Review - Inov-8 Ladies Roclite 268 shoes

[Jellybean]

I'm a massive convert to lightweight walking, the lighter weight makes the walking so much more enjoyable and gives you the freedom to go places you might not be able to safely go with a heavier pack. I do however carefully research each new piece of gear (and in particular look for real user reviews in the conditions I'll be walking in rather than rely on marketing hype)....

In terms of footwear, I've got a range of options (Zamberlan full leather boots, Asolo synthetic/suede boots, Keen Voyageur hiking shoes, and Asics Gel Trabucco trail runners and believe that Santa may be bringing me some of these for Christmas - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/au/inov-8-ladie ... 268-shoes/ (I've been wanting to try these for ages). I'm leaning more and more towards the lighter end of the footwear range (when appropriate). Having tried them I believe the saying that 1kg on your feet is like another 5kg on your back is true. Had some Salomon trail runners before - very comfortable and stable but not particularly durable (tread or inside fabric of shoe). The Asics have great tread and seem to be more durable but are quite high (like normal running shoes) and therefore less stable where you're traversing rocky, uneven ground. I'm hoping that the Inov8s will have the ideal combination of features - lightweight, comfortable, stable, and durable.

Well, Santa did deliver and I have to say …. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these shoes!

They are now very definitely my firm favourite walking shoe. (After about 10 hours local walking and 4 days in the Snowies).

Pros
Lightweight, comfortable and stable. Time will tell if they are also durable.
Really roomy toe box
Well ventilated and dry quickly after traversing water filled footpads, wet grasses, etc.
Great grip on a variety of surfaces (I’ve never felt so sure footed in shoes)
Excellent toe protection and some additional protection on the sides of the heel (should provide additional protection against abrasive rocks and add to the durability of the shoe)
Relatively cheap (these only cost just over $100 landed in Australia)
Look good

Cons
None to date.

On initial wearing I wondered how they would feel underfoot when traversing stony or steep ground (for any runners out there they feel like wearing racing flats after wearing heavy trainers), but they were superb on all fronts. The webbed “skeleton” provides excellent support and the cushioning is completely adequate.

I liked them so much out of the box I ordered a goretex pair (for wet days where no water crossings are required) straight away (I hate having sodden feet for days on end). Unfortunately they didn’t have a women’s version and I had to order the men’s equivalent. While they were the right length and great shoes they don’t have the same fit as the women’s shoe so I’ve put them in Market Square at a bargain price (great for guys or women with a broad foot). I will buy a different pair of women’s goretex Inov-8s instead. [See viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5802 ].

Highly recommend these shoes!

Cheers,

JB

[Lizzy]

Thanks JB,
Would like to try Innov8's but shoe sizing online seems very dodgy.... have heard these run a bit small, what did you find?
Cheers
Lizzy

[Franco]

Hi
I also received a pair of Inov8 (330) from the same place. A friend added that to her order so I got them post free (the order was over 90 pounds sterling or something like that)
Very comfortable. Fit me better than any other shoe so far including Keen and they do feel a lot stronger than my Salomon ? (LW sort of net top) ...
Still have to try them in the bush but very happy with the fit so far.
Of course with shoes my perfect fit can mean a terrible one for you...
Note that Wiggle has a cm to size conversion and that is what I used to get it right for me...
Franco

[photohiker]

I'm on my second pair of 330's The first pair eventually failed at the back next to my Achilles tendon - the covering over the foam padding wore through. They had done a lot of k's though.

I went up half a size on the second pair and am pretty happy with them. I wouldn't buy a pair with goretex in them.

[Jellybean]

Thanks JB,
Would like to try Innov8's but shoe sizing online seems very dodgy.... have heard these run a bit small, what did you find?
Cheers
Lizzy

Hi Lizzy,

I've also had problems buying shoes on-line in the past. I generally stick to shoes I know but really wanted to try these so I did as Franco suggested, used the foot size measurement on the sizing chart. I know my foot is 26.5cm long so I looked for the corresponding shoe size which was UK8.5 and ordered those. The women's shoe (narrower heel) fits me perfectly. (N.B. I don't usually buy shoes with UK sizes so don't know what my normal UK size is. I know my usual US size is womens 10 but this size chart said 26.5cm corresponded to US women's 11, so they may well run a bit small. The foot length measurement however enabled me to choose the right size).

I knew it was a gamble trying the men's shoe too because they are generally a broader fit but I preferred that shoe over the women's goretex shoe which was more like a runner and had no toe protection. C'est la vie

Cheers,

JB

[Jellybean]

I'm on my second pair of 330's The first pair eventually failed at the back next to my Achilles tendon - the covering over the foam padding wore through. They had done a lot of k's though.

I went up half a size on the second pair and am pretty happy with them. I wouldn't buy a pair with goretex in them.

Hi Michael,

Why wouldn't you buy a pair with goretex in them?

After my recent trip to the Snowies I came back even more convinced that a goretex pair would've been great for that and similar trips - plenty of wet grasses and water-filled footpads with water that was not high enough to come over the top of the shoe but plenty high enough to make your feet sodden. While the 268s dried out pretty quickly (and I would have no hesitation in buying another pair), we were in and out of water lower than the shoe top all day and our feet were like albino prunes as a result. In those conditions, I'd rather keep my feet dry and avoid the risk of skin breakdown/blisters. Of course, if you're in and out of water that will come in over your shoes, different story, I wouldn't dream of using goretex (want to keep the water out, not in!).

Cheers,

JB

[photohiker]

Basically, if I want dry feet, I need boots +/- gaiters, not shoes.

Even if the water is lower than the shoe, there's always that slightly deeper puddle, or the wet grass soaking your socks etc - it creeps in somewhere, and once it does it stays there. I'd rather get wet and dry out than slowly get wet and stay wet. Not much of an issue on day walks though.

[cams]

I've been thinking about trying this brand for a while. Just wondering when sizing using their CM to size table. Say my foot is exactly 28cm which corresponds to a UK 10. Does this mean the shoe is exactly 28cm long (inside) and I should therefore get a half size larger so there is enough room? Or does this mean that a UK 10 should be the right fit (taking into account a bit of extra room)? What have people found using this table? ta

They are advertising free shipping to Australia atm.

[Franco]

Now don't tell JB *, but my foot is 26.5cm so my size is 42.5 , that is 26.5 cm .
(I just noticed that the label they come with has the size in cm as well as the other international sizes)
I think that it is explained on the web site but a mate had already bought his using this system (measure your footprint and that is your size) and because his feet are very similar to mine (in 3D...) I went ahead and ordered them.
Franco
* that was an obscure reference to the ad that JB has for a pair of 26.5cm Roclite in the market square section...

[Jellybean]

I've been thinking about trying this brand for a while. Just wondering when sizing using their CM to size table. Say my foot is exactly 28cm which corresponds to a UK 10. Does this mean the shoe is exactly 28cm long (inside) and I should therefore get a half size larger so there is enough room? Or does this mean that a UK 10 should be the right fit (taking into account a bit of extra room)? What have people found using this table? ta

They are advertising free shipping to Australia atm.

Good question cams.

I went with 26.5cm because that is the length that has been listed on many of the shoes I've bought over the last few years, I didn't actually measure my foot. I just went and drew around and measured my foot and it's only a smidge over 25cm at it's longest point!? Go figure!? That may be why Michael found he was half a size out the first pair he bought.

[photohiker]

That may be why Michael found he was half a size out the first pair he bought.

Could be. Its all a bit of a lottery really. I don't think I measured my foot, I just looked at all my other shoe sizes and went with that. The first pair were fine, just not as much room in them as I am used to.

[cams]

Thanks JB. I bit the bullet yesterday on a pair of 330's. Went with a UK10.5 in the end. Hope they fit. Your review tipped me over the edge after reading so many other good reviews. And they're such a reasonable price I could possibly even get a second pair so that they fit my different sized feet properly. My right is nearly a whole size smaller than my left.

edit: Received the shoes today. Glad I went up to the 10.5. Could possibly do with a half size up again. My initial thoughts are that they probably aren't going to be wide enough for me. Oh well, I'll see how they go for a few days.