I have been running in these shoes for a few weeks and find it hard to fault them. INOV8 wanted to create a running shoe that reconnects runners to the road. To do that the RoadFly will feature INOV8’s new anatomical foot-shape fit, 18mm/12mm of propulsive POWERFLOW PRO midsole foam and weigh in a 265g. They say this shoe is designed for all distances and is set for training or racing.
My first impressions of the shoe are almost 100% positive. When you pick them up you can tell it is very lightweight, nearly 40g lighter than my usual road shoe. It doesn’t look like it is trying to be anything special or difficult and has a very “I am what I am” vibe. The anatomical foot-shape fit takes a little getting used to visually (compared to more standard road shoes) but when you slip your foot in, it makes sense – especially for someone like me who has a wider foot. The POWERFLOW PRO foam feels incredibly comfortable when running and just wearing as an all day shoe. The Metaflex on the sole, designed to promote a more natural stride and improve overall performance, is primed for running. The grip seems durable and ready to take the miles that lay before it. The extensive outsole adds extra durability and enables you to take this road shoe onto some light trails, which is hardly surprising considering INOV8s DNA.
One really noticeable thing is how ventilated they are. My feet have not felt hot or sweaty since I started wearing the ROADFLYS and this is due to the materials used on the upper part of the shoe. The upper mesh is designed to be breathable, lightweight and with flexibility that allows for natural foot movement. This certainly works and also contributes to how comfortable they are.
So let’s get to the more technical bits. The RoadFly is designed for a standard or wide foot. The Footbed is a specialised Boomerang 6mm insole which they say is designed for “comfort, support, and performance”. The lug depth is 2mm and the midsole is the POWERFLOW PRO. The sole compound is INOV8 Rubber which is designed to provide excellent traction and durability. Given that INOV8 have a history of excellent trail shoes, I would trust this to be high-performing. And lastly, they are apparently Vegan…
Having worn them for a number of runs I would conclude that these are an excellent pair of road running shoes that I will absolutely be using for all my autumn-winter training. They are comfortable, responsive, excellently cushioned, very breathable and unrestrictive. I will be using them for my road running training but would also rate them for longer distance runs or multiday-adventures. However, when it comes to wanting to hit a PB or during a race, I will probably defer to something that is more designed for racing, but that is a personal choice.
