REVIEW: INOV-8 TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX

Inov-8 continue to make emphatic strides into the world of ultra-running. Last year saw the introduction of their multi-award winning TERRAAULTRA G 270 trail shoes, a step up and evolution of the G 260 model. The G 270s were an all-rounder - to be used for trail and ultra marathons or as an every day trainer, it ticked all the boxes to cover rugged terrain. Their next and newest creation, the TRAILFLY ULTRA G 300 MAX is from first sight an obvious move towards an out and out 'Ultra Running' shoe,  something fell running inov-8 fans may feel uneasy when seeing for the first time. However, the addition offers a more broader appeal to runners looking to expand into longer distance running and are accustomed to the feel of an inov-8 shoe already.

• How noticeable is the height of the stack and the addition of a 6mm drop? (vs the 0 drop of the TERRAULTRA)
• How cumbersome does the additional weight of the shoe feel? 
• How does the bulk of the shoe added for comfort affect the ride over technical ground?
• What stability is offered to address the higher stacked wedge?

From first lacing up the ULTRA G 300 MAX, there are conflicting thoughts. This feels like an inov-8 shoe, but with the addition of steroids. Pulling tight the laces, the feel of the upper securing the foot is just the same welcome feeling as lacing up the G 270. The difference comes in the midsole, where an addition of a more built-up inner heel/arch area meets the foot. Standing, walking around I can feel the sense of a 'roll' as I move and immediate comfort. I can tell the foam is different, comfortable but firm and the shoe as a whole feels to agree with the positioning of how my foot sits within it. I can't noticeably tell there's a 6mm drop at this point, but I do feel 'taller' and aware I'm further from the ground than I'd usually be. 

Taking the first steps running, I lose any awareness I'm in a higher stack already. I have the feel of a forward propulsion, perhaps the 6mm drop or the benefit of running in a new shoe, designed to have a bounce in the step. The first climb is a 300ft hill, half road, half uneven trail. The transition between grounds is seamless, bouncing off the road and continuing across the grooves of the newly worn in river bed down the trail. There is no 'unease' in the step, my foot moves off the mid to forefoot as usual and the comfort and ride is very close to a road shoe with the benefit of the graphene grip. The inner arch I noticed worked to correct any inward falling with the addition of the higher wedge, happily moving forward up the hill and fully in control of each step.

A big concern for me is always the weight of the shoe, and when it comes to inov-8s, the higher the model number, the more I tend to turn my nose up. With a naturally slow-twitch cadence to my stride, the lighter the shoe, the more I feel I can move across the ground with ease, even if for most of the time it's a placebo effect.

This shoe is not intended to be the daintiest on the market - it's built for the longest feasible miles, hold up against the roughest of trails and to feel as comfortable in mile one as it does  crossing the finish line in a 100 mile race, or on an all-dayer out on the trails.

Despite this caveat, the weight of the shoe is negligible, as the shoe's centre of gravity is at one with your own. I felt as comfortable stepping it up a gear as I did at a continuous steady pace. I loved the feel of the shoe, and despite knowing I should opt for a more minimal ride for certain 'speedier' efforts, I couldn't help but grab this cushioned pair to keep me going through the harsher winter miles.

Had it not been for an injury holding me back in the earlier months of this year, I'd have happily tested the ULTRA G 300 MAX at an ultra distance knowing I'd be fresher for it for the impending week's training.

As touched upon, there is a forward propulsion met as the strike of the foot pushes off the ground. Think 'mini-piston' technology built into the midsole. This should come as no surprise, just from visuals of the shoe it's clear a lot of work has gone into getting this ultra shoe right first time. This doesn't always translate well when covering technical trails, where a reduced stack helps to get a feel of the ground you cover, a more built up shoe can cause havoc keeping upright with the ground moving below you. 

The teaming of the graphene grip with the close-knit uppers is met with the midsole adapting to the feel of your foot, giving you a greater sense of assurance as you cover loose rocks, big drops and general uneven terrains.  The X-TALONS will always be unmatched for faster running over technical fells and grounds, but for a trainer that can go the distance, the ULTRA G MAX 300 offers a road shoe like feel whilst confidently connecting with the trail underfoot.

This was easily my favourite surprise when trialing the shoe... Unless you're in a lower-profile shoe, and you've the core and glutes of an olympic god, you can expect some wobbles, ankle bounces and rockiness when in a higher-profile shoe. As of the writing of this blog, almost 200 miles were covered in the ULTRA G 300 MAX. Steep climbs and descents over various terrains, with a good amount of switchbacks chucked in too. Not once did I lose my balance whilst wearing the shoe regardless of the paces run. 

This possibly comes into that feeling of being within the shoes centre of gravity, with the more built out heel wedge correcting any instabilities a higher-profile shoe incurs. Running downhill was particularly a delight, being able to confidently cover large amounts of ground with a quick step and the shoe responding to the gnarlier contact points. It was like sledging, I wanted to go up just so I could come zipping back down again on the inov-8 signature green sledges.

In the midst of testing the ULTRA G 300 MAX, I picked up a knee injury from a fall (incidentally, not whilst running in these shoes and out on a flat road run, not seeing the black ice). On a return to the trails, these shoes provided the comfort and stability I needed to reduce impact and keep the injured limb steady.

This shoe is NOT a progression of the TERRAULTRA G 270, that shoe will continue to excel in its own right and is a must for every trail runner. If you do enjoy the feel of that shoe, then you'll be at home with the feel of the ULTRA G 300 MAX. The ULTRA G 300 MAX is designed exclusively for those wanting to cover as many miles as possible, with the most energy return and a comforted, smooth ride throughout. 

Having not tested other leading ultra specific shoes, I can't comment how they compare. I can say that these shoes hit the maximum on comfort, grip and cushioning, and even defy logic by having the same stability of a more lower-profile shoe - and for that I'd need look no further for a shoe that excels at going the distance.

Have any questions about the shoe? Get in touch in the comments section below for more information.

For: Ultramarathon races and long distance running on trails 

Price: £170 (pre-order)  www.inov-8.com 

Outsole rubber: Graphene-Grip 

Cleat depth: 4mm 

Fit: Grade 5 (inov-8 fit scale in the toe box is 1-5, with 5 being the widest)

Midsole stack height: 25mm in the heel & 19mm in the forefoot 

Drop: 6mm 

Weight: 300g