Inov8 Roclite 370 - First Look

Inov8 Roclite 370 - First Look

Like its Gore-Tex lined bro, the Roclite 390, the Roclite 370 was developed initially with paragliders in mind, but has morphed seamlessly into a super-lightweight trail walking and running boot.

The 370 uses a mesh upper with no Gore-Tex liner making it ideally suited to summer use when breathability is a priority. It's an ideal choice if you want to go lightweight underfoot but retain ankle protection.

We could be here all day, but Inov8's philosophy is to produce footwear that allows your feet to work as naturally as possible within the constraints of a shoe. That means, for example, that the sole unit incorporates a Meta-flex groove that matches up with the point where your toes flex for natural movement.

The Meta-shank is a five-fingered - toed? - polymer shank behind the metatarsal heads designed to give extra support for each metatarsal, but stil allowing natural movement.

Then there's the Fascia-Band construction, that's claimed to give an extra spring to the push-off phase of your stride. Think support for your foot, but without compromising mobility.

We're big fans of the Gore-Tex-lined Roclite 390 and it's bonkers 'jet propulsion for your feet', so we're expecting big things from the 370s and so far, albeit with only brief use, they haven't disappointed.

Apart from the lack of waterproof liner, the 370s also differ from the 390s in having a slightly thinner, less cushioned sole unit. The combination is enough to save around 100 grammes making these boots bonkers light. To put that in perspective, a pair of typical approach shoes weighs 900 grammes a pair compared to the 370's 692 grammes - everyone who picked them up was astonished by their lightness.

Fit is based on Inov8's all-day endurance last and is snug but not tight on a typical medium volume UK foot. One point we noticed with the 390 as well, is that while the heel cup on the Inov8 shoes is quite aggressive and doesn't suit everyone, the boot version seems more forgiving, so if you don't get on with the heel fit on Inov8's shoes, the boots are worth a try.

Underfoot the 370s give the same nimble, jet-heeled feel as the 390s, but the thinner sole unit makes them more sensitive to trail irregularities. They're absolutely brilliant on rock where the combination of grippy sole and flexibility gives an almost rockboot-like feel as you pad along. Grip is excellent elsewhere too, reflecting their fell-running heritage.

The mesh up top really is super breathable. You can see light through it - that's sunlight inside the boot above - and feel the wind through the uppers, which is great on really hot days. You still have some puddle clearance though as the all-round reinforcement sits about an inch and a half above the ground.

If you're used to conventional walking boots then the Roclites may take some getting used to. The 370s in particular are very flexible underfoot, but the pay-off is great sensitivity and nimbleness, but without losing ankle protection.

We love the jet-heeled feel, reduction in fatigue over longer walks and the fantastic combination of all-terrain grip and sensitivity. We can't really comment on durability yet, but our 390s are holding up fine so far.

What you can't realistically expect is the same level of durability as a much heavier, traditional walking boot if, for example, you regularly hammer through scree or for the sole to last as long as a traditional hill-walking Vibram unit.

Next stop for the 370s is the Edale to Marsden event. We'll let you know how they get on...

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