It was time to get a new pair of walking/hiking boots! I had resorted to wearing my husband’s old ones as after the stresses of the Longmynd Hike 2018, mine had finally given up the ghost.
That endurance event was a good lesson in teaching me what I wanted from a walking boot, and I certainly didn’t want anything which would feel like a couple of concrete blocks on my feet by the end!!
Primarily, I wanted a pair of boots with flexibility and comfort. The flexibility of being able to pop them on, like a pair of trainers, for a quick half-hour walk with the dog, to a boot that would give me the comfort and support as well for a more routine and challenging multi-terrain 8/9 mile walk at a weekend.
I was looking for a pair of walking boots that would be light; semi-waterproof; comfortable and a good fit; provide support where needed and when required; be flexible and easy to get on and off, and deliver a good grip for multi-terrain use. This pair of boots, wherever they were, needed to deliver on all levels for a planned Welsh 3000 26+ mile walk-in June 2022.
I looked towards brands of trainers and trail shoes that I already had and thought about how these worked for me and were fit for purpose. inov-8 was a brand that had always impressed me and although on the more expensive side, I believed you pay for quality.
….. and then came along the inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boot! Wow! They looked super impressive online! The pictures made them appear very bulky which was a concern, but the product information said they were only 390g…as light as my slippers!! I was captivated by the ‘Graphene-infused G-FLY foam’ which claimed: “to deliver 25% greater energy return”, supercharging your feet as you walked. There was also talk of an ADAPTER-FLEX groove allowing flexibility and adaption to different types of terrain. The specification for this hiking boot was ticking all my boxes and I thought, why not? These boots were promising to provide everything I wanted.
When I collected the boots, I didn’t believe they were in there, just an empty box. The package was so light! I took them out and was immediately impressed with how light and bright they were, like a ‘moon boot’ with a thick graphene rubber sole and soft and flexible upper. I had gone for a size bigger than my normal shoe size as experience has taught me to make sure I have plenty of room for my toes, and to allow for natural foot swelling, especially with thicker hiking socks on.
My first outing with the inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 was a steady, local 7 miler with mixed terrain. I thought this would be a good test, but I did pack the plasters just in case!! I had absolutely nothing to worry about. The boots were so easy to put on and I liked the option of being able to wear them like a trainer if only doing road/track walking and then to use the additional lacing up the ankle for added support and cushioning when required on uneven surfaces and rocky terrain. The adapter-flex groove and graphene-grip rubber technology on the sole performed brilliantly, making the boot beautifully responsive.
I said these boots were as light as my slippers…it was like wearing my slippers! The Graphene-enhanced G-FLY foam made every step feel like I was Tigger bouncing along! My feet did not feel tired one bit and the lightweight and soft upper allowed my feet to breathe easily and not over-swell. There is plenty of room for my toes to spread in the boot (with the additional sizing), even with thick socks, giving me even traction inside the boot so the pressure is evenly distributed hopefully preventing pressure sores on long distances.
Since their first outing, these boots have had several trips out of varying distances, although nothing greater than 9 miles yet. But I am not concerned about long distances in these boots. In my opinion, they have performed on all levels. They fit perfectly, are light and flexible, offer outstanding breathability and comfort, protective and supportive on all types of terrain without being rigid and confining.
I could seriously wear these all day and I am not concerned about how they will perform on the Welsh 3000 hike. Although out of my normal price range for footwear, I am absolutely blown away by these inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 boots and know they will last me for years and years. A brilliant quality product that I would highly recommend to anyone.
You too can own a pair of these amazing shoes. Here is where to buy them: inov-8
Article Written by Alex Pettifer.
Ultrarunnermagazine would like to thank Alex for the honest review.