TRAILFLY

I run a lot of trails in various shoes but I actually use my Trailfly V1s for walking and the gym so might be in a good place to answer this. They're a great everyday shoe, and fit brilliantly. I've had them up some relatively technical trails in Italy at speed too so confirm they work there.

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.

I feel the 'new' range is just uninspiring and feels old fashioned. I tried the Trailfly Speed which was heavy with a dull foam. Standard Trailfly was heavier with more dull foam! They just aren't competitive with other shoes out there. La Sportiva Prodigio shows how a modern all round trail shoe should be (and it's been a massive success). It's a shameas they used to be one of my favourite shoe brands, I went through 4 pairs of the G270's loved that shoe. Numerous Roclite, Mudclaw, X-Talon. I just don't consider them as an option any more. I live in the Lake District and not many of my friends wear them either any more. Mudclaws used to be the go to. See a lot of VJ, Terrex, Nnormal, La Sportiva and Hoka now.

I've run in Peregrines (11, 12, & 13) and I find the Inov-8 Trailfly (The Standard. Not the Speed. Not the Zero (if you're in the UK)) to ride similarly. They're a 6mm drop instead of a 4mm, but they feel very similar under-foot. The mid-sole is on the firmer-side, but with decent energy return. They have a rock-plate. Grip is great where I run (dry, hardpack, a little rocky). Runs on pavement just fine since the lugs aren't extremely aggressive. They have a relatively wide forefoot. I'd size up at least half size, maybe a full size. I've got about 500 miles on mine, uppers are perfectly intact, but horrendously stained because I bought the white ones since I found them deeply discounted. Outsole is more worn, but still completely intact and functional.

Interesting that you don’t like the trailtalons for longer distances. I’m running in a pair now. I’ve used the trialfly over 50+km but I hear you on the energy return issue. To deal with that problem earlier this year I switched to Trailfly max for a 125km in the Pyrenees, they were a disaster (I’d rather stick to the regular trailflys). That said they do a trailtalon max version and if you are one of the many who do get on with them, those might be a great option for you.

Interesting that you don’t like the trailtalons for longer distances. I’m running in a pair now. I’ve used the trialfly over 50+km but I hear you on the energy return issue. To deal with that problem earlier this year I switched to Trailfly max for a 125km in the Pyrenees, they were a disaster (I’d rather stick to the regular trailflys). That said they do a trailtalon max version and if you are one of the many who do get on with them, those might be a great option for you.

I’d suggest inov8 Trailfly . I’m on my 3rd pair and I find them perfect. They recently redesigned their last placing a specific emphasis on brining in a much wider toe box. Lug dept is 4mm and offset is 6mm. Great for dry trails. If you live in an area where it gets wet and muddy in the winter then you could go for the trailtalons, basically the same shoe but with a 6mm lug - same offset. Much better in the mud. Because of the deeper lugs they take (in my experience) about 50k for the outsole to wear in, but I’m finding them great now. Good luck.

I have trail fly v1... I like them but feel like they don't grab my heel like they could. A little bit prone to blisters on outside of my heel if I do long runs in them, but it's tricky cos they're really nice to run in, and up to that point really comfy. Weird thing is I have tried both trail fly speed and trail fly max, and both are better on my heels despite going in opposite directions from the base model. Keen to try the V2 and see if it's any better

Love my v1. Done 367km in them so far.

I have used the V1s both the ultra and zero drop versions for the past 2 years. Great shoes. I have 3 pairs all with over 1000km in them. The V2s have also been out for over a year, at least here in the UK where INOV8 are from. So not sure why people are saying you won’t get feedback. I’ll be getting a pair when I next need to get shoes, I just had a backlog of V1s to use first. They come in varying fits as well so just get the ones that best suit you.