Review: inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots

I have been testing the inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots. Of note, these are lightweight and versatile walking boots in a unisex fit and they are water-resistant, not waterproof.

Features include:

Fabric upper
GRAPHENE-GRIP™ rubber sole
G-FLY™ Graphene foam
ADAPTER-FLEX™ groove
6mm heel-to-toe drop (25mm heel / 19mm forefoot),
6mm “power footbed”
Lug depth of 4mm.
Grade 5 (wide) forefoot fit
Water resistant
Male and female colours
Weight: 390g per boot (average)
£175. Buy from inov-8.com female and male ( I receive a small commission for sales)
www.inov-8.com

My thoughts: inov-8 ROCFLY G 390 hiking boots

Inov-8 has designed a hiking boot that includes both GRAPHENE-GRIP™ rubber sole for traction on trails and G-FLY™ Graphene foam – which is said to deliver “25% greater energy return”.

The brand also states the unique Graphene-infused G-FLY™ foam “supercharges your feet” so you can hike further than ever before.

Inov-8 was the first sports brand to incorporate Graphene into footwear. Graphene is a very hard wearing material and the soles of inov-8 trail running shoes and the new boots are highly durable and give great grip. The grip, in my experience, is better on drier trails than on wet terrain but it’s still a great asset.

The new inov-8 ROCFLY™ G 390 hiking boots also have ADAPTER-FLEX™ grooves in the sole, which allows the boot and foot inside to react to the terrain “with the type of agility usually reserved for trail running shoes”.

The fabric upper has been created to provide a balance of support, protection and breathability. The forefoot fit is Grade 5 – inov-8 fit scale in the toe box is 1 to 5, with 5 being the widest.

I couldn’t tell from my women’s boot, nor from the website, if the width of the female boot is different from the male boot, so I asked the company. It’s a unisex boot fit.

I have been testing a UK8.5 boot in pink. The pink colour is inov-8’s choice for their women’s version of the boot. I am a bit irritated that there is a pink boot for women and a blue boot for men, but I guess that if you have a size UK8.5 foot like mine, you could always go for the blue boot. I am not keen on gender stereotyping and I think it would be would be better for inov-8 to sell boots in gender neutral colours.

I have a narrow foot and therefore the forefoot is quite wide but it’s not excessive. In fact, the boot is a better fit than many of the brand’s trail shoes. I also think it’s useful to have a wider toe box to allow for hot and swollen feet. The length of the boot is a true UK8.5.

I have been able to adjust the laces to give a good and secure fit. The ankle area is cushioned and fairly supportive. This is a summer hiking boot, rather than a winter boot, so I don’t feel the need for a rigidly supportive ankle area.

The boots are lightweight and immediately comfortable. I agree with inov-8’s claim that the boots fit and feel like trail running shoes. I felt like I had a spring in my step when walking in the boots. I am not sure that the Graphene-infused G-FLY™ foam “supercharged” my feet, but certainly these are very comfortable boots with good cushioning.

The grip is good on trails and paths. The lugs are useful in mud. I walked on wet rocks, rough paths, grass, tree roots, stone steps and tarmac. I felt confident on all these. The ADAPTER-FLEX™ groove in the sole also makes it very easy and natural to walk in the inov-8 ROCFLY™ G 390 hiking boots.

The upper is made of fabric, which is lightweight and breathable. At the front and sides of the boot are durable overlays where the fabric is most likely to need protection from rough terrain, such as from rocks and vegetation. There is a double-layered toe guard, which increases the protection.

It’s important to note that the uppers are water resistant and not waterproof, so this might affect when you choose to wear them. I will wear the boots in all seasons except high level winter mountains.

It seems odd to me that a hiking boot is water-resistant and not waterproof, but then I do live in Scotland where we have a lot of wet terrain and rain.

I asked inov-8 about this decision and they told me they had a lot of feedback following the launch of the last waterproof boot and people said they wanted a non-waterproof boot; one that could be worn for multi-day hikes, for trips such as big thruough-hikes on epic trails.

Having tested other inov-8 products that include graphene, I can report they are long-lasting and durable. It might be that the sole outlives the upper.

The boots are really versatile and suit a range of activities, from dog walking to hill hiking and even mountain walks in summer.

As an aside, and a nice detail, the inov-8 ROCFLY™ G 390 hiking boots have been tested by James Forrest when hiking a new record time for a solo and self-supported 500-mile hike of Great Britain’s National Three Peaks.

Conclusion: inov-8 ROCFLY™ G 390 hiking boots are very comfortable and easy to like. They have good cushioning and grip. They also look good, if you don’t mind the gender stereotypical colours of blue and pink. They are not cheap at £175.