Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. As a shoe brand that’s renowned for its resilience in the English Lake District where it originated, Inov8 offers trail runners a sturdy ride through tough conditions and terrain with a variety of trail shoe models. However, the latest road shoe by Inov8 keeps runners connected to the ground while providing a cushioned midsole with an overall natural feel. As the first in a series of four models, the Roadfly is built to reconnect runners to the road.
An alternative to carbon-plated footwear, the Roadfly includes a lightly cushioned and bouncy midsole crafted with Superlight PowerFlow Pro foam. With 18mm of EVA foam in the heel and 12mm in the forefoot, there is a substantial energy return that is enhanced by the 6mm thick Boomerang footbed which includes hundreds of expanded TPU beads that compress under the foot and spring back for added energy return and cushion. Our testers appreciated the extra bounce from the TPU beads, which maintained their resilience across long miles throughout training.
The fit of this shoe includes a single piece upper made from engineered mesh that is incredibly soft on the inside and with a durable exterior that protects against environmental obstacles along with offering superior breathability. Our testers felt the comfort of this shoe included spacious room in the toe box and superior flexibility, allowing for a connection to the surface underfoot that is sometimes missed with higher profile shoes. When tested on the roads throughout the early winter and early spring, this shoe remained firm to the ground with a light, bouncy energy return. The Roadfly also keeps the heel locked in so there’s confidence when picking up speed on downhills.
The outsole includes 2mm lugs for traction and a wide base and point of contact using Inov8’s rubber that’s been trusted by trail runners for years. Our testers traversed roads, concrete, light gravel paths and rocky jeep roads during light winter frost and spring rain, all while feeling the Inov8 rubber grip that stands as one of their signature materials on each of their shoe models. The 2mm lugs are low profile and light enough that they keep a quick turnover across flat surfaces. The meta-flex groove cut into the outsole across the forefoot offers additional flexibility and a natural feel during toe-off.
As an alternative to carbon plate technology which seems to be offered by most brands these days, the Roadfly is a shoe with a more natural feel at a reasonable price point that is ideal for short speedwork or longer mileage training days. Our testers felt like this shoe promoted a better center of gravity with a superior connection to the surface below. Feeling the ground beneath the shoes and having that transfer to the feet and legs can be powerful—and it’s one we can sometimes forget exists when there is too much shoe between our feet and the surface beneath us.
The Roadfly comes in both standard and wide fit in men’s and women’s sizing and can be found at inov8.com.
Features and Specs:
- Weight: 9.3oz (265g)
- Stack Height (heel/toe): 27mm/21mm
- Heel-Toe Drop: 6mm
- Upper: Engineered mesh
- Midsole: EVA foam
- Outsole: Inov8 rubber w/ 2mm lugs
- MSRP: $130