Inov 8 RocLite 315 Trail Running Shoes - Men's

These are great shoes from a company with a great idea about shoe design (allow your foot to operate as it was designed to). If you are used to running in a "fuller" shoe with a huge heel pad, pronation protection, etc., it will take a few weeks for your legs to get used to the knew strike (more in the middle of the foot) and the nuetral support. You might try a few miles the first week and then build up in small increments. Let your legs and ankles get stronger in some areas that have been supported by the "other" kind of shoe. But, once you're there, you'll never go back. They are light, agile, and they feel great on long runs. Just be patient going minimal and more nuetral...

Inov-8 started out and continues to make awesome, light and VERY fast fell-running shoes. These aren't for technical hiking or uber-sketchy races (unless you're daring, like me!). If you've got strong ankles, a foot that's ready to take some pounding (not much forgiveness in the way of cushion and/or protection in this shoe: heck, they only weigh 630 grams a pair!!!) and a will to go fast, this shoe, or any of the Inov-8 shoes will do you good. I love 'em!!!

I got these to use as my main hiking footwear but after using them twice and rolling my right ankle three times I decided they were too dangerous to wear. Maybe there is something defective with the shoe, but it looks identical to the left shoe. I have never rolled my ankles in any other shoe. In addition, I had some metatarsal pain in the left foot with these shoes. Once I put my Chaco sandals on the pain subsided. I wanted to like these shoes and while they might be good for some people, I can't recommend them due to stability issues.

I tend to only review things I love or hate, and I love these shoes. I have had dozens of trail running shoes over the years and these are by far the best, light, stiff,great support and great traction

when i was in peru, one of my porters, who was a little guy was carrying a big pack with the crappiest pair of little chinese made frail little shoes. I had a pair with all the bells and whistles, and decided he was stronger for his bare bones approach. So my ideal pair of shoes became the minimum i would need to get the job done.... simple. These are the ultimate combination of the 2 worlds, not enough to get in the way of your feet doing what their supposed to be able to do, just enough for ideal support and rocker. As long as inov8 doesn't change their philosophy i won't need anything else. I have a very low volume foot, and these fit perfect.... not for people who look at their shoes and dream of going on a run someday, for people who were born to run...

The RocLite 315's have replaced my Montrails as my preferred trail running and light hiking shoes. They have good grip and stability on rough, rock-strewn trails, stick to boulders when scrambling, and provide good cushion. I have close to 200 rough miles on my current pair and while they are showing signs of wear, they are still holding strong. I even felt confident enough in them that I used them on a recent 40 mile hike in the Uinta mountains with a 35+ lb backpack. My feet are neutral, lower volume and slightly narrow. I sized up one size (10.5->11.5) and replaced the footbed with Inov-8's 3mm (thicker) one.