Inov-8 Roclite 295 Review
January 12, 2011 by Travis Liles · 46 Comments
Inov-8 names its shoes like European cars. Take a BMW 318, which stands for the 3 Series with a 1.8 liter engine. The model and numbers used are not just flashy names, they actually mean something. Similarly, with Inov-8′s Roclite 295 we have the Roclite tread on a shoe that weighs 295 grams in total for US men’s size 9. The women’s version of the 295, the Roclite 268, follows the same naming convention. The Roclite 295 from Inov-8 is now on its third update since the shoe first hit the market about 2 years ago. The initial release featured a bland blue and grey upper and the endurance rubber outsole. The second revision of the 295 stayed the same from the tongue all the way down to the midsole but then swapped out the endurance rubber for the sticky rubber tread. Now, in it’s third and current version, we find the sticky rubber has stayed but there has been a new flashier black and lime green color scheme as well as some more tightly woven mesh update to the uppers. So, does this low profile trainer from England perform like a luxury sports car? Check out the video below for a detailed overview or hit the text for the basics.
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Outsole
The Roclite outsole is one of the most versitile in the Inov-8 line. Hardpack, sand, gravel, road, technical single track, snow, mud, you name it and this tread pattern will be up to the challenge. Is it the best for all of those conditions? No, but if you are unsure of the road (or trail) ahead, the Roclite line is an admirable choice.
The tread pattern is quite simple. Small lugs up at the tip of the toe act like little teeth when climbing. Medium and large lugs make up the midfoot and heel portions of the bottom of the shoe. These lugs are bi-directional, too, aiding in climbing and descending. The sticky rubber compound is used here, which does a few things. One, it provides tackiness when wet. Two, it is more flexible than the endurance rubber compound which aids in traction. Three, the softer rubber aids in more shock absorption. However, the sticky rubber does wear down quicker than the endurance rubber. How much quicker? While I can’t say for sure I can say that the upper of my 2nd generation 295′s wore out before my tread even looked close to retirement.
In the portion of the shoe lacking any lugs we find 3 bands that connect to a lug in the center of the heel and run vertically, fanning out along the middle then connecting to the 3 center lugs behind the ball of the foot. This is the Facia Band. The Facia Band is supposed to replicate the plantar fascia ligament in your foot, thereby aiding in forward propulsion and reducing fatigue. Does it work? I don’t know. I have worn these shoes for lots and lots of training miles and ran some 50k’s in them and do not feel beat up afterward, but I’ve also worn shoes without a Facia Band for training and racing without issue. We can chalk this one up to compression sleeves and chia seed theories. If it works for you, go with it.
Now, let’s poke around on the rock plate. Instead of the full length, solid piece of plastic or hard rubber that makes up a rock plate found on many trail running footwear, the Meta Shank starts under the middle of the foot as a solid piece of flexible plastic-like material then fans out individually like fingers or in this instance, toes. The goal is to provide protection under each of your toes while still allowing your foot to flex naturally.
Lastly, Meta Flex. This is a groove that runs horizontal behind your toes and creates a flex point in the outsole. This feature lets your foot bend and.. well, flex, like it normally does in toe off. It provides for a broken-in feeling right out of the box. A lot of Inov-8 models have this feature and I’ve found it to cause a weak point in the upper just above where the Meta Flex groove is located.
Midsole
In true Inov-8 fashion, the midsole on the 295 is not about what it has, it is about what it lacks. You will not find anything special going on here. A single density foam is used all the way around. There is not any progressive, multi-density, stability cages, or any other fancy terms here (all those terms must have been used up in the outsole). Inov-8 uses an arrow system to describe the amount of cushioning and how close to the ground you get. This model uses the 3 arrow cushioning, which makes it good for training or long distances on the trail as well as being light and low enough to feel fast. A 16mm heel and and 7mm forefoot makes for a 9mm drop to keep you low to the ground.
Upper
The toe box is ample enough to let your piggies wiggle and even swell a bit, but not so big that you feel like they are swimming in there. The toe bumper is made from flexible rubber that adds structure as well as puncture resistance, but it’s not bomb proof. The more dense rubber from the outsole does wrap up from the bottom a bit to add a little more toe protection at the apex of the shoe.
The upper is made from tight-weave mesh. This style of mesh is a update from the previous 295′s that used a more open design that was more prone to snags and potentially less durable. Here Inov-8 uses the Meta Cradle technology to secure the foot. The Meta Cradle is a series of fabric bands layered over the mesh upper. The bands start at the base of the upper goes up to create a loop for the laces then diverts down to attach down again at the base of the shoe in an arch shape. This arch pattern is repeated 4 times intersecting each other and creating a web of support to hold the foot in place. All of the laces on the shoe are created from these Meta Cradle except for the top two eyelets which are more standard fare.
The heel has structure, but lacks a rigid hard counter. It can be collapsed by pushing on it but provides enough structure to lock your heel in and feel stable. The ankle cuff is low. The first time you try it on it feels weird because your heel is not sitting as low as what you might be used to. This is by design. The idea is to not interfere with your Achilles tendon when descending.
Closing Thoughts
Inov-8 has created a mashup by combining its historically more narrow platform of the Roclite with the comfortable upper of the classic fell runners like the Flyroc and Terroc. What you end up with is a nimble trail runner capable of tackling a variety of surfaces in a lower than average weight.
Call for Comments
We’d love to hear what folks who’ve worn the Roclite 295 think of the shoe. For those who haven’t, feel free to ask any questions you may have.
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Filed under Other Gear ·
Travis Liles resides in Troy, Illinois where he is a husband, father, budding Race Director for the Mark Twain 100, and is a technical specialist for a software company. In his spare time, he tries to figure out how to train in the flatlands and race in the mountains, while producing "Trail Trials with Travis Liles" video gear reviews for iRunFar.
All posts by Travis Liles
you have a typo:
“A 16mm heel and and 11mm forefoot makes for a 9mm drop”, should be a 9mm forefoot I think.
ooops, I meant a 7mm forefoot for the 9mm difference. It’s early:)
Thanks for the heads up. It’s been corrected.
Thanks for the thorough review. I’ve been curious about the feature comparison between the Roclite 295 and my own favorite Roclite 285. I picked the 285 because of its similarity to the f-lite 230 upper. And, after wearing the Roclite 285 for over a hundred miles, I’m glad to have experienced the versatility of the roclite outsole. The 295 definitely seems to be a great option for me when I get into ultra distances.
Very nice review! The 295 is my current favorite in the Inov-8. I have used it from 5k road races to 100 Mile Trail races. A very versitile shoe.? It has volume, but not too much for my foot. I can really cinch the laces up, my foot becomes locked in place, and it remains very comfortable throughout a run. Additionally, the upper allows water to drain easily.
I bought a pair at Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival last year -wore them right out of the box for the 5K and the 50K. I’ll be buying another pair this year.
Great review, Travis and Bryon!
Steve
Thanks for the very informative article. I have been on the fence about trying an Inov8 model as of late. Locally we have no retailer that carries the line. So how does the Inov8 sizing compare to say a Montrail or Vasque? Are they true to size or do they run small or large? Thanks
in the 295, I wear a 8.5 where as in a Montrail Mountain Masochist I am in a 9. Thanks for checking out the review!
Thanks for the great info. Love my masochists but would like to try these shoes but, like Toby, there are NO retailers near me that carry much for off road…
So are you saying that they run small in size? So order a 1/2 size up?
No, this model ran big on me. 9 in my normal shoes but to get the same fit in the 295′s I went with an 8.5
The Roclite 295, 315, 319 all seem to run true to size. I wear a 12.5 in these models, which matches the 12.5 I used to wear in Mizuno.
What is the difference (besides the 20 grams) between the 295 & the 315?
the 295 and 315 both share the same tread pattern and the same midsole. The difference is the 295 uses sticky rubber tread, a wider and taller toebox, a lighter weight upper with less over-lays, and a less dense rock plate. All of that cuts the 20 grams off of the more protective 315.
Run in nothing but this shoe, love it! Ran 2 50ks and the Pikes Peak marathon last year after training in another pair all winter/spring. By far the best thing for my feet.
I’ve worn a number of Inov-8 trail shoes. From Flyroc 310(2005), Roclite 305(my favorite), Terroc 330(too heavy). I’m now in the Roclite GTX 312, which is an awesome winter shoe by the way. I own the 295, but find that it is a bit too wide for my feet. Either that or I shouldn’t have gone up a 1/2 size.
Inov-8 has the best shoes on the market in my “expert opinion”.
I’ve been wearing 295s for almost a year and a half now. I’m on my third pair. I’ve worn them in every possible condition, terrain, and distance and can attest to their durability and comfort.
Highlights: Super light and fast. I’ve never really caught my toe in them. Very responsive. Great at any distance. I wore them in my first 100 miler on a very pebbly dirt road and didn’t have any problems. The soft outsole allows for movement over rocks and roots. You can easily get 500+ miles out of these shoes if you will change out the insole every 150ish miles. Hands down the most versatile shoe out there.
Negatives: I didn’t even know they had a rock plate until I read this review. I’ve always felt like the one thing they lacked was a more stable plate to keep out the rocks. Yes, the lugs help, but sharp rocks can easily get between those. Its worth the extra grams to have the added protection.
I’ve owned three pair and will own several more, for sure. My favorite shoe.
Just FYI…the Roclite 268 is the women’s version of the men’s Roclite 295, same shoe just weighted accordingly, this model for the ladies has also done very well
Thanks, Mark. I’ve updated the article to reflect the women’s verion.
FYI, Inov-8′s website says the Roclite 268 has the endurance rubber rather than the sticky rubber. So at least in that respect they don’t seem to be the same shoe (unless there is an updated model not reflected on the website yet).
I’m an overpronator training for the 125k Canadian death race. I’m spent most my life on roads, which requires shoes specifically for overpronators. I understand that is less important for trail running shoes (right?). In any case, do you think these shoes would be suitable? Should I beef it up to the 315?
Thoughts?
(Also, I’m always fighting shin splints…)
JS
JS,
Yes you are correct overpronation control is not as important in trail running as it is on roads. The constant lateral movement and mixed footstrike placement especially on singletrack trails makes overuse injuries less common.
The 315 has a little more supportive feel than the 295 due to the endurance rubber (firmer feel) and the upper locking your foot in place a little better. Both the 295 and 315 are 3-arrow (9mm), the 295 fits slightly wider especially in the forefoot and breathes a little better. My suggestion, since you are used to having support on roads would be to start with the 315 and if it works transition to the 295 next. Both are great shoes IMO. Some make this transition to a more minimal shoe quicker than others but it best to play it safe and start with a trail shoe that is not too different than what you are running in now. I hope this helps some and GOOD LUCK at the 125k race!
Cheers,
Mark
Thank, Mark. I guess I didn’t realize that these are shoes are considered ‘minimal’. Frankly, with just over six more months to train, I have no ambition to make any drastic changes in shoes/gait, whatever.
Maybe you could direct me to some other alternatives. I’ve considered the Montrail Fairhaven, Sabino, and Masochist; the upcoming Salomon XR Crossmax Guidance; New Balance Single or Double Track. But I’m open to anything.
Maybe this is too off topic for this thread. But MAYBE this is a good idea for a new thread–shoes for beginner ultra runners transitioning from the road!
Thanks,
JS
I over pronate mildly, but am a forefoot striker, and usually run longer runs in Saucony Peregrines. I recently ran a 50K in the Roclite 295′s and they were the most comfortable shoes I’ve run in – in many respects. However, I did develop some pain on the inside of my ankle after about 25 miles which had me run/walking to the finish and which is causing me to take a (hopefully) short break from running. My thought is that there isn’t enough arch support in the 295′s so insoles with higher arches might be in order.
Weldon – I tried the arch support path with the 295. My problem was that the heel cup is shallow. So with any insert the heel is lifted out of the shoe. Had a time securing my foot into the shoe. Looking back on it, I would have sized down a half. My foot tends to swim in this shoe. Ample toe box for those who are looking for such.
Excellent review. These are my first pair of trail shoes. They are brilliant on trails, but they’re so good that I now use them for my road running (along with my new forefoot strike). Love them.
Great review. Thanks for putting it up.
Been looking for an alternative after becoming a little disappointed with my current pair of Salomon XA 3d Pro’s; hard toebox, and heavy when wet have made me reconsider this shoe for some upcoming races (45k plus). Looks like the roclite 295′s come close to what I want, although they may be a bit firm for hard firetrails with some loose rocks on them? How good are these at getting water out quickly?
Martin,
The 295′s actually have a well balanced ride, the 3 arrow cushioning and sticky rubber make it nice and soft on harder surfaces such as firetrails with loose rocks. However this model still does give some nice feedback to your legs/feet. (semi-responsive shoe IMO) Even on road they feel good, but know that sticky rubber will wear down quicker on road.
The breathability is one of the 295′s strongsuits. I’ve worn this shoe through many wet ultra trail races and training runs and it really pumps the water out quick and breathes well. Good luck to you.
Cheers,
Mark
Thanks for your reply Mark. Most helpful. Time to order them!
Well, got them delivered yeseterday and had to wait a day before i could put them to test. After doing 2 long runs in my kayanos and xa 3d pros it was very timely to be able to compare them. Quick observations after first 10k on the trail;
- snug around the foot with the room i need around the toes
- light and flexible. Felt more connected with the trail compared to xa but more surefooted than kayanos
- lower shoe around the heel allowed a little more room for footplacement.
- more narrow sole around the back meant a lot less scratching of the minside of my legs
- very breathable
I think it is a good step in the journey towards more minimal shoes, with more feel for the trail gained whilst carrying less weight around. If fatigue, or weak ankles are an issue the salomons might be better suited, but for me these are hitting the spot.
Thanks for reviewing these guys!
Martin
I’m in the same boat as Toby P – considering my first pair of Inov-8′s and no one in my area carries them. I’m also a fairly new convert from the road, so this is just my second pair of trail shoes. (I’ve been running in the Montrail Streaks.) I run in lightweight/performance neutral shoes on the road.
If I’m uncertain about size, would I be better to go a half size bigger or smaller? I wear 11.5 in most shoes, including the Streaks. I have a fairly narrow heel, and longer than average toes. I’m also not sure yet between the 295 and 315, but it sounds like the 295 is more what I’m looking for. I found the Steaks OK, but a bit stiff and clunky. I think I’m missing the flexibility and light weight of my road shoes.
There’s already lots of great information above which has helped me tremendously. I just want to be sure I’ve nailed my choice before I pull the trigger and appreciate any advice.
Thanks,
Todd
Todd,
I am a eu 44.5 in both my salomons and asics kayano and the inov8 are the right fit when using that same size. Tricky thing will be the conversion chart, as that is around the 10 10.5 uk or 11us. In general though, i find these shoes true to size.
Martin
Great review thanks!
Just have a question please. I am a road runner going into trail running. I have a mild over pronation on my one foot and the other is neutral.
I have just heard great things from this 295 and tried it on – feels great on the foot for someone used to road shoes. I just want to know as someone who mildly overpronates if this shoe will work for me?
I can’t believe when people say the 295′s clear water quickly. I recently wore a pair for a mud run and felt like I was running around with water buckets on my feet for the longest time. When I got home to clean the shoes, I rinsed out the inside with a hose and, sure enough, about a quarter to half inch of water will stand in the bottom of these shoes (seemingly indefinitely) if you fill them with water. Look around the outside of the shoes and you’ll see why, it’s enclosed with non-pourous material all around about a half inch higher than the sole – there is nowhere for it to drain. Still, for dry conditions, 295′s are great shoes but I’ll never run in mine wet again.
Hey, great review!
I am curious as to how many miles you are able to squeeze out of a pair of these? I will be hiking the PCT come this may and I am seriously considering this as my shoe for it. I will probably end up with my shoes held together with duct tape before I get new ones but I would rather that happen after 500 miles as opposed to 200 miles.
Also, you mentioned that they changed the mesh on these, how long would you say it takes for the mesh to dry out, while wearing them of course, after a thorough dunking.
Thanks a ton!
Im looking for something to use trailrunning also backpacking constant muddy terrain in hawaii. ive been using nike lunarfly 2s but i want something with better grip, will these sizes run accordingly to nike sizes? also do these support descent for road running?
Hi Brian,
I wouldnt recommend these for road use. The lugs are quite soft and spread out and give a bit of a odd ride on the road in my experience. Other shoes are better for that purpose. (ie I use Saucony Peregrine when I have to do longer connecting sections on roads)
My nike free 2 are same size and both fit me well, with the Inov8 offering a bit more room around the toes.
I’m curious about some of the comments above regarding road running. I have the women’s model (268) and love them! I got these for trail running but most trails I have to drive or run to. What’s the limit for road running to transfer to a trail? And what’s the potential damage to the shoe if any? I was struck by the comments of folks using them flawlessly on the road and how this is the opposite opinion of folks who say these should not be put on roads. I have about a mile or two of road to run before hitting a trail (and then a mile or two back). I’ve been looking at the Terra Flys and other hybrids but would like to stick with the 268 if possible. I’d like to have just one trail shoe. Would appreciate thoughts on how these respond on roads to transfer to trails. Thanks! Great review!!
I bought my Roclite295 looking for something soft and grippy to use off-trail in dry, rocky and thorny terrain where the rocks makes my carbide studded orienteering shoes too uncomfortable.
While the gripp is great and the shoe give you a good feel for the terrain, the heel cup design is really bothering me. The top edge of the cup digs into my heel so that I’ve had to abort the two runs I’ve taken them on after a mile or two and limp home. I even tried to break them in by wearing them while gardening, but even then the heel cup bothers me. I’ve never had problems with my heels before so I’m surprised. Anyone else experience something similar? Any ideas on how to soften the heel cup?
As for the thorns, the upper mesh is proving a little thin for bushwacking here on the West Coast, but I probably could live with that if the heel wasn’t an issue.
One more great thing about this shoe – drainage! They were my first pair and I bought them 9 months ago at the start of winter rainy season in South Africa. Having inadvertantly put a fut in the odee puddle and river, I panicked for a minute, but another minute later the shoe felt weightless again! Like magic. They dont hold water. Beats any hiking shoe I have ever used too, so I used them on a hike as well a few months ago and they were amazing for that discipline too.
I’m a lover of extremes ! I use my Hokas on long training days but use my 295s’ for wet or shorter training runs ( up to 3hrs). I find the 295s’ grip very well over all terrains and that they feel very light and drain well after a soaking. They have quickly become my favorite shoe for trail running !
The Inov-8 website says the Roclite 295 has a 6mm drop. Is this an update?
http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-View-Roclite-295-Grey-Lime.html?L=26