The RW Takeaway: Versatile for training and racing, the Trailfly G 270 puts the nimble, springy ride of a lightweight road shoe on a grippy, trail-ready outsole.
- Midsole Drainage Ports
- Graphene outsole with redesigned lugs for improved wet-surface traction
- Lace up this Merrell for going fast with excellent ground feel on well-groomed to moderate trails
Price: $160
Type: Trail
Weight: 9.1 oz. (M), 7.3 oz. (W)
Drop: Zero
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In the summer of 2018, Inov-8 released its G Series, a trio of shoes that made the brand a standout for its use of a compound called graphene. Made from a tightly packed honeycomb structure of pure carbon atoms, graphene has both a tacky grip and impressive durability when infused with liquid rubber, making it an ideal material for a trail shoe outsole. Among those first shoes to get it was the original TerraUltra G 260, and its grip was truly impressive. Despite its softer, sticky feel, the 260’s outsole had the resilience of a much harder rubber, and held slick surfaces without wearing down quickly. It was an outsole that brought the best of both worlds.
Pros
- A top-to-bottom, lugs-to-lacing update gives the shoe comfort to match its epic grip
Cons
- Transition gradually to zero-drop platform
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A Low Stack and Livelier Foam
Our wear-testers liked the original TerraUltra G 260’s firmer ride for short runs, but found the cushioning pretty harsh and “a little dead” for covering ultra distances. Their impressions were in line with our mechanical tests at the RW Shoe Lab, where the 260 scored “very hard” in both the heel and forefoot cushioning and ranked in the lowest percentile for energy return. For the 270’s midsole, Inov-8 switched to a new “Max” iteration of its EVA-based Powerflow foam that incorporates more TPU in the mix, which both returns more energy and feels more forgiving. Sitting on top of that new midsole is a fresh footbed to match. (Made from tiny compressed TPU beads, it’s more responsive than a regular foam or gel insole.) Together, those two elements combine for a ride that feels like a firm Salomon with some subtle bouncy Adidas Boost undertones—without losing good connection to the trail.
Tacky Graphene Lugs
The grippy graphene outsole hasn’t gone anywhere, and it’s still one of the best things about the Trailfly. This version keeps the lugs to a slight 4mm, making the shoe versatile for hard-packed trails and portions of road running. But the lugs have been completely remodeled. A blocky “T” shape, textured with tiny dimples to increase surface area, grips better on wet ground and anchors against back-sliding on loose dirt and gravel. In addition, the tread’s repositioned forefoot grooves now act like channels to disperse water and flex easier on toe-off. While the Trailfly won’t do its best work in deep, sloppy mud, our testers found the traction exceptional for traversing slick ground and dry, dusty singletrack with some smaller rocks and gravel .
Minimalist Upper with Room to Splay
Inov-8 uses its own scale ranging from one to five to distinguish the fit of its shoes. The Trailfly comes in at five, the widest option. But our testers with feet of average width still found that this shoe fit them pretty true-to-size, and they appreciated that there was a little more space in the toe box. Those with a narrow midfoot may find that area a little roomy, but the new lacing system now accommodates for a variety of foot shapes by using an adaptive internal gusset. Beneath the shoe’s outer mesh layer, it expands more easily so you can cinch the laces fairly snug, but won’t feel too restrictive as your feet swell after a few miles. The rest of the upper stays light and minimal, with just a few flexible overlays across the toes and midfoot for extra support and protection and handy gaiter hooks near the heel. The only issue one tester had was that the thin tongue could bunch and dig into the front of her ankle if not adjusted properly.
What One Tester Said
Candice S. | Tester since 2017
Inov-8 Trailroc G 280
“This shoe transitioned well across multiple surfaces. It felt remarkably durable and provided a good grip on wet and dry grass, leaves, and uneven trails. Compared to other trail shoes I’ve tried, this would be my shoe of choice for running on soft, slippery, and muddy terrain. But it also had a smooth ride on the pavement that felt more like a road shoe than a trail shoe. I typically run in a minimalist shoe (the Nike Free Run), and the [Trailfly] had more cushioning and definitely gave me the desire to go faster. Overall, it was the perfect marriage between a hiking boot and running shoe, meaning that it has the grip capability and durability of a hiking boot, with a ride that’s more similar to a road shoe.”
Other Hearst Subscriptions Runner’s World CA Notice at Collection The Warmup, a bygone version of the daily RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
