 My current Inov8 Roclite 295's are just about trashed, so i'm looking for a replacement. They've only done maybe 300 miles, but the eva has compressed, the mesh is worn, and the stitching is burst at the forefoot flex point. I've put them through some tough terrain, and some recent scrambling burst the stitching. I know Inov8's have a reputation for not being very durable, but does anyone use a more durable model than my current 295's, also using the Endurance last?
Apart from the short lifespan, i really loved wearing them, and may just replace them with the same, and accept the downsides.
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 Mike i have the flyroc 345 gtx and they seem to be doing well.... in excess of 300 miles walked in them so far and no noticeable deterioration in sole/tread....and the uppers are still in good condition only issue is the thin rubber toe cap section peeling away slightly on one edge but not a structural issue. Will see what condition they are in after the TMB.
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 I find the 315's last fairly well - I've just binned a pair after over a year's intermittent use, over 600 miles, including a month in Iceland. However, the life seems variable - the prevous pair lasted a lot less, with the inner coming apart after only a few uses.
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I phoned them up awhile ago to ask which was the more durable, roclites or flyrocs, and the guy I spoke to said flyrocs - less cloggy tread too. I like my O330s - the studs have lasted well, and the upper is tough - designed to kick through undergrowth - though the EVA compressed somewhat at the heel. They've changed the sole on the new 330s so perhaps they will be better. Whether it is acceptable to treat a shoe as a consumable item, that doesn't last as long as a pair of socks, I dunno - it's not right really. I occassionally wonder whether it wouldn't be better to go for something a bit beefier like, possibly, a Berghaus Pro Rush Low or a Pro Rush Mid, as they seem to be designed for British conditions, but then again I have never gone up or down hill in anything quicker or more securely than my 330s; I just wish they'd make them better.
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The sole/tread is fine on my 295's, apart from the EVA compressing at the heel. The sole is one of the main reasons i would like to stick with a similar model. I don't think i slipped once whilst wearing them. It's the uppers that have suffered. I think it's walking through rough old heather that has worn the mesh, and jamming my foot into cracks while scrambling has burst the stitching. Maybe using them for all-round hill-walking/mountaineering/scrambling is pushing them too far?
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Mebbe - rock is the problem I guess - have a look at the Flyrocs; the sole is denser and even grippier (I've had both Flyrocs and Roclites, so that opinion is based on experience) and the general construction is a bit tougher I think - or why not phone them up and ask/complain?
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I phoned them up awhile ago to ask which was the more durable, roclites or flyrocs, and the guy I spoke to said flyrocs - less cloggy tread too. I like my O330s - the studs have lasted well, and the upper is tough - designed to kick through undergrowth - though the EVA compressed somewhat at the heel. They've changed the sole on the new 330s so perhaps they will be better. Whether it is acceptable to treat a shoe as a consumable item, that doesn't last as long as a pair of socks, I dunno - it's not right really. I occassionally wonder whether it wouldn't be better to go for something a bit beefier like, possibly, a Berghaus Pro Rush Low or a Pro Rush Mid, as they seem to be designed for British conditions, but then again I have never gone up or down hill in anything quicker or more securely than my 330s; I just wish they'd make them better. I love my Pro Rush Mids, wore them all winter. I wore them again last week after a month of only using flyroc 310's. I have been running down hills in the flyrocs (grip is superb), on the pro rush mids a "speedy walk" downhill left me on my ass twice. Being used to the inov8 grip makes it difficult to readjust to normal shoes. I can also confirm that the flyrocs are holding up very well, no signs of distress. Although they have not been used for any serious scrambling.
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Thanks David - that saves me bothering with the Berghaus ones - I kinda like coming downhill on my feet, not my bum! If you think the Flyrocs are grippy, try the Mudclaws - they are in a different league yet again, downhill and traversing.
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Cheers ALS. I'll see if i can try on some Flyrocs. Have you used the Mudclaws for 'general' hillwalking?
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If they had been trashed after 'normal' use, i would have complained. I don't have the hard neck to complain after some of the abuse i've given them. 
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Mike, I use the Mudclaws for all my hillwalking which is of the munro bagging variety, (except Skye, where I prefer a scrambling shoe or boots). They are just fantastic. You just do not slip. I also have some Flyroc GTXs which I use now and again - much prefer the Mudclaws. Don't be put off by the studs; they actually make them surprisingly cushioned as the studs act like wee coil springs. I have a pair of size 11 330s in as new condition if by any chance you are interested - my size turned out to be 11.5.
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| Edited: 15/08/09 11:51 |
The studs don't don't put me off, as i used to run in Walshs. I just wondered about the cushioning on them for harder trails. The uppers look good on the Mudclaws, as the vulnerable points on my 295's seem to be covered by more durable fabric on the Mudclaws. Maybe the Mudclaws are what i need, I'm a size 10 ALS. At least my 295's are a size 10. Size 10 315's were too tight!
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I used to run in Walshes too, and hill-walk - the Mudclaws are much grippier, and much softer underfoot, especially on trails and walks-in. If I did a lot of stony trail walking I'd worry that the studs would wear quickly, but not about cushioning. But even if the (big, fat) studs did wear, you'd be left with a pair of Roclites! OTOH, since you got on well with the 295s apart from the wear, why not look at the Roclite 315s - they have a beefier upper, much like the 330s.
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Pair of Mudclaws ordered. Cheers.
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Excellent! Once you get used to them, you'll find yourself not bothering about paths as much, or looking at your feet, just going off the edge of the hill down the fall-line. Or up. Only another 30 inov-8 models to try ....!
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| Edited: 15/08/09 12:51 |
 I've been amazed at the durability I've had from Inov-8s. My original Terroc 330s still have life in them although the sole is getting a bit worn now, but I bought them in early '06. I switched to using them for mountain biking by summer '06 when I moved on to Roclite 315s and I've only just retired that pair - I've no idea how many miles that is but it's three seasons of backpacking and day walks over every type of terrain from the rocky to the boggy. The sole is still good and the upper mesh only has a couple of small nicks - it's been very protective - I only retired them to casual use when I noticed how compressed the EVA had become, and I only noticed that when I placed them side by side with the new pair I'd already laid in ready for when they wore out.
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I do most of my walking in the Gorms. Maybe the Cairngorm granite is extra rough?
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 I'm amazed Inov-8 have not caught onto the durability issue and produced shoes for walkers which last longer, even if they weigh a little more. I abandoned the brand after getting fed up of shoes (4 pairs, Terrocs and Roclites) wearing out much too quickly, mainly the uppers getting trashed. I miss the fit and comfort, but I don't like it when manufacturers take the mickey...
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 I've had three pair of Mudrocs and really liked them. On the two that are now retired, the uppers went before the tread, but they covered a lot of miles. Recently went for Mudclaw 330s, and the comfort and grip are superb, but I'm a bit concerned about the tread durability. Just back from a week in Arran, covered pretty much all the peaks in the Mudclaws, and a few of the studs look like they're about to fall off. The Arran granite is seriously abrasive stuff though.
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 I've used Terrocs for the last three years. I can get about 300-400 miles out of a pair. It's always the soles that go on the balls of my feet, then they split across the sole. I'm onto my third pair, the fit, grip, comfort and all round loveliness outweight the short life of the sole.
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