Inov-8 Roclite 312 GTX
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
$130, 11.6 oz, www.inov-8.com
Have you always wanted a Gore-Tex trail shoe but were dissuaded by the weight and bulk of most offerings? Wait no more. The svelte Roclite 312 GTX offers protection from the elements without sacrificing speed. If you’re already of fan of the Roclite 305 (reviewed Issue 51, April 2008), then you’ll transition seamlessly to the 312 GTX, which is the same shoe with Gore-Tex.
The aggro “bike-tread” outsole gobbles up all obstacles—mud, rocks, slush—and, riding low-to-the-ground as with all inov-8s, the shoe lets your foot naturally react to the terrain.
With a roomy forefoot, the 312 GTX fits medium to wide feet and runners with low to medium arches, and runs about a half-size small.
TESTERMONIAL: “These shoes’ best feature is the balance between a light, agile upper with a hard, stable heel. I really liked the comfort for short-distance trail runs.” —Jody McAuley, Mount Pleasant, SC