I like most about them is the flexibility of the sole. You can really feel the terrain, and your feet really roll through your stride. Very different from the stiffer Salomons. They also provide less side to side stability than the Salomons though. But for the kind of running I do (relatively light, 3x a week, over mixed sidewalks and pretty straightfoward trails through woods) I much perfer the Inov-8s.