I will soon be purchasing a pair of inov 8 roclite's. Gonna be my new general backpacking shoes, bit scared about the old ankles but after trying on a pair today i've gotta have them.

Regarding socks for them, for warm weather its a toss up between Smartwool Adrenalin Lt Micro's and X socks Trekking Extreme Light. Anyone got any experience of these or similar socks? Any thoughts on the comparitive wicking abilities, coolness, warmth when wet, durability, comfort, smelliness etc?!

And for colder weather its between the Smartwool Light Hikers and the X-socks Trekking Expedition. Warmth when wet is the most important factor here!

Lastly, anyone have any experience on using gaiters with them/sealskinz/kahtoola crampons/neoprene overboots/vapor barrier liners? Basically Ill be going to Nepal next year trekking in freezing conditions over high passes (lots of snow and ice, frostbite is an issue!) and im wondering whether I can wing it in a pair of these.

Cheers for any input!

Don't worry about the ankles - they'll be far happier than in boots - honest!

Best socks for Inov-8s? X Socks Trekking Extreme light. They are not bulky and shed water better than anything else I have tried. I wear them all the time when hiking now.

Next bet are Smartwool adrenaline.

And then Smartweool Light hikers. These though do retain rather more moisture - they're not uncomfortable but just nowhere near a good as the X Socks.

Cheers for the quick reply mate, one thing I forgot to ask is how people have fared using these in a hefty pack (16kgs max)over rough terrain (scree slopes, scrambling etc). Or is this pushing there limits too much?

Ill go with your suggestion with the socks unless someone would like to tempt me otherwise!

I've used the Roclites with a 12kg pack over that sort of terrain and found them fine (there's a review in the next TGO). With socks I found the X-Socks okay as long as they are washed every day. Wear them for 2 days and they become stiff and uncomfortable, at least on my feet. Smartwool socks I can wear for several days before they need washing however. The Smartwool socks do absorb more moisture but still feel warm and comfortable. After a day if the X-Socks get wet they feel slippery.

I've used Terrocs through the summer on Braeriach, Ben Alligin etc. They are much tougher and capable than they first appear. I tried them with Sealskinz and my feet blistered. next time i'll try a liner sock under the sealkinz..
In freezing conditions i'd think your feet would get pretty cold. When they wet out on a cool day you notice it. Even with sealkinz (although feet did not get wet) the water was cold..
Back up Andrew on the ankles although I did twist my ankle at the end of one walk when i carelessly slipped on a step. Wouldn't have fancied that mid walk. You have to be careful. For me the best bit with these are the downhill sections. My knees love them.

I've worn Smartwools with my Roclites so far, and have found them very comfortable. I generally wear the Light Hikers, but in the Pyrenees I wore a shorter sock: I think it was the Hiking Med Mini Crew. (It's difficult to be sure: there are so many shown on the website!) Anyway, in warm weather I found the shorter socks v. comfy.

It does occur to me that if you plan to use them in the UK then perhaps you might be better off with a slightly longer sock. The Micro isn't going to offer that bit of your legs just above your ankles any sort of protection in heather/undergrowth, and it's not always comfy to wear gaiters.

In cold, wet weather I now wear Sealskinz with them because I don't like walking with cold, wet feet: they make me cold all over and my feet feel uncomfortable, especially when I stop for a break. In warm conditions I don't find it such a problem.

I've not yet worn gaiters with them, but I can't see why it wouldn't be possible. My first stop, though, would be a longer sock.

On your final question, I've been using Roclites for several months now. I used them to backpack across Scotland with a pack weighing no more than a little over 12kg, and they were perfect. They've also been perfect in the Lakes.

I've just returned from 2 weeks on the Haute Route in the Pyrenees, where I wore them again. The ground there was much sharper and rockier. I was still v. pleased with the Roclites, although there were odd moments when a rock would catch my foot through the side and hurt a bit. However, the soles began to come away at several points. Having made enquiries, I know I'm not the only person to have had a similar problem. I've contacted Inov8 and they've told me that they're aware of the problem. They think they've solved it, and hope to have a revised model in place for the next production which they anticipated would probably be out in late September. If you're going to be on very rocky ground then I'd suggest contacting Inov8 so that you can be sure to buy a pair from the new batch.

Finally, I spent the Bank Holiday weekend on Skye and tried out the Roclites on the Cuillin Ridge. I have to say that I don't think they're robust enough for that ground - it was harder than anything I encountered in France/Spain - and I only wore them for one day. Next time I'm there I'll be using something more substantial.

My experience is pretty varied, then, and I've been very happy with them in all but the very rockiest of ground. I'll be getting a new pair, though, and making sure that it doesn't have the sole problem.

I hope this helps :) Have a great time in Nepal, and best of luck!

Chris I sense your vote is going to Smartwool then? How'd you find the durability then. Ill be racking up about 800 miles soon in a single trip and (if it all works out) Im seriously considering taking another pair with me (no possibility of resupply before you ask). do you reckon one pair can last 400 miles (v.approx) over rugged mountainous terrain?

Another thought that crossed my mind. How do the roclites compare to something like the Merrel Ventilator's (assuming weight is not an issue) when it comes to support on tough ground with a heavy pack? Its extremely hard to see how I'm not going to twist an ankle!

Ill definitely read that review

D'you mean 800 miles in a single pair of socks or a single pair of Roclites? If you mean Roclites, I reckon you'd go through more than one pair on rocky ground.

Cheers for that tome peewiglet! Loads of great stuff in there, Ill definitely contact Inov 8 and see what they say about the sole issue.

What is mainly worrying me regarding going to nepal is that absolutely everyone normally uses leather boots and all the guidebooks say something along the lines of "Sturdy leather boots with a steel shank are essential to withstand the harsh mountain terrain, ankle support is a high priority etc etc". Considering that you used them on the haute route and even attempted the cuillin ridge its making me a bit more confident in an ultralight running shoe's abilities!

Actually what I meant was 400 miles in one pair of roclites (i really should go to bed), but sock durability is an interesting issue as well!

Well it's not uncommon for people who haven't used trail shoes to scoff at them, and insist that leather boots with a high cuff are the only safe way to walk :) When I was in France the first English person I met greeted me with a very sniffy, "Are you wearing training shoes to walk in the Pyrenees, then?"

I'm sure there are limits to what they can deal with, and I reckon that (for me, anyway) I met them on the Cuillin ridge, but my own experience of them (and clearly Chris's too) has been that they can cope with a lot. I have strong ankles, because I've done a fair bit of running on trails and hills, and it may be that that helps.

I've got this month's TGO in digital format, and since writing earlier I've read Chris's review. It may be worth you taking a look at that as well :)

p.s. I should point out that I have absolutely zero experience of trekking in Nepal, so I have no idea of how rocky the ground is.

Laurence, I hiked to Everest Base Camp, Makalu Base Camp and across Dolpo in sandals! In snow I wore SealSkinz with the sandals. I also did a 500 mile walk in the High Sierra of California with a pack weighing up to 25kg (2 weeks food at one point) in sandals. The guidebook information is simply the standard advice, unchanged for decades. If you are happy in light shoes or sandals in the British hills then you will be in Nepal.

I reckon 400 miles is as long as a pair of Roclites would last and it might be less. I hope I'm wrong. I haven't worn my pair enough to know how long they'll last.

The Cuillin gabbro can shred footwear quickly. I once trashed a new pair of fabric boots in a week there (the makers had told me they were suitable for the Cuillin).

OK well I think Ill just have to do it all in a pair of roclites then! (this is another one of those days where your concept of what gear to use changes completely!)

Ill definitely see how my feet fare in the roclites (or im tempted by the merrel ventilators - now that they'll be on my feet most of the time weight isn't so much of an issue compared to support and durability) and then if all is good then Ill use them. Just got to sort out my cold weather foot layering system

Great help guys, hope this convinces some other people to give trail runners a go

I wore Terrocs in scotland last week and had a pair of smartwool socks with Sealskinz over the top. Before crossing the river Dee I took the insoles out of the Terrocs so that they would dry quicker afterwards. It was so comfortable that I never put the insoles back in while wearing sealskinz.

Haven't tried Roclites but Terrocs are excellent. I spent a week in the Italian alps wearing them as well.

I've used both gaiters and crampons with Mudclaws.

Integral Designs and Montbell both make short gaiters (technically probably spats) to fit shoes, ID ones are eVENT and Montbell a Schoeller stretch-woven fabric. Both work well to stop grit and snow getting in, but the weak spot is the cord under the sole. These do not last long in rough terrain and the efficiency of the gaiter is very dependent on this cord - far more so than with boots, as there is only a small overlap of gaiter at the heel with a shoe.
The stretch-woven version is a neater fit and less likely to get snagged on sharp rocks or vegetation, but both work well.

Kathoola crampons are light (660g complete with anti-balling plates for the steel version) and comfortable. I wouldn't want to do anything very technical with them, but for walking on ice they are excellent. Grivel Air Tech Lights are also flexible enough for use with shoes, but are alloy not steel.

I use the Smartwool Adrenaline socks and have not had any problems with temperatures around freezing (-5 to +5 degC). Feet get wet, but stay warm when moving. At night, change into dry socks and (so far) no problems. Lower temperatures will almost certainly require a different approach, which I haven't given serious thought to yet, although a vapour barrier seems a good starting point.

The double mesh upper of the Roclites and Mudclaws is an advantage over the single layer in the Terrocs, as the double mesh allows far less fine grit in. However, I have reservations over the sole life of the current models. I have worn out a pair of Mudclaws in 150 miles and have had a sole on a Roclite start to delaminate after one day. In contrast, I have a pair of Terrocs with around 400 miles use; the uppers are almost worn out but the sole is almost as new.

The last of the Roclites and Mudclaws is different to the Terrocs - a tighter toe box and a slightly different heel. I need a larger size for these to be comfortable.

Interestingly, Inov8 are apparently planning to bring out a running shoe incorporating a gaiter towards the end of the year. I think it's Goretex lined...

My first thought was that the very last thing I wanted in a running shoe was a Goretex lining, but when I spoke further to them about it it actually sounded interesting, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

I'd definitely agree that the sole on the Terrocs seems virtually indestructible. They have excellent grip on rock as well.

The uppers however, seem to be fraying a bit already.

Just to let you know I have had problems with the soles cominng adrift slighlty. I have used mine mainly for running in.

That said they are still my first choice of footwear for any walks I do, including a 15 mile hike with about 18kg pack, my feet came out best.

Here's some info on waterproof inov-8s. I had some mudroc 290s when they came out - rubbish grip in the wet and the sole delaminated quickly. I've been using some mudclaw 0330s recently, as an beefier alternative to walshes for hillwalking in Scotland and they seem to be lasting a bit better. There is probably a trade-off you have to make between sticky rubber and long-lasting rubber.

V. interesting stuff, ALoveSupreme! Thanks for the link :)

have a look at the Salomon Fusions which has a few fans (incl. myself) as an alternative