The Trailfly Ultra G 280 is a super light trail running shoe and an excellent fit for me straight out of the box which conspired to greatly extend my first test run as I quickly found great confidence in the grip and dexterity on my local trails which are a mix of gravel, mud and stones and open hillside.
Peter MacFarlane’s Best in Test
The Trailfly Ultra is a super light trail running shoe and an excellent fit for me straight out of the box which conspired to greatly extend my first test run- Low Weight
- Comfy
- Nimble feeling
- Grippy in all conditions
- a slightly tougher toe bumper would make these perfect
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £145 Weight:602g pair, UK9 Materials & features: stack height: 22mm, G Grip outsole, Flyspeed midsole, wide toe box, mesh knit upper Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm Lug depth: 4mm Sizes: UK 6 to 14 inc half sizes from 6.5 to 11.5 Women version: Yes URL: www.inov-8.com |
There is a very natural feel to the Trailfly, I feel very connected to the ground despite the good amount of underfoot cushioning, it’s a welcome combination of nimbleness and comfort. This applies to both walking and running, I would happily tackle any hillwalking route or long distance path in the Trailfly. This quick assimilation did reveal one literal soft spot on the Trailfly and that’s the toe bumper which for me if it was a little stiffer for some added protection would make the shoes pretty much perfect. The fit is excellent with well-shaped heel cup which although it has some flex feels supportive and I’ve had no heel lift.
The forefoot is quite broad to allow my toes to spread which is welcome as the day goes on and I feel it adds to the predictability of foot placements. The outsole is aggressive and very grippy, even on some hard wet surfaces, it’s easily the most dependable all weather sole I’ve tested in the men’s selection. The midsole is thickly cushioned and flexes though its length with a softer flex at the forefoot which is amplified by a deep grove in front of the heel which allows freer independent movement of the front and rear of your foot.
The upper is a breathable and quick drying mesh which has ridges built in to add strength and to help guard against abrasion. The lacing is simple and runs well. I found that the top eyelet sits slightly higher that some other shoes and I found it’s possible to make a pressure point here so it’s worth trying different knot styles as the tongue has minimal padding.
Tested by Peter Macfarlane
Peter is long time user of trail running shoes in the outdoors for activities ranging from long distance paths to walking the Munros. He has also been a sporadic trail runner over the years and used these test models to retune his running feet around his local trails in the Kilpatrick Hills.
Peter has a narrow heel and wide forefoot and the weights are taken from his own digital scales.
