Inov8 - TRAILFLY MAX
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Jan 5, 2026 Scoring
Liked most:
561
131
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"The Trabuco 12 have been the best trail shoes I’ve ever owned. ... I’m 6”4 and charge hard over serious rocky terrain…and I feel completely safe in them."
75
8
"Never had a blister, no support issues and most of the time I forget to cinch the laces right at the trail head and I don't even notice. ... Incredibly comfortable, right out of the box."
"Foot-shaped toe box ... super roomy ... Great for comfort and natural splay"
"Super comfortable right out of the box."
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56
"About 100 miles of trails and they look like they are brand new besides mud stains."
"Cascadias are super durable. ... When I was a letter carrier they were my shoe of choice- you could often find last year's model on sale, and the outsoles held up much better than many other brands over time."
"Salomon speedcross can take a beaten on the trails. ... Two pairs in 3 years with about 800 miles each pair."
105
21
"They have a normal heel and midfoot, but the forefoot is very roomy. ... My feet haven't felt so good in years."
"Topo is also legit wide. ... I wear a women's D width and their wide shoes are TOO wide for me. That never happens with my hobbit feet 😂"
"the wide toe box concept was a life altering discovery for me. ... Topo makes durable shoes with wide toe box"
7
1
"I personally prefer lower stack shoes for everything and I like good ground feel even on roads."
"like a low drop and low rise ... I've only bought these shoes since early '23 and I hope they never change."
"Zero drop took a little adjustment but didn't rush it so no issues."
Disliked most:
7
6
"I used them until they literally fell apart"
"The ones I’ve used fell apart before the sole showed any wear."
"i've had 2 pairs both fall apart in less than 400km on the same trails i run with the Decathlons ... i've worked with some athletes on FKT and races and their trainers fell apart quicker than we would have liked too."
9
6
"they are not great in muddy conditions, the sole gets logged easily and loses all traction"
"I found some muddy days in Switzerland in spring I was slipping a lot."
"the trailfly is more suited to soft ground only"
17
12
"The only problem I ever have with them is it seems their toe box is too narrow compared to other brands. Hard on the feet with long runs."
"the Xero aren’t quite wide enough for me"
"Nikes are so narrow they don’t work for me."
9
7
"The shoe feels extremely stiff ... the foam feels very firm ... blocky feeling. ... for me the worst running shoe I ever ran in."
"hate the lack of energy return. ... Feel like I've got bricks on my feet after 50 miles!"
"per le lunghe non sono poi cosi morbide"
21
16
"speedcross is way too slippery on wet rocks and roots downhill."
"I would NOT recommend playing in trail running shoes. In my experience, they do not provide much lateral support, so hard cuts are just an ankle sprain/shoe blowout waiting to happen. ... I've played REALLY low level pickup in my 3s, but I had to be pretty deliberate in not planting to hard on a cut."
"My feet hurt just thinking about running in speedcross on pavement, ha ha. Those lugs would kill."
I started noticing this a couple years ago and planned accordingly. For me I have huge feet and it's hard to find good shoes. For those in my situation and like a low drop and low rise, look into Inov-8. I've only bought these shoes since early '23 and I hope they never change.
r/trailrunning • Why are so many trail shoes now high stack + high drop? ->Topo mtn racer has better grip. Inov8 has better grip also; Trailfly for hard trails and Mudfly for wet/mud.
r/trailrunning • What to choose as second shoes? ->Long reply here but I understand this quite niche problem all too well. I have a bunion in the same place on left foot but actually have skinny midfoot so always struggle to get a lockdown in 'wide' shoes. The Inov8 Trailfly and their new range works well here. I'd actually go for the standard fit over wide as the toe box is already foot shaped. The width I think is in the midfoot. For example, I have a pair of precision fit Mudtalons and get a super snug midfoot lockdown but the toebox still lets my foot spread. The problem you actually have is that a lot of 'wide toe box' shoes still carry that super straight line on the inside of the foot which obviously doesn't work. Even the Prodigio Pro mentioned is quite accommodating but suffers from this to a degree as the bunion pushes the mesh out and can become uncomfortable by forcing your foot or all toes away to the side. Salomon shoes are quite bad for this, even though I suck it up and wear them as the midfoot just suits my feet. The Trailfy is the comfiest shoe I've worn in years, and I've even cleaned mine up and now wear them for walking around daily and the gym. They do a Trailtalon too if you need more softground grip, plus a road shoe. Edit to add: if anything like me, mine is just on the one foot so if I buy wide shoes, the other is super sloppy. This is why a better shape toe box works better than a wide fitting shoe in my opinion.
r/trailrunning • Help needed to find shoes that fit these feet. ->Inov8 trailfly max are wide and cushioned. They're more a summer trail shoe. The new trail talon max would be the more aggressive lugged alternative if you were to run in mud
r/Ultramarathon • Wide trail shoes ->Inov8s are the answer.
r/trailrunning • Wide toe box but NO zero drop recommendations ->I've been using Inov8 TrailFlys and love them. Probably easier to get where you are. If you can find the Ultra 300 G (discontinued) in your size, that's my favorite for racking up miles in the Sierra.
r/Ultralight • advice wanted on trail runners for hiking ->I’ve been wearing Inov-8s for 15+ years for trail and fell running and even moved to them for XC races when achilles injuries meant I could no longer wear spikes. Always done the job for me, reasonable value and regularly available with chunky discounts online.
r/trailrunning • Looking for my first trail running shoes..help needed ->Inov-8 has a bunch of models in a wide size now. Even the older models I use have a lot of room for my toes. Durability is fine I think, compared to what I read about Altras.
r/Ultralight • advice wanted on trail runners for hiking ->I'd say yes (not having used the latest models personally though). I find mine very comfortable.
r/Ultralight • advice wanted on trail runners for hiking ->I can also confirm the durability of Inov-8s!
r/Ultralight • Another discussion on shoes - please help ->I’ve just gotten the Trailfly Max, taken them for two runs, 43km total. Even in wide the toe box is not as wide as my standard width Topos which will probably help them appeal to more people. The grip on the outsole is absolutely fantastic. The supercritical midsole feels fantastic, but I do hope they take that foam to their lower-stack Trailfly because the high stack of the Max is definitely not the smartest choice for the horribly uneven terrain I was on yesterday. However, for OP, they may not be the right fit since it seems they are looking for stronger arch support and the Inov8 has very little and the whole shoe is purposely very flexible to allow for “natural” foot movement to “strengthen” the muscles in the foot.
r/trailrunning • Not having a good experience finding cushioned trail runners. Have tried Asics Trabuco Max and Hoka Stinson. ->I am in the same boat with wide flat feet and about 200lbs. I have found the best success with the Altra Lone Peak (although I know you said you didn't want zero drop). The other shoe that has worked for me is the Inov8 Trailfly in wide. They also just released the Trailfly Max if you want a bit more cushion. Both are 6mm drop.
r/trailrunning • Looking for wide fit trail runners. OG Saucony Xodus Ultra lovers, what have you switched to? ->I have not run in the 9s yet as I still have a pair of the 7s that have some miles left in them. I did try on the 9s at an REI and the 9 in a wide felt substantially wider than the 7 in a wide that I have.
r/trailrunning • Looking for wide fit trail runners. OG Saucony Xodus Ultra lovers, what have you switched to? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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