First Look: inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX

Price: $190
Weight: 10.6oz / 300g (average across size curve)
Tech: Graphene-Enhanced G-FLY™ Foam, GRAPHENE-GRIP™ Rubber, ADAPTER-FLEX™ Groove

Carbon plating recently transitioned from the road to the trail space, with several footwear brands touting its use.

However, for inov-8, carbon-plating isn’t the future of trail shoes… Graphene is.

The new inov-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX is made with a revolutionary Graphene-enhanced G-FLY™ cushioned foam midsole, delivering 25% increased energy return.

In case you’ve never heard of Graphene, it’s the world’s strongest known material, with a strength 200x stronger than steel and impressive flexibility to boot. The scientists that discovered Graphene won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.

Now, inov-8 is using revolutionary Graphene tech in the trail shoe space.

During athlete testing, the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX’s Graphene-infused foam midsole was performing well even after 1,200 km, double the industry standard. Lab tests also showed that even when aged to mimic extensive use, it still delivered more energy return than most unaged foams.

In addition to the Graphene-enhanced foam midsole, the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX’s outsole is also infused with Graphene, providing increased traction and bombproof durability (lab tests showed it was 50% stronger, 50% more elastic, and 50% more durable than the standard soft, sticky rubber).

The TRAILFLY’s moderate 6mm drop offers the best of both worlds for long-distance comfort, and the shoe’s 35 4mm lugs provide max propulsion at the front and braking in the rear, with water dispersion channels and rubber dimples for extra grip on slick surfaces. Meanwhile, a 10mm deep ADAPTER-FLEX™ groove in the midsole allows the shoe to respond fluidly to uneven terrain, meaning it performs with agility, rather than plate rigidity. ADAPTER-FIT tech on the upper provides a lightweight, breathable fit that’s still supportive and durable enough for ultras.

In a market space with lots of shoes that build off of the same tech, inov-8 is shaking things up. Carbon-plating, though a newcomer in the trail space, may have already been upstaged.

More importantly, the TRAILFLY may just be the ultimate long-distance shoe.

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