Tagged as their everyday comfortable trail running shoe, the Trailfly is an all rounder with one key difference. It is designed with a more naturally shaped rounded toe box which is far more forgiving when feet expand on longer runs.
With additional cushioning it also promises a comfortable ride but one which is protective thanks to its rock plate. Designed for summer running it still has a solid amount of traction although it will never compete with Mudtalon and its 8mm lugs.
The Trailfly can be spotted on the start line of many an ultramarathon thanks to its responsive ground feel and impressive pop. They are a great alternative to the Peregrine 13 which have until recently been my favourite trail shoe of all time.
As someone who has just got used to collecting blisters on super long runs, I was keen to find out if the Trailfly could remedy this affliction. Here’s how they performed.
Pros
- Wide blister-free toe box
- Responsive underfoot
- Snappy performance
Cons
- Excessively padded tongue
- Less comfortable on road
| Women’s sizes (UK): | 3 to 8.5 |
| Men’s sizes (UK): | 6 to 14 |
| Waterproof version: | No |
| Drop: | 6mm |
| Stack height: | 29/23mm |
| Lugs: | 4mm |
Upper
One of the biggest criticisms of the Trailfly is the durability of the upper. Some users have complained they start developing holes from as little as 200km and compared to the NNormal Tomir 2.0 the longevity just isn’t there yet.
But after a solid 500km in these shoes I had no issues and there were no signs of wear and tear. I was also happy with the breathability of the upper mesh which dried quickly in the rain. Undermining this was the excessively padded tongue which created unnecessary heat and was a bizarre design choice given this is marketed as a summer shoe. In contrast, the heel collar, which is a little on the wide side, has limited padding.
Midsole
The biggest selling point is the anatomical shape of the Trailfly which “hugs the natural contours of your foot”. What this means is that it has a wider toe box whilst maintaining a narrow shape at the heel to lock the foot in. As someone with relatively wide feet I found the standard fit was plenty wide enough and was similar in shape to Altra. There is the option of a Go Wide Fit for those with very splayed toes.
The width allows for greater comfort over longer distances when toes naturally swell. And it works a treat. These are genuinely the only trail shoes I have ever worn that have not given me a single blister over ultra distances. I was astonished after 11 hours and 48 miles that my toes were still perfectly intact.
The midsole also has a thicker wedge of foam cushioning when compared to its speedier cousin, the Trailfly Speed. But the thickness is not prohibitive because these remain a tactile shoe with a good degree of responsiveness. You can feel the ground beneath you when crossing technical terrain even with a 6mm drop.
While these are designed for summer hardpacked trails and rocky ground I actually found my feet became very sore within about 20 miles particularly when covering a mixture of trail and asphalt. The harder the ground, the greater the soreness, and I felt more comfortable on soft grass. At the end of a 48-mile race I was blister free, but my soles felt raw.
Outsole
The graphene grip on the 4mm rubber studs has been improved upon from previous models giving better traction in wet conditions. The lugs are also positioned to help you push off at the top and brake quicker at the heel. I felt completely secure when running at speed downhill across dry fields as well as on a long road decent at the end of Hardwolds 40 where I was able to pick up considerable pace. I am yet to try the shoes in very wet conditions, but I suspect the grip will hold up reasonably well on boggy grass, but may struggle in mud.
Features
The Trailfly feature a flexible meta-shank rock plate to protect feet from painful sharp rocks and tree roots underfoot. As someone who has broken their toe on a tree root this is a welcome addition – in theory. But there seems to be a trade-off. I struggled wearing the shoes on hard terrain and even on softer turf my metatarsals starting aching within a couple of hours. While they saw me through almost 50 miles blister-free, when it came to a 100k race I switched to the Merrell Morphlite which were far better suited to a mix of road and trail even if I did pick up a couple of small blisters.
Sustainability
INOV8 are doing a great job of end-of-life care via their Renov8 scheme. Shoes can be repaired in brand stores, and you can trade them in and get a 20% discount. Returned gear is then refurbished, reworked or resold. Any footwear which can't be repaired, goes to Fast Feet Grinded, who grind and separate the materials turning it into sofa stuffing and playground surfaces.
But their carbon footprint and manufacturing processes are less transparent. INOV8 told us they have measured the whole company’s carbon footprint, and their footwear suppliers are on track to install solar panels by the end of 2025. All new footwear is now PFAS free (the toxic ‘forever’ chemical). They have other internal carbon targets, but these are yet to be published.
How we tested
These shoes put in a lot of miles over the dry summer months whilst I was training for several ultra marathons. They saw me through 20-mile easy runs in the Peak District with my running buddy Emma and powered me up the Black Mountains with Damian Hall.
I wore them during the Golden Trail 27km race at Love Trails Festival in the Gower Peninsula and they helped me secure third female at the Run Rabbit Run Quest for the Golden Carrot (seven races over two days). Their biggest test was the Hardwolds 40 – a 48-mile race through Yorkshire on road and trail. Emma also wore the blue version of the shoes during the same race. She found them to be blister-proof too.
Verdict
These were an impressive shoe out of the box and the design of the forefoot will suit those with wider feet. The only trail shoe I can genuinely label as blister-free. Solid grip in dry conditions and a comfortable and snappy ride on trails. But I personally found them less successful as a hybrid shoe and the rock plate caused my feet to ache on ultra marathons. As an everyday training shoe it’s no surprise that these can be found on the feet of athletes like Jack Scott and Nicky Spinks.
About the author
Lily Canter is a freelance journalist and running coach (among a myriad of other jobs, including competitive ultra running) who contributes to LFTO with expert coaching advice and granularly detailed gear reviews. She also founded women’s running club Great Bowden Runners. As a qualified England Athletics running coach, Lily loves nothing more than seeing women achieving their running goals.
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