Inov-8 Roclite G 345 GTX £155

Superb traction, low weight, comfortable Uppers not the toughest

Next time a fell-runner trots past you in the hills, glance down at their footwear. There’s a good chance they’ll be wearing Inov-8s. The brand has built an enviable reputation amongst the fleet of foot, and for good reason. The Roclite G 345 GTX draws on that trail running expertise in a mid-cut boot designed for ‘fast hiking’. It’s what fellow Trail gear reviewer James Forrest wore for his record self-supported Wainwrights Round last year (bagging 214 fells, carrying all his kit, in 14 days and 11 hours – hiking doesn’t get much faster than that). We can see why he picked the 345s. Extremely lightweight synthetic uppers with a waterproof-breathable Gore-Tex liner are fused to a sole unit built for toughness and traction. The aggressive outsole has chunky, multi-directional lugs that grip well in the hills and shed mud efficiently. The rubber is infused with graphene, so it is extremely hard-wearing too. The cushioned midsole works in conjunction with an embedded three-pronged shank. This allows the toe of the boot to bend while fending off debris underfoot. Fit-wise, they’re more forgiving than most of Inov-8’s running shoes thanks to a roomier toe box, which makes them extremely comfortable for long hill days. Our only concern was with the mesh vamp at the front of the boot, which seems susceptible to wear.

Weight 430g Men’s sizes 6-12 (inc half sizes) Women’s sizes 3-8.5 (inc half sizes)