Deric Lau, X-Trailblazers (March 2022)
Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3090259
“Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated”

These were the words that caught my attention when I first opened the shoebox to a pair of Inov-8 Terraultra G270 that I bought in 2019 at Key Power Sports. At first glance, the Terraultra seemed a little understated with its predominantly grey upper mesh and overlays with its white midsole. The only hint of excitement came in the red outsoles. Graphene was touted as the super material its outsole rubber was infused with to provide flawless grip and durability. Fast forward to today, I still have the Terraultra with less than 300 km clocked mileage. It held up pretty well but it was hardly one of my favourite go-to trail shoe.
Inov-8 is not exactly a household running shoe brand in Singapore. While you will find the ubiquitous swoosh and three stripes on many feets while out running, the unique silhouette of an Inov-8 with its smooth overlays and stud-like outsole, akin to a pair of football boots, are much less seen. This, even out on the trails where the brand is much known for its uncompromised grip and gaining podiums on ultra, mountain and OCR races.
When Key Power Sports offered the chance for a member of X-trailblazers committee to trial the new Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max (“Trailfly”) shoe, I couldn’t help but shamelessly raise my hand. The allure of wearing a pair of blinding neon green trail shoes that matches the rest of my outfit is one thing… but the chance to find out if the “obsessed” has finally turn things around with the Trailfly, built with some distinct differences from traditional Inov-8s and which has also garnered several international influencers’ good reviews, was just too good a chance to pass.
Strap in for the ride! I hope you enjoy and get much out of this review to help you decide if the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max is a right shoe for you. The shoe is available at Key Power Sports and the link above will bring you to their website.
In case you are not one for reading a review end-to-end and just want to get a quick summary, please see below as well as the conclusion. Else, I would highly recommend that you spend some time to read at least the sections that matter to you. After all, I have done the leg work and analysis so that you don’t have to buy a Trailfly to do so, especially if it results in post-purchase buyer remorse!
TLDR: A real-workhorse of the trail running world, the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max (click on link to bring you to Inov-8’s official website for full details) has managed to straddle the “goldilocks” (meant in a positive way) of cushioning – not too soft and not too hard. The traction and stability departments are where it truly shines. In dry as well as wet compact mud, clay, gravel and rocky surfaces, traction is fantastic and the sure-footedness and stability inspires confidence for one to go fast.
The shoe is ideal for those who still like some ground contact feel in a firm cushioned shoe and who values traction and stability over low weight and soft cushioning type of comfort. In my opinion, it is best used as i) a daily trainer trail shoe which does well in all terrain, dry or wet, including roads – i.e. run straight from home to trail and back; or ii) for that technical trail race between 80km to 160km, where all-out speed is not as crucial and foot protection and stability to avoid injuries is more important.
History of Inov-8
Given that Inov-8 isn’t a very well known brand locally, I felt it was worth while to do some research and find out more about the founding of the brand and its design philosophy. To me, these are key as it provides an understanding of the rationale of why the company build the shoes the way they do and the unique characteristics that make them stand out in the market.
From what I read from the company and third party websites, Inov-8 was founded in 2003 by Wayne Edy. Wayne discovered that there was a gap in the UK off-road market for running shoes and designed the Mudroc 290, famous for its grip. Much of off-road UK, at least in the British Lake District which the company is located and where many trail races are ran, comprises of terrain of the peat bogs variety – think dead plants material and moss accumulated through the years and covered by puddles of rain, i.e. think Lornie Trail after heavy rain…only 3 times worse!
This makes for very wet and slippery conditions which grip and stability is paramount. Also given that the ground is soft, a firm cushioning makes sense to ensure a good toe-off – thus a much firmer ride than other brands such as Hoka One One and Altra. It also explains why it has a niche among the OCR community – think Spartan races where it is an absolute mud-bath after repeated stomping by participants and where it is a badge of honour to get all wet and grimmy – makes for a good photo for the IG and Tik-Tok, they say!
In summer of 2018, in collaboration with the University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute, Inov-8 launched its first graphene-enhanced shoes. Graphene is a material that was isolated from graphite by scientists at U of Manchester, for which won them the Nobel Prize for Physics. It is thin, light and flexible with a reputation of being 200x stronger than steel. These graphene enhanced outsole allows it to be more 50% more durable, grippier and lighter than competition.
Key Technologies of the Shoe

Graphene-enhanced G-Fly Foam: Allows greater bounce and cushioning by 25%; Also allows greater durability and minimizes wearing down which enhances the longevity of the mid-sole
Adapter-Flex Groove: Distinct groove which splits the heel from the forefoot. This allows for greater agility on uneven terrain particularly when I need to raise my calves going over logs, big roots and rocks
Graphene-enhanced Rubber: As mentioned above, Graphene is tough wearing while remaining grippy – enhances longevity of the outsole
Wider Fit boosts comfort over long distances: I did personally find shoe to be about half a size bigger than my normal. Lots of space in the toe-box which makes wearing thicker socks a better choice
4mm deep lugs for uncompromising trail grip: bi-directional chevron lugs have further micro perforation which provide enhanced grip in wet and muddy conditions. The thicker lugs and closely placed locations make it stable enough to run on the road – rather than feeling like I was running on the road in football boots.
Quick specs (according to official website; words in italics are my comments):
Fit Scale | 5 (Equivalent to a wide fit or E-width) |
Drop | 6mm |
Footbed | 6mm Boomerang |
Lug Depth | 4mm |
Use | Hard and Rocky, Paths and Trails, Road |
Midsole | G-FLY |
Midsole Stack | 25mm heel / 19mm forefoot |
Shank | DFB (dynamic fascia band – that foot like structure on outsole) |
Sole Compound | GRAPHENE GRIP |
Product Weight | 300g |
Methodology of Testing out a Shoe and Scoring
Now then, to the meat of the review… I personally do not believe that there is one “best” shoe out there; a Top 5 shoes meant for the masses. Everyone has their own preferences. Some like it marshmallow-soft, while others want the almost barefoot experience. Most of us are somewhere in between. There are also trade-offs when it comes to various factors, though with modern technologies, these are not always mutually exclusive. For example, if you want a very light weight shoe, the cushioning is often not thick enough to provide a soft ride with good energy return. These days with Pebax or gas-infused EVA or TPU, you could have the best of both worlds. That said, then price is often on the higher end while durability is typically on the lower end. It is almost impossible to find a wonder shoe that can do it all and is low cost… i.e, there is no free lunch!
I am an engineer by training and I must say I lean towards the “nerdy” end of the spectrum when it comes to being scientific with shoe trials. I try my best to rely on objective criteria and data to arrive at my findings. I must confess there is still potential for personal bias to creep in. Nevertheless, through a thorough analysis of various factors that I believe are important, I hope to provide an objective and fair assessment for the shoes I trial. I have omitted aesthetics as a factor as it is really a personal choice and a subjective one. In order to be as objective as possible, for trail-specific shoes, I bring them out for a test in pre-determined trail circuits where I can get access to a variety of different terrain types and undulating paths that gives me elevation both ascending and descending and in different weather conditions. Also, shoes in general require some mileage to “break in”. For trail shoes, I do aim to clock at least 100km to get a good feel of the shoe after the mid-sole has a chance to fully “break in” and to check the outsole and uppers for early signs of wear and tear.
My go-to circuits of choice to meet my objective criteria are Macritchie Reservoir (“MR”) Trail and Bukit Timah Hill (“BTH”) Loop. They are both very accessible on foot from where I live and as a habit, I try to commute on foot to wherever I run (part of my personal aim to reduce my carbon footprint). Both are ran in an anti-clockwise direction. I categorize the terrain types into 8 distinct categories. Below is the mapping of these terrain types in both MR and BTH. BTH also provide me with the bulk of my elevation testing – both ascend and descend. By going through the circuits in both dry and wet conditions, I am able to clock about 50% of the desired trail mileage, the remainder is then ran in other locations, some of which I would describe during the review. As it is a trail-specific shoe, majority of other locations I ran in are off-road – such as the Ketam Mountain Bike Trail of Pulau Ubin.
To illustrate these types of terrain, I have taken some pictures and listed out the specific sections of MR and BTH where they can be found.

1. Compact Mud / Clay

By far, the most common of terrain in both MR and BTH and most other trails – Chestnut, T15, etc. These are found in sections such as: from Venus Park to the MR Rock through to the trail head closer to the canoe shed; Terentang Trail (which leads to Tree Top Walk); parts of trail between Golf Link and Lornie Trail. Most parts of the BTH loop along Cave Path, Catchment Path, Jungle Fall Path, Rengas Path are of such variety.
2. Loose Mud

Compared to its compact sibling, this is much looser and tends to retain moisture. Going fast on them typically result in churning up dollops of mud. Suffice to say, they are much more slippery than usual. These are found in large sections of Lornie Trail and Bamboo Grove. They are also found in large parts of the Ketam Mountain Bike Trail at Pulau Ubin – often tore up by mountain bike tyres.
3. Grass / Dead Leaves

Not too common as most well beaten paths are clear of any vegetation. You would typically find these in areas where trees shed frequently and cover the grounds with dead leaves that start rotting and create a fairly slippery terrain. This is found most exclusively at Rifle Range Link and even in some park connectors after a heavy shower.
4. Rocks / Bricks (uneven)

These are typically found in places where there used to be settlements or paths to quarries. They can be found along most part of Sime Trail and the section between Jelutong Tower leading into Rifle Range Link. A real ankle breaker, it is also frequently a cause for blisters. Just ask the past participants of HKSG Ultra Challenge with their repeated loops at MR over 20 days!
5. Gravel / Loose Stones

If you venture across to the East to Bedok Reservoir Park, you would unmistakenly experience this terrain. Very loose and soft, at high speed, you lose some traction – in the form of foot slippage. The terrain slow you down slightly, just like running on compact sand. At MR, you find this at a short section at the other trail head at the start of Lornie Trail. Also found at the start of the Ketam Mountain Bike Trail at Pulau Ubin.
6. Footpath (Cement / Interlocking bricks)

In urban Singapore, this is quite unavoidable as we travel along the roads to reach park connectors and trails. Very hard and some may be slippery when wet. These can be found at sections of golf link and when exiting Lornie Trail towards MR Visitor Centre, all the way to the other trail head.
7. Wooden Board Walk

A feature in Nparks green spaces, this is created to allow access across swamps and marshes within the catchment area. Unlike footpaths, they are a lot softer to run on and offers very good traction. Do watch out though for the odd loose boards along the section between Sime Trail and Golf Link. Also found in sections of Venus Park.
8. Tarmac / Road

Another unavoidable terrain if you are traversing across trails and park connectors. A little more forgiving compared to cement footpath but nonetheless more harsh on the legs.
BTH by far provides the best test of elevation gained and lost. On the downhill from top of Summit Path to the Visitor Centre, we are looking at up to 35 deg gradient which provides good tests for traction and stability, particularly going downwards.
There are a total of 7 main factors I use to rate the shoes after putting them through the paces across these various terrains and elevation. These factors receive a rating out of 10. For trail specific shoes, 3 factors receives a 2x multiplier given their relative importance to the other 4 factors. A final score out of 100 is then derived. Depending on the factors that you value more, you can give your own different weightage to the various factors to derive your own overall score.
Now then, let’s get to the exciting part of this review.
Fit and Support / Comfort (Upper)

In its neon green colourway (4 different colourways are available) and black “muscular” midsole, you can’t help but feel like the Trailfly is built to be bomb-proof. An all around examinination found the upper to be very well constructed with an engineered mesh for improved breathability while the green and black overlays provide both protection and support for the foot. The tongue is fully gussetted though a little on the thin side which makes you feel the laces at the top of the bow when tied tight (would recommend slightly thicker socks). The heel counter is slightly flexible but provides sufficient heel support though cushioning around the ankle is on the light side. The fit scale is stated as a 5 which is designated a wide fitting model (think E-width equivalent for other shoe brands) which is great for those who needs a wider fit or who prefers that there is room for toe splay – think Altra, Topo.
As of this writing, I have ran over 100km in them through MR, BTH, various park connectors, Tampines Quarry, Buangkok Forest, Coney Island and even Pulau Ubin – Ketam Mountain Bike Trail. These are some of the most varied terrain I have encountered in Singapore and I am glad to report that there were no hot spots creating blisters and discomfort on my feet.
I have also found the overlays to be fairly effective in preventing water from coming in when stepping on shallow puddles. The smooth overlays make it easy for mud and grime to come off when washed or even wiped with a damp cloth. Running in wet weather during an evening, I left them to dry overnight and by the next morning, while still moist, I was able to put them on and after about an hour of running, it has dried out on its own.
Weight-wise for Men size 9 comes in at a rather hefty 300g per shoe which is hardly surprising given its superior built quality. However, on foot, it does not quite feel its full weight given the rebound of the midsole (more on that in the next factor).
Some reviewers on Youtube channels complained about the toes being caught on the interface between the toe cap and the engineered mesh when running steep downhills. I was determined to test that out for myself by running the last stretch of the main road after Catchment Path towards BTH visitor center. This is the perfect place to test as you get up to a 30 to 35 degrees gradient. I didn’t get that toe catching feeling. Perhaps this was in part due to having the shoe a size up. I am usually a UK size 8 but could only get a size 9 for this trial.
Overall, even with a size up from my usual, the lock down was good, albeit with thicker socks (I wear Injinji trail toes socks). The laces were long enough for a runner’s knot and I didn’t feel that my feet was sliding excessively in the shoes. Overall, I would give the fit/support and comfort factor a score of 8.0. It is fairly high due to the superior construction, good breathability, good overall support of the overlays and no hot spots felt but not higher due to the tongue which is on the thin side and fairly minimal padding all around, likely to keep the weight down, which is not a bad thing.
Cushioning and Energy Return (Midsole material and stack height)
In the current era of high soft cushioning, high energy return midsole foam, Inov-8 has been one of the few that has kept closer to the other end of the spectrum. Ground contact feel and firm footing are characteristics of its midsole. This is not surprising given the roots of the company are from the British Lake District where majority terrain are peat bogs which can get water logged. There is just not much need for high cushioning when the ground is the cushioning! Instead, you need something fairly firm which allows a good toe off so that you don’t lose your footing. In local Singapore terrain, such soft terrain is few and far between with majority of trails being of the compact mud/clay variety and lots of park connectors in between trails.

With G-Fly foam, which Inov-8 touts as providing 25% more energy return (than its traditional foam), I must say this is a departure from the Inov-8 norm which my 2019 Terraultra G270 would still fall under. The stack height is a 19mm in the forefoot and 25mm in the heel, which is by no means a maximal cushioning shoe. However, while still on the slightly firm side, it does have a fairly good rebound, especially when you start to pick up the pace. This was quite apparent in the compact mud/clay terrain and even pathways and roads. Further helping to provide additional cushioning and rebound is the 6mm Boomerang insole, which is made of TPU beads which compresses and bounce back. In my hand, it feels solid and bouncy and the beaded construction underneath does ensure that the insole stays snugly in place without slipping inside the shoe. That said, don’t expect any sort of Hoka-esque type of soft cushioning or a Vaporfly-type of rebound. Overall, the G-Fly achieved a good balance of cushioning and rebound while still giving you some ground contact feel, despite its thicker stack and footbed.
There is also a rocker geometry build in which promotes a smooth transition from landing to toe off which gave a rather enjoyable ride. On one of my runs, I was going through Punggol/Sengkang PCN through to Lexus Hills PCN, all the way to AMK Park West PCN. This gave me a close to 14km of hard pathway and road terrain. It felt like I was running in a road shoe and only towards the end did I feel some foot fatigue from the firm cushioning. However, fast forward to today when I had clocked over 100km, the cushioning has “mellowed” and is a joy to run in especially in both compact mud/clay and softer types of terrain. Overall, I would give it a 7.0 for cushioning and energy return. I can understand that Inov-8 was targeting for a very tough and durable mid-sole but it is still on the slightly firmer side when it comes to running on harder surfaces which much of our trails and even park connectors would qualify. However, in much softer terrain, the cushioning can really shine. Cushioning and energy return is one of the key factors where I would give a 2x multiplier. This is due to the very long mileage that trail/ultra runners have to go through and being able to absorb the repeated stress of footstrikes would mean injury prevention and foot fatigue for the very long stuff that we sometimes go through.
Stability (Midsole material and design)

The Trailfly would qualify as a neutral trail running shoe. The use of Graphene helps as it is known to be very flexible while retaining its toughness. Graphene has been used for armour protection in military applications as it is very lightweight and 200 times harder than steel! The forefoot could bend fairly easily and provides a slight twist. Furthermore, the Trailfly’s Adapter-Flex technology “decouples” the forefoot from the heel, promising to promote dynamic movement of the feet through uneven terrain. Think of it like a “double-wishbone” suspension of a 4×4 car where the front wheel axles are decoupled from the rear axles, allowing the car chassis to stay relatively stable while it wheel base are on an uneven ground. For this, I would say the uneven rock and brick terrain of Sime Trail and he initial section of Rifle Range Link, the undulating terrain of Jungle Fall Path and Ubin’s Ketam Mountain Bike Trail were the perfect places to test it out. On Sime Trail and Rifle Range Link, there were many opportunities to twist or overpronate one’s ankle. Compared to a high stack height shoe like Hoka’s Speedgoat (I have the 2nd edition), I could feel that the Trailfly was a lot more stable. There were occasions where I landed on an uneven surface but the shoe was quick to “adjust back” so that I don’t over pronate my ankle outwards (more accurately, over supinate), something which on the Speedgoats, I would experience every now and then especially going fast or when fatigue sets in. On the undulating terrain of Ketam Mountain Bike Trail, the unevenness came with elevation which makes it even more important to have a stable ride. I was extremely pleased to report that I had lots of fun bombing down the slopes and had zero experience of finding my ankles twisted at all. It truly inspires lots of confidence in this respect!
I rate stability as an important factor (x2 multiplier) for trail shoes due to the often uneven terrain trail runners have to go through. You can run very fast but if you twist and sprain your ankle, it could mean weeks to months of no running or worse, a DNF in an overseas race where you might have to trek out on your own before any help is available. Overall, I would give an 8.0 to the Trailfly. The combination of the firmer G-Fly foam, not overly high stack height and the Adapter-flex all contributes to its high stability on uneven terrain. It inspires a lot of confidence going faster in such terrain and even bombing downhills was a transformative experience as I was more confident that I would not twist or sprain my ankles.
Protection (Foot overlays, heel counter and rock plate)
As mentioned above, the uppers of the Trailfly with its overlays and toe cap provides very good protection for the foot. It does not come with a rock plate for under sole protection but it really doesn’t need one due to the very tough Graphene infused G-Fly foam and outsole. For such a tough material, I do not fear that any sharp rocks would puncture the midsole and reach my foot. As mentioned above, there is still some ground feel despite the stack height but it does a good overall job of protecting my foot.
The toe cap provides good protection throughout the rocks and bricks of Sime Trail and exposed roots around BTH Jungle Fall Path. There were a few occasions when I would jar my feet on a root or fairly big rock. Only once did I feel some pain which quickly dissipated. Overall, it is a solid 8.5 for me when it comes to protection for the “tank” like build quality of the Trailfly. There aren’t that many trail shoes out there which provides as much foot protection as they are more geared towards being more lightweight and sacrifices protective material to gain that targeted weight.
Traction (Outsole – rubber compound and lugs)

What makes for superb grip includes the type of rubber compound used, the shape and size of the lugs, the lug depth, the number of lugs and its placement on the outsole. Undoubtedly, traction is the star quality of Inov-8 shoes and I must say Inv-8 gets it right in all departments when it comes to traction. Again, Graphene is used in its rubber compound, though more as an enhancement to durability than grip. That said, the rubber compound was grippy and does not have any issues in dry weather conditions for all types of terrain being ran on. If you look carefully at each of the Chevron lugs, they have micro-groves that further add traction particularly to “catch” on to smoother surfaces. The lugs at 4mm deep and of varying sizes, help to provide a firm grip particularly in soft muddy conditions – almost like football cleats. They are also positioned bi-directional – forefoot chevrons have the pointy part pointing upwards while heel chevrons are pointing downwards. The effect is better overall grip when traversing uphill (where you are more likely to land on your mid to forefoot) and also downhill (where you are more likely to land on your heel).

The placement of the lugs also resembles that of the metatarsal structure of the foot – the Dynamic Fascia Band (“DFB”) shank technology, ensuring good toe off and bone protection. The lugs, being fairly large and well distributed, also makes the Trailfly a trail shoe that can run well on park connectors and on tarmac/road before transitioning onto a trail. This makes it a fantastic option for folks like myself who typically runs from home to a trail and back. It certainly avoid the need to swap shoes or to run in a trail shoe uncomfortably on the road.
Another critical factor when it comes to traction is whether it hold in wet weather conditions. The only time when it comes to some slipperiness was on wet metal rain covers, wet smooth tiles and wet rocks. I define slipping as the sensation of falling backwards without control. For some of the conditions stated below in wet conditions, the slippage was more of the sole not gripping fully and toe off results in some ”foot slippage” – i.e. some energy lost in terms of forward propulsion, rather than any sort of a loss of control. Also, in some sections of the rail corridor which are paved with pebbles and painted over smoothly, this specific “foot slip” sensation was felt. Overall, grip was good in all sorts of conditions and I had the pleasure of running it on several types of terrain, particularly the wet and slippery sort in Ketam Mountain Bike Trails at Ubin. These include grass patches, paths strewn with wet leaves and muddy trails (dugged up by mountain bikes). The only surface where it could still slip within a trail was on wet rocks (along Rifle Range Link across the stream). A summary of its traction performance over the different types of terrain is shown below. As you can see, there isn’t any surface which gave much problem and traction really shines through for the Trailfly as you would expect from an Inov-8 shoe.
Overall, grip gets a superb 9.0 because it just works in all sorts of conditions (almost), be it is dry or wet. In wet weather, very few shoes are able to be grippy but here the Trailfly was able to be a shining star. Even with water gushing along a pedestrian path (albeit not the super smooth type), it was still grippy. Being able to run on PCNs and roads comfortably with good grip before transiting to trails is also a plus point. Being a key factor, traction also receives a 2x multiplier.

Durability Prediction (Uppers, midsole and outsole)
So then, how long can do I think the Trailfly can last before wearing out areas of its upper or outsole and before it starts losing that rebound?
For those who run light and don’t drag their feet, have good shoe rotations where the shoes have typically 48 hrs of “rest”, I would say it can go as far as between 1,200km to 1,600km (1,000 miles) thanks in large part to its well constructed upper and the use of Graphene in both its midsole foam and outsole rubber. In particular, G-Fly foam is likely to retain its resiliency and rebound after such long mileage. I could only feel it being more “mellow” after 100km or so; in contrast, most of the soft cushioned shoes would not require much of a “breaking-in” period for the midsole. The other shoe which I had also found requiring some “breaking-in” was Asics’ Novablast road shoe which I found very good to go after about 100km as well. I have since put in over 1,200 km and it still has retained its energy return rebound. After about 100km in, the Trailfly’s outsole also showed little wear and I expect it to last better than other branded rubber compounds including Vibram Megagrip, Contagrip, Continental, etc.
For the heavier runners or those who run “heavy” and have a tendency to drag when they are tired, or for those with little to no rotation of their shoes, I would still expect between 600km to 800km of usage before any parts start to give way. That said, please exercise your own judgement when it comes to replacement of shoe based on mileage. It is a fairly subjective topic and some websites would advocate a new pair after 500km regardless of the condition, with some even at lower mileage. For your foot and leg health, please do not go beyond what you can tolerate in terms of loss of cushioning and replace it once you feel any onset of foot discomfort. For durability of the Trailfly, it receives a high score of 9.0.
Price / Value for money
At a full retail price of S$269 (Key Power Sports), it is on the high end of the trail running shoe spectrum vs. its comparable peers. However, considering the superior overall build quality, there is some justification for the premium. To make it more apples-to-apples for comparison, I would recommend to compare it based on a “cost per likely lifetime mileage” you can get out of the shoe, i.e. what is the cost per km for both light and heavy spectrum of usage? Based on a minimum of 600km to a maximum of 1,600km, the S$ per km is between S$0.448 and S$0.168, with a median of S$0.245. Overall, I would rate it at 7.0 in terms of price/value for money.
Factor matrix | Standalone score | Multiplier / Matrix score |
Fit and Support / Comfort (Upper) | 8.0 | 1x |
Cushioning and Energy Return (Midsole material and stack height) | 7.0 | 2x |
Stability (Midsole material and design) | 8.0 | 2x |
Protection (Foot overlays, heel counter and rock plate) | 8.5 | 1x |
Traction (Outsole – rubber compound and lugs) | 9.0 | 2x |
Durability Prediction (Uppers, midsole and outsole) | 9.0 | 1x |
Price / Value for money | 7.0 | 1x |
Total | 56.5 | 80.5 |
Based on the scoring matrix above, the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max arrives at a fantastic matrix score of 80.5 out of 100 or a standalone score of 56.5 out of 70.
Conclusion
A real-workhorse of the trail running world, the Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max (click on link to bring you to Inov-8’s official website for full details) has managed to straddle the “goldilocks” (meant in the most positive of connotations) of cushioning – not too soft and not too hard. Overlays and a well padded heel counter hug the foot and provide a secure fit. In the traction and stability department, this is where Inov-8 is a notch above most brands and where it shines. In dry as well as wet compact mud, sand, gravel and rocky surfaces, traction is fantastic and the sure-footedness and stability inspires confidence for one to go fast and bomb down hills! The combination of a relatively low to mid stack height of 19/25mm and the slightly firm G-Fly foam help to provide stability and reduces chances of twisted or sprained ankles – a plus point in the terrains of Macritchie Reservoir and Bukit Timah Hill.
The shoe is ideal for those who still like some ground contact feel in a firmed cushioned shoe and who values traction and stability over low weight and high cushioning type of comfort – think Hoka, New Balance, Saucony. Make no mistake, unlike earlier versions of Inov-8s such as my 2019 Terraultra, there is cushioning, albeit on the firmer side and over more miles, I believe it would continue to “mellow” and to increase in softness.
In my opinion, the Trailfly is best used as i) a daily trainer trail shoe which does well in all terrain, dry or wet, including roads – i.e. run straight from home to trail and back and where the high durability ensures it would last you months without compromising performance; or ii) for that technical trail race with muddy and wet conditions between 80km to 160km, where all-out speed is not that crucial and where foot protection and stability to avoid injuries is more important. Having witnessed some of the images I see from fellow X-Trailblazers who ran Ultra Trail Koh Chang, it looks like a great fit for those types of terrain – the jungle bashing and moss-covered rock climbing sort and where it can get really muddy in certain sections. While it is stated to be 300 grams in size 9 men, the rebound from G-Fly foam does make it seem lighter than suggested. As a result, leg fatigue is less pronounced.
In conclusion, has the “dedicated” truly been able to create a technological breakthrough with the Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max? From what I have observed past the 100km mark of the shoe, I must say it is a high conviction “Yes” from me. With this shoe, Inov-8 has continued to provide the traction, stability and protection it has been famed for but importantly, started to close the gap in terms of cushioning with the G-Fly midsole. While not the super soft cushioned and bouncy midsole of some of its better known competitors, G-Fly is a detour from the traditional Inov-8 shoes that promote “ground feel” with a more cushioned offering coupled with a rebound when run slightly hard. Let’s hope the Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max would be the dawn of a new “obsession” for Inov-8 that would see new innovations that help us trail runners run better in less than ideal terrain and weather conditions.
Pros:
- Top notch grip in most terrain tested, particularly in wet conditions – except some slipperiness on wet rocks and wet cement
- Size of lugs (4mm and wide chevrons) and placement allow one to run comfortably on road/tarmac surfaces; good road to trail transition
- Stability on uneven surfaces is a huge plus to reduce chances of sprained ankles
- De-coupled Adapter-Flex groove allows foot flexibility to traverse around obstacles such as logs and large rocks – particularly when you need to raise your calves
- Good balance of ground contact feel and cushioning; provides sufficient cushioning, including a 6mm Boomerang insole, to delay leg fatique
- Durability, based on first 100km, seems a big notch above other offerings – very likely to go beyond 1,000km, up to 1,600km, providing a compelling low $ per mileage of between $0.448 to $0.168 per km.
Cons:
- At 300 grams for Men Size 8, it is a touch too heavy for short-distance ultras, though the rebound from G-fly foam makes it less heavy than it seems
- Tongue is a touch too thin which makes tight lacing some what uncomfortable – much less noticeable with a thicker pair of socks