Inov8 - Trailfly Ultra G 280

Hiya, (this is my 1st Reddit comment ever, and I'm talking running shoes, what's wrong with me!). Been a very good client of Inov8's for years (Mudtalons, Traiflys 270 1 and 2, Roclites 290, 275 1 and 2, 280 Ultra...), I'm also concerned. My favourite overall for my terrain (Irish hills and mountains) is the Roclite 275, I've bought the Trailtalons (standard), and find them terrible, heavy, tall, unstable. I was thinking giving a chance to the Trailtalon Speed, but have you tried it? How do they compare to the Roclites? Thanks!

I was / am a fan boy of Inov8 trail shoes but it seems like they rebrand everything in the Trailfly line up at the same time. Why can we not ever just go back and get the same model again. I do have 3 pairs of the trailfly 270 in the boxes left and they are my favorite. But it seems the 280 and the 300 are gone? I had been using all 3 and would get a couple more 300's if they were available.

Inov8 terraultra, later renamed to trail fly

I was a terra ultra and now trail fly user.. I never noticed any difference

I was a terra ultra and now trail fly user.. I never noticed any difference

The first pair of "proper" running shoes I bought were Inov8 terrocs in late 2005. I thought I was going to buy some Walsh PBs, but tried the Inov8s in a running shop and thought they were just what I wanted. By later standards, at 330g they were heavy, but lighter and better in mud than anything I'd known then. I used them for mountain biking and many activities. At this point, inov8 was a new, innovative company making seemingly more modern trail running shoes than others whose designs had barely changed in years. Later, Inov8 remained my go to for a trail running shoe, and I used x-talons as my favourite for years, then things like Roadclaw when I was running on harder surfaces, Terralultra when I started running longer distances. Living in a rural area, having shoes I knew fitted me and would work meant I could buy them again online, without needing to go into a shop and fit. The shoes fitted me well, they were light, I liked the off road grip of eg x-talon, and new running on tarmac from my door to get to somewhere off road was fine. Then came the rebrand and complete redesign of almost all the shoes. I bought up a few pairs of my favourite x-talons, immediately suspicious of their replacements with much deeper cushioning, but not wanting to take the time to go to a shop and start working out new shoes and new fit. The new logo looked cheap and unoriginal vs the old one. I hadn't followed the chnges of ownership, but was immediately suspicious. I've still not tried the "new" designs, remain wary, but as of today see that x-talons are being manufactured again. I can probably retreat into my safe comfort zone with the shoes Ive been wearing for years.

Inov8 Trail Fly do a wide fit for what is already a wide fit shoe. They are the only thing I have found that is wide enough comparabley to an Altra.

I have hobbit feet with a bone condition in one foot. I wear Altra. Innov8 trail fly in a wide are comparable as are Topo's all be it they do have a high arch. The other brands have some wide offerings but having tried most of them the above are definitely the widest in my opinion.

I've put 200km on my Inov8 TrailFly and they barely show any sign of wear. They're an awesome shoe: ample toebox, low stack, low drop, solid grip.

Inov-8 TrailFly are my current wide-fitting trail shoe.

If you’re looking for a trailshoe I’d go for a road-2-trail type. Personally I use a pair of inov-8 trailfly as everyday shoe.

The dull foam comment hits true on the trailfly for sure. I do really like the Mudtalon speeds for the fells in winter months but I'd go with another brand for a long race.

I have the Mudtalon zero and they are a great orienteering shoe if metal studs and cramped toes are not your thing. They also feel bouncy and fun to run in. But the new Trailfly does not fit me at all and the midsole and grip felt a bit meh. For the stuff they're good at I'd rather wear a road shoe. My wife loves them though and did her latest ultra race in them.

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.